HALLANDALE BEACH - Bayou Brigid, a popular winner of her last two turf starts, will attempt to make it three in a row and give trainer and co-owner Heather Smullen her first career stakes victory in the process in Saturday’s $100,000 Miss Gracie at Gulfstream Park.

    The Miss Gracie for 3-year-old fillies, scheduled at a two-turn mile on the grass, takes top billing as the Royal Palm Meet resumes with a 10-race program starting at 12:20 p.m.

    Smullen, who worked as an assistant and exercise rider for 20 years at Arindel and under such trainers as Ralph Nicks, Barclay Tagg, Dale Romans and Phil Serpe until going out on her own in 2024, purchased Bayou Brigid for $20,000 last spring before bringing in Dan Murphy of Sea Warrior Stables as a partner.

    “We bought her as a 2-year-old. I really liked her,” Smullen said. “She’s very immature and it’s taken a while for her to come around. She’s filled out, she’s training well and I’m pleased with what she’s turned into so far.”

    Bayou Brigid, a bay daughter of $2.3-million earner Neolithic bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon, exits a determined neck victory at the course and distance July 13 over her elders including next-out winner Calathea. Two starts earlier, she rallied for a 1 ¾-length state-bred allowance triumph going 1 1/16 miles on the grass, also beating older horses.

    “She’s doing well,” Smullen said. “There comes a point in time where you have to run in a two-other-than against older horses, which probably is not going to go right now anyway, or a 3-year-old stake. She’s doing well, handles the track well, might as well give it a try.”

    In between her recent turf wins Bayou Brigid ran third in the June 6 Martha Washington over Gulfstream’s all-weather Tapeta course, beaten three lengths by multiple stakes-winner Haute Diva. Overall, she has two wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine tries on the turf, with a win and a third in two Tapeta attempts.

    Bayou Brigid has also made one dirt start, finishing fifth in the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Stallion Stakes Series last November behind Mythical, a six-time stakes winner including the 2025, Gr. III Adirondack.

    “She doesn’t like the dirt at all, that’s obvious. It was worth a try with those stallion series races we had last year, but it did not help her. She trains well enough on it, just doesn’t carry over to running on it,” Smullen said. “I think she’s marginally better on the grass than she is on the Tapeta. She runs OK on the Tapeta but doesn’t have the same kind of kick.”

    Third in the one-mile Our Dear Peggy last fall on the Gulfstream turf, Bayou Brigid has two of Smullen’s three stakes placings as a trainer. The other is the 3-year-old colt Wootun, who finished second in the March 14 Hutcheson.

    Smullen is enjoying the Royal Palm Meet, ranking in the top 10 in both wins (17) and purses earned ($679,675). She has 42 wins and more than $1.9 million in purse earnings from 476 lifetime starters.

    “It’d be very nice. I wouldn’t complain at all,” Smullen said of a potential first stakes win. “I’ve had horses run well in stakes and she’s one of them. She’s been third in two different stakes. She shows up, and that’s a big part of it. If you can lead them over there and know they’re going to put in an effort for you, that’s all you can ask for.”

    Leonel Reyes gets the return mount from the rail in a field of eight. All horses will carry 120 pounds. “It’s not my favorite [post], but you just take what you get,” Smullen said.

    Green With MV Stable and trainer Patrick Biancone’s Laigina (Post 3, J.G. Torrealba) has been second in a pair of one-mile turf stakes at Gulfstream, the Honey Ryder May 2 and Ginger Brew Jan. 2, both by less than two lengths. The Leinster filly also finished third by a length and a quarter in the March 28 Sanibel Island going 7 ½ furlongs on the grass, and comes out of a fifth-place finish against elders in the July 11 Powder Break, which marked her Tapeta debut.

    Morplay Racing and RT Racing Stable’s Curly Sue (Post 7, Yolber Torres) was supplemented into the Miss Gracie by trainer Jose D’Angelo after the bay daughter of two-time Horse of the Year and 2014 Hall of Famer Curlin won her season debut at the course and distance, beating older horses. She ran twice at 2, both times on the dirt, running second in her unveiling and last of five over a sloppy track in late November before getting time off.

    Turkish Flame (Post 2, Marcos Meneses), Call the Bullpen (Post 4, Samy Camacho), Sorokin (Post 5, Rasheed Hughes), Del Mar Sunrise (Post 6, Jose Morelos) and Bert’s Knoty Girl (Post 8, Pedro Pena) complete the field.

    Dahman’s Bottas (Vekoma- Iadorakid, by Lemon Drop Kid) provided an emotional victory at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 7 when he posted a stalking score in the Gr. II, $400,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes, leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    The victory in the one-mile inner turf test was a special one for trainer Miguel Clement, son of the late trainer Christophe Clement, who was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame hours before the race. The win was also part of a banner day for jockey Manny Franco, who won a record-equaling six races on the 11-race program.

    “Not a bad day,” Clement said. “I don’t know if it was Manny’s hot streak, Dad up above or someone deciding to help me out, but I thought it was great.”

    Bottas was a $300,000 purchase by Case Clay Thoroughbred Management at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the consignment of Paul Sharp after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Del Mar, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Warming (Global Campaign-Haute Style, by Unusual Heat) got the job done in the Gr. II, $201,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes for trainer Graham Motion.

    Warming picked up a winner’s share of $120,000 of the purse to improve her earnings to $473,050. She was purchased by her owners at the 2024 OBS March Sale for $100,000 from the consignment of Blue Sapphire Stables after breezing in :10 1/5.
    At Gulfstream Park, David and Teresa Palmer’s Liberty Rings (Awesome Slew- America First, by Uncaptured) earned a decisive three-length victory in the $100,000 FHBPA Scandalous Act. Liberty Rings became a stakes winner on two different surfaces after capturing the May 9 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies over Gulfstream’s turf course.

    Trained by Nicholas Palmer, the daughter of Awesome Slew was purchased by Palmer for $27,000 from the Camelot Acres Racing and Sales consignment at the 2025 OBS October Yearling Sale. 

    At Woodbine, Chivalry Thoroughbred Racing and Hubert Vester’s Katie’s Grace (Independence Hall – Bella Joy, by Kitten’s Joy) produced a polished off the pace performance to win the $250,000 Bison City Stakes and earn her first stakes victory.

    The bay daughter of Independence Hall is trained by Catherine Day Phillips. She was purchased at the 2025 OBS April Sale by Taproot Bloodstock, agent for $80,000 out of the Shooting Star Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Thistledown, Emcee Stable’s Panda Listen (Tiz the Law—Lightning Lucy, by Giant's Causeway) won the $100,000 Best of Ohio Miss Ohio by six lengths to earn the first stakes victory of her career. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Panda Listen was purchased by Corbin Blumberg, agent for $200,000 at the 2026 OBS April Sale from the Grade One Investments consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    St. Elias Stables and WSS Racing’s Eunomia (Tiz the Law-Speedy Vanessa, by American Pharoah) shipped into Del Mar to capture the $400,000, Gr. I Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, coming home a half-length in front to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    “Saffie just told me to find a good spot and make her comfortable. She did just that,” winning jockey Micah Husbands, told Del Mar publicity. “I could tell they weren’t going that fast for these type horses, so I was comfortable with her all the way around. She gave me a good kick and we got it done. My first ride at Del Mar and it was a good one.”

    Eunomia was purchased for $190,000 by Jewel Box Racing 2 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the Niall Brennan consignment after galloping during the under-tack show.

   At Saratoga Race Course, Spendthrift Farm’s Local Knowledge (Yaupon - Chestnut Street, by Scat Daddy) was the least experienced horse in the field but proved best when besting fellow OBS graduates Solitude Dude and Obliteration in the Gr. II, $250,000 Amsterdam Stakes.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Yaupon was a $625,000 purchase from the Hoppel consignment by his owners at the 2025 OBS April Sale after breezing in :20 2/5.  

    The Saratoga card on Aug. 2 saw Flanagan Racing’s Sea Strike (Midshipman- Meetmeonline, by Line of David) roll to an 8 ¼-length victory in the listed $150,000 Curlin Stakes.

    Trainer Chad Brown indicated Sea Strike could potentially step up in class and distance in the 10-furlong Gr. 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 29. The son of Midshipman sold for $650,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale to Kimmel/Sallusto, Agent for Flanagan Racing from the Caliente Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :20 2/5.

    At Colonial Downs, JR Ranch's Mashallah (Maxfield-All in With Aces, by Quiet American) turned in another commanding performance, cruising to victory in the $100,000 Tyson Gilpin and crossing the wire 5½ lengths in front for her first stakes victory.

    Trained by Brendan Walsh, Mashallah was purchased by Marquee Bloodstock, agent, for $1.25 million at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.

    Also at Colonial, Resolute Racing, Delta Squad Racing and Anderson Stables' Verifire (Authentic – Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) punched past pacesetter Celtic Contender in deep stretch to capture the $100,000 Reigh Count Stakes.

    Trained by Brad Cox, Verifire earned his second stakes victory. He was purchased for $1 million by Resolute Bloodstock out of the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2024 OBS March Sale after breezing in :9 4/5.

    At Ellis Park, Lugamo Racing Stable’s Cloe (Tiz the Law – Nuhood, by Smart Strike) prevailed by 2 3/4 lengths in the $250,000 Hummingbird Stakes. Trained by Mike Maker, the 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law was offered at the 2024 OBS March Sale by de Meric Sales where she was an RNA after breezing in :9 4/5.

     Also at Ellis Park, Moore Management’s Bohemian (Essential Quality- Eileen’s Song, by Kitten’s Joy) unleash a powerful late rally to win the listed $250,000 Pucker Up Stakes. Trained by Joe Sharp, Bohemian was purchased for $85,000 by JWS Racing at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing in :10 3/5.

    At Evangeline Downs July 31, Nola Queen (Imperial Hint- Queen Ofthe Catsle, by Tale of the Cat) won the $100,000 D. S. Shine Young Futurity by a length, marking her first stakes win. Trained by Sturges J. Ducoing for owner Valene Farms, Nola Queen was purchased by her owner for $62,000 at the 2026 OBS March Sale from the Golden Rock Thoroughbreds consignment.