La Brea victory can earn My Miss Aurelia an Eclipse Award
George Bolton and Stonestreet Stables owned My Miss Aurelia stayed undefeated as a juvenile, and in four starts she achieved the heights of a top juvenile filly with a bright future, and to reward victories in Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes, Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, and to cap off a brilliant season by landing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, she was awarded with the Eclipse Award as the champion 2-year-old filly of 2011.
To repeat the same feat was unlikely, and seldom do that, but My Miss Aurelia’s late start to the season was always going to be a hindrance in achieving the same feat again, but she picked off where she left it all off from.
Starting this year with the six and one-half furlong dash, My Miss Aurelia, extended her winning streak to five when she landed the Mandy’s Gold Stakes. A prep race for the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes, My Miss Aurelia defeated the likes of Questing and Dixie Strike to win the first two-turn event of the year going 1 1/16 miles.
Going over a distance of 1 1/8 miles for the first time in her career, the Kentucky bred daughter of Smart Strike missed the mark narrowly, when Royal Delta ran the field ragged to defeat My Miss Aurelia in second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita Park on 2 November.
Starting this August, My Miss Aurelia has just done enough to be in the conversation for the champion 3-year-old filly for 2012 Eclipse Award, and with the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes still to go, Steven Asmussen trained filly can make her case even more strong.
“She’s just done great,” said Scott Blasi, the top assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “Only having three races so far this year, she’s really fresh.
“Her work last week was exceptional,” Blasi said, referring to a five-furlong drill in 59 seconds on Dec. 12. “She’s just special.”
In the La Brea, My Miss Aurelia carried top weight of 123 pounds, and will break from post 5 in a field of seven under Corey Nakatani to run over a distance of seven furlongs.
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