by Jeff Apel

Multiple Grade 3 winner J’ray will make her second consecutive start at 1 1/2 miles on Saturday in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Handicap (G2) at Calder Race Course.

Eleven fillies and mares were entered in the La Prevoyante, one of four graded stakes races that will be contested on Calder’s Grand Slam card. The races have a combined purse value of $500,000.

J’ray enters off a runner-up finish in the Long Island Handicap (G3) on November 1 at Aqueduct. The Long Island was the first career start at 1 1/2 miles for J’ray, an earner of $941,643 who has won nine of 25 career starts.

Trained by Todd Pletcher for owner-breeder Lawrence Goichman, J’ray previously posted consecutive victories in the Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (G3) on August 3 at Monmouth Park and the Canadian Stakes (Can-G2) on September 7 at Woodbine. Both races were contested at 1 1/8 miles.

J’ray will face a field of accomplished turf competitors in the La Prevoyante that includes multiple Grade 3 winner Communique, graded stakes winners The Niagara Queen and Palmilla, and stakes winners Herboriste (GB) and You Go West Girl.

Communique has made two career starts at 1 1/2 miles, including a victory in the Grey Goose Bewitch Stakes (G3) on April 24 at Keeneland Race Course. The Smart Strike filly closed her previous season by finishing second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Herboriste, in a 1 1/2-mile allowance race at Keeneland.

Communique earned her second career graded stakes victory in the Modesty Handicap (G3) on July 12 at Arlington Park prior to finishing second in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1) on August 9 at the suburban Chicago track. The bay filly enters off a third-place finish in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1) in her previous start on September 27 at Belmont Park for trainer Rusty Arnold and owner-breeder G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

Michael Matz trains Herboriste, who made her previous two starts in 1 1/2-mile races. After posting a runner-up finish in the Cape Henlopen Stakes on September 3 at Delaware Park, Herboriste won the Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes in her previous start on October 19 at Keeneland.

Herboriste previously finished second, 3 1/2 lengths behind Palmilla, in the Robert G. Dick Memorial Handicap (G3) on July 12 at Delaware.


The field for the La Prevoyante Handicap (G2), in post-position order, including (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. You Go West Girl (Mr. Greeley), Jose Lezcano, 116, Thomas F. Proctor;

2. Lady Sarah (Whywhywhy), Carlos H. Marquez, Jr., 112, Gregory de Gannes;

3. Jazz Jam [GB] (Pivotal [GB]), Jeremy Rose, 115, H. Graham Motion;

4. Communique (Smart Strike), Javier Castellano, 118, George R. Arnold, II;

5. Lamentation [GB] (Singspiel [IRE]), Rene R. Douglas, 114, Christophe Clement;

6. J'ray (Distant View), Joe Bravo, 121, Todd A. Pletcher;

7. Herboriste [GB] (Hernando [FR]), Julien R. Leparoux, 116, Michael R. Matz;

8. Tremendous One (Point Given), Jermaine V. Bridgmohan, 115, Thomas F. Proctor;

9. The Niagara Queen (Langfuhr), Christopher P. DeCarlo, 117, Todd A. Pletcher;

10. Palmilla (Crowd Pleaser), Elvis Trujillo, 117, Jonathan E. Sheppard; and

11. Chelly B (Royal Anthem), Carlos Olivero, 112, Larry Bates.