Plum Ali

French Group 1 winner Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who beat elders to capture the prestigious G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines last fall, will look to give trainer Chad Brown his fourth GIII Beaugay S. in the last five years and record fifth overall as a strong favorite in Saturday's renewal of the 1 1/16-mile turf test at Belmont. Victress of the G3 Prix de Reservoirs in her 2-year-old finale at Deauville in October of 2020, the chestnut finished off the board in her first three sophomore starts before a trio...

Every year the GI Belmont Oaks and Derby attract an intriguing mix of European invaders and America's best sophomore turf horses and this year is no exception. The Coolmore contingent, Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore have a strong shot at taking their second renewal of this race with 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who enters this race of a narrow runner-up in Group 1 company. A debut winner at the Curragh in September, the bay was fourth in the G1 QIPCO One Thousand Guineas May 2 at...

Plum Ali (First Samurai) makes the first start of her sophomore career Saturday in the GII Appalachian S. at Keeneland. A debut winner going two turns at Saratoga July 23, the chestnut rallied to another decisive victory in the Mint Juvenile Fillies S. at Kentucky Downs Sept. 7 and captured the GII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont Oct. 4. She was last seen making up good ground to be fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf S. Nov. 6. Spanish Loveaffair (Karakontie {Jpn}) looks to rebound after being...

Plum Ali remained undefeated and picked up her second straight stakes win with a convincing score in Sunday's GII Miss Grillo S. on the Belmont turf. Unveiled going two turns over the Saratoga lawn July 23, the $65,000 Keeneland September buy rallied to a two-length success. Shipped south to Kentucky Downs for the Mint Juvenile Fillies S. Sept. 7, the chestnut overcame a troubled start and uncorked a powerful late run to score going away by 2 3/4 lengths. Hammered down late to even-money favoritism, Plum Ali traveled last of...

Unbeaten Plum Ali (First Samurai) looks to keep her perfect record in tact Sunday in Belmont's GII Miss Grillo S. A debut winner going two turns at Saratoga July 23, the chestnut captured the Mint Juvenile Fillies S. Sept. 7, making her the only black-type winner in the field. Brad Cox saddles a promising runner in Caldee (More Than Ready). Off the board when unveiled in a main track sprint at the Spa July 19, the bay romped by 6 3/4 lengths next out when switched to the turf and...

Duly favored after an easy two-length win going 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on debut July 23, she made the jump up to black-type company look easy at Kentucky Downs Monday. Well off the pace while saving ground against the fence, she continued to rate patiently at the half-mile mark in :48.23. Set down for the drive and shifted out to the center of the course through the long Kentucky Downs stretch, the chestnut seized command inside the final 300 yards and quickly put the race to bed, winning with...