Equine Daily--The Equine World's Top Headline of the Day

PROUD SPELL TO PHILADELPHIA
--------------------------------------

Proud Spell, winner of 2008's Kentucky Oaks (GI) for fillies and Alabama Stakes (GI), will go to Philadelphia to race in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion (GII) this Saturday. It is the highest money-race in her career.

The Fitz Dixon Cotillion, run at Philadelphia Park on dirt and over 1 1/16 miles, may just be the last prep race for Proud Spell before October 24th's Breeder's Cup Ladies' Classic (GI). She will be running with 124 pounds, the largest amount on her back ever. Her biggest rival is Seattle Smooth, a filly by Quiet American, and ridden by Jose Lezcano. Seattle Smooth is unplaced in three graded stakes races, but won by an amazing 7 1/4 lengths in the Go for Wand Stakes August 30. This was her last race. She carries 119, gaining 5 from Proud Spell. The other fillies in the race all carry 114 pounds, gaining 10 from the Proud Citizen filly.

Another rival to worry over is Jay Em Ess Stable's By the Light, who is trained by Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, Jr. By the Light will be ridden by 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) winning jockey Edgar Prado (on Barbaro in 2006).

Never Retreat was a disappointing fifth in the Coaching Club American Oaks (GI), her last race, but finished third to Proud Spell in a race before, in which Proud Spell was second to Music Note. Never Retreat was then placed in second due to Proud Spell's jockey interfering in the stretch.

Proud Spell will carry regular jockey Gabriel Saez.

The entries are as follows:
1. Color Me Up (KY), Frankie Pennington, 114
2. Million Dollar Ru (KY), Kendrick Carmouche, 114
3. Never Retreat (KY), Garrett K. Gomez, 114
4. Seattle Smooth (KY), Jose Lezcano, 119
5. Picker (KY), (No rider), 114
6. Proud Spell (KY), Gabriel Saez, 124
7. By the Light (NY), Edgar S. Prado, 114
~Equine Lover