Friendly Island Iroquois Attracts Lovely Lil

Nine fillies and mares will be going seven furlongs in the $125,000 Friendly Island Iroquois, in which Lovely Lil returns to state-bred action after finishing third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont on September 24. Trained by Mike Hushion for Barry Schwartz, the 4-year-old Tiznow filly won a pair of races at the Spa, including the Union Avenue, as she looks to improve on last year's fifth-place Iroquois finish.

Ramon Dominguez rides Lovely Lil, the 8-5 morning-line favorite and high weight under 124 pounds, from post position 3.

Sentimental Lass, winner of last year's Maid of the Mist on Showcase Day, has visited the winner's circle once in four tries this year, taking an optional claimer at Belmont on July 7. Most recently, the 3-year-old Freud filly was second to 2010's Champion 2-Year-Old Female Awesome Feather on October 5 at Belmont Park in the Le Slew overnight stakes. The race marked Awesome Feather's return after being sidelined with an injury following last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

"I think she probably needed the run last time," said David Duggan, who trains Sentimental Lass for J Z B Racing Stable, LLC. "We changed up her running style and it was a regroup after Saratoga because it was kind of a disaster up there."

Rajiv Maragh rides Sentimental Lass, 10-1 on the morning line, from post position 5.

Nicole's Miss El, runner-up in the Union Avenue, will be making her Belmont debut following a five-length victory in an optional claimer at Finger Lakes on September 26. With Luis Perez aboard, the 3-year-old Eltish filly will leave from post position 8 at 12-1 on the morning line.