Applauding Entered to Race Again

It's the moment we've all been waiting for (OK; it's the moment I've been waiting for):  Applauding has been entered in Race 8 at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, November 21. 

Here's a not-so-brief recap to bring everyone up to speed:  Thirteen months ago, Applauding, then a two year old filly, set a new track record at Keeneland in her debut, finishing nine lengths ahead of Sacristy.  Applauding made her real dirt debut seven weeks later in her second career start, winning by six lengths at Final Odds of 0.1-1.

Applauding was then entered in the Silverbulletday Stakes in January and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes in February (and was the Morning Line favorite in both) but ran in neither.  Colic-like symptoms were blamed for her scratch from the former, while she was scratched from the latter because Trainer Al Stall saw something in her workout that he didn't like.

And then came nothing.  Applauding spent the next few months just handing out at Clairborne Farm in Kentucky.  Quoting Al Stall:

"There's nothing really wrong with her.  There was nothing bony, nothing to speak of.  We're going to regroup on her in thirty days, and by that time I'll get up to Kentucky, so I can get out and look at her.  She was eating everything in sight down here, but I had trouble with her weight."

Applauding returned to track workouts July 28, breezing three furlongs at Keeneland in 38.2 (22/28).  She did three furlongs again on August 5, then four furlongs on each of the next five Saturdays.  She then took a break, not working again until Columbus Day.  Her works have been steady since:

10/08 - Kee - 4F - 49.6 - 16/28
10/14 - Kee - 4F - 48.6 - 17/32
10/20 - Kee - 4F - 47.4 - 1/45
10/28 - CD  - 4F - 48.2 - 2/77
11/03 - CD  - 4F - 49.6 - 29/80 (from the gate)
11/10 - CD  - 5F - 62.4 - 33/48
11/16 - CD  - 4F - 49.0 - 12/35

Of course, as her past history shows, the fact that Applauding is entered in a race is no guarantee that she will actually run.  And, needless to say, if she does run, there's no guarantee that she'll show the same form that she did when she last competed, nearly one year ago.  But I, for one, am thrilled at the prospect of this filly displaying her talent on the track again, and am hopeful that she'll reach the heights that she seemed destined for as a two year old.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo