Ju Ju Eyeballs Faces Six in Distaff

Although beaten in her last two starts, five straight wins prior to that, including a convincing 5 ½ length score in the Just Smashing Stakes, is enough of a recent resume to earn Ju Ju Eyeballs 8-5 morning line favorite status for Saturday’s $100,000 Maryland Million Day Distaff Handicap. Six others are entered in the race, which will go seven furlongs on the dirt. After opening her 2013 campaign with a third among low-level claimers at Gulfstream, Ju Ju Eyeball has gone on to finish in the money in all eight of her races this season.

Others with speed may present a challenge

She became a stakes winner by coming home first in the Crank It Up at Monmouth, and is coming off a second in the Jameela, where she was headed in the stretch by Madame Giry. A challenge could come from the speedy Classy Coco (4-1) winner of the Teresa Garofalo Stakes at Parx Racing last month. Last year’s winner of that event, Spring Dance, is also in the field for the Distaff and is 5-1 on the morning line. She was second in the Maryland Million Oaks last year, and has a win and a third in two allowance starts in 2013.

Maddy's Dance only graded-stakes runner in the field

Taking a cut in distance and carrying low weight of 113 pounds might be enough for Maddy’s Dance to have an impact on the finish. Forced to check hard last time out in an allowance race at Delaware, she was ultimately placed ahead of the winner after inquiry, her third win in 11 starts this season, and fourth lifetime after breaking her maiden first time out in 2012. Although yet to win at the stakes level, her two efforts in higher company have come at one mile and beyond, including the Grade II Delaware Oaks, where she finished fifth.