GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Thursday, April 28, 2022) - Coming off a decisive victory in the Yellow Rose Stakes in March at Sam Houston Race Park, Karl Broberg trained Ima Discreet Lady faces a full field of fillies and mares as the 9/5 morning-line favorite in the $75,000-Added Bluebonnet Stakes(BT) to open the 2022 Lone Star Park Thoroughbred racing season.
The connections of the grey six-year old Texas-bred daughter of Discreet Cat look to push her career earnings past the half-million dollar mark in the first race of the opening-day card on April 28th in the Bluebonnet(BT). Owners Raymond Todd White and Duane Coker purchased the mare as a two-year old for $38,000 in the 2018 Texas Thoroughbred Association Two-Year Old In-Training sale at Lone Star Park.
In her last start in the Yellow Rose Stakes on March 26th at Sam Houston Race Park, jockey Ry Eikleberry settled the mare off the pace and waited patiently for an opening along the rail in the Yellow Rose. Once running room was presented, Eikleberry steered her through the opening and outdueled Lady Ave in the last sixteenth-of-a-mile to post the victory.
“Ima Discreet Lady is coming into the race in great form,” said trainer Karl Broberg. “We are hoping the track plays fair on opening night, and if it does, she should make her presence felt. On paper, the race looks like a four-horse race, as I feel Zarelda cannot be dismissed. This group of mares have been all taking turns beating each other, and it will probably come down to who gets the best trip on opening day.”
Steve Asmussen trained Lady Ave, the five-year old daughter of Bind, finished a length behind Ima Discreet Lady in the Yellow Rose last time out with jockey Stewart Elliot in the irons after a slow start in the six-furlong event in March. The Yellow Rose Stakes was her only defeat in her last five starts, and will surely be looking to press the pace early on in this filly and mare sprint.
Four-starters in the Yellow Rose Stakes return to face Ima Discreet Lady once again in the Bluebonnet, including 2021 Bluebonnet Stakes winner Shes Our Fastest from the barn of Jayde Gelner.
The field for the 2022 $75,000-added Bluebonnet Stakes(BT):
- Zarelda - Iram Diego, up - 15/1
- It's My Money - Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez, up - 30/1
- Take Charge Woman - Lane Luzzi, up - 15/1
- Shes Our Fastest - Richard Eramia, up - 12/1
- Ima Sky Traveler - Jose Alvarez, up - 20/1
- Lady Ave - Stewart Elliot, up - 2/1
- Ima Discreet Lady - Ry Eikleberry, up - 9/5
- Its My Money Too - Leandro Goncalves, up - 30/1
- Boerne - Floyd Wethey, Jr. - 5/2
- Heavenly Rhythm - Gerardo Mora - 20/1
Lone Star Park’s 2022 Thoroughbred racing season begins on April 28, 2022 and runs through July 24, 2022. The meet is headlined by the Memorial Day stakes card on May 30th with six-premiere stakes events, including: the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile(G3), $300,000 Texas Derby, $200,000 Quija Board Distaff, $100,000 Chamberlain Bridge Sprint, $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint, and the inaugural running of the $100,000 Speightstown Sprint.
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