LOUISVILLE, KY. — Though the eyes of the racing world won't turn to Pimlico and the Preakness until next week, Maryland has a rooting interest in the second most important race of this Kentucky Derby weekend.
Maryland-bred filly Cathryn Sophia is the co-second choice in the morning line for Friday's $1 million Kentucky Oaks, which will be broadcast on NBC Sports Network with a 5:49 p.m. post time.
"She's got a natural cruising speed and a pretty wicked turn of foot, and those are two exceptional things to have," said her trainer John Servis, who's best known for guiding Smarty Jones to victories in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness.
Bob Manfuso and Katy Voss bred Cathryn Sophia on their Chanceland Farm in West Friendship. The filly's success continues a hot streak for Voss and Manfuso, who also bred 2015 Kentucky Derby hopeful International Star in New York.
Manfuso hopes Cathryn Sophia will put a spotlight on the slow but steady revival of Maryland's breeding industry.
"This kind of story is exactly what Maryland racing needs," he said.
Manfuso and Voss sold the filly for $30,000 at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearling Sale at Timonium. Servis began working with her about a year ago.
She won her first four career starts at shorter distances before finishing third in the 1 1/16-mile Ashland Stakes at Keeneland on April 9. Because she struggled with her first two-turn race, Servis initially planned to start her in the $200,000 Eight Belles on the Oaks undercard.
He changed his mind after the sensational filly Songbird was pulled from the Oaks field because of a fever.
"From what I've seen of Songbird, it looks like if you're going to beat her, you're going to have to run with her early," Servis explained. "And going 1 1/8 miles, I just didn't think my filly wanted that. … But with Songbird out, I think we deserve a chance and we fit."
Because of her slighter build and because her father was a sprinter, Servis acknowledged it's natural to question how Cathryn Sophia will handle longer distances.
"Sure, absolutely," he said. "But she's better now than she was going into the Ashland. … She'll do anything. She'll go to the lead. She'll come from out of it. She's got a great mind on her that way."