My Miss Aurelia tops Houston Ladies Classic nominations

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Champion filly My Miss Aurelia headlines a group of 20 nominations for the inaugural running of the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Sam Houston Race Park. The Ladies Classic will be conducted at the distance of 1 1/16-miles on the main track.

"We are extremely gratified that so many prominent horsemen have taken notice of the Houston Ladies Stakes," said Eric Johnston, Sam Houston Race Park's vice-president of racing. "This promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining race."

Owned by Stonestreet Stable and George Bolton, My Miss Aurelia won the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and was voted that year's champion 2-year-old female. In November she was second to Royal Delta in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, My Miss Aurelia has earned more than $2.4 million with six wins in eight starts.

Also nominated is Joyful Victory, winner of the 2011 Fantasy and Honeybee Stakes. The 5-year-old mare is owned by Fox Hill Farms and trained by Larry Jones. In 15 career starts Joyful Victory has four wins, five seconds and three thirds for $673,079.

Completing the nominations for the Ladies Classic are: Arena Elvira, Book Review, Brushed by a Star, Cheerleader, Class Included, Dance Card, Distracting, Glinda the Good, Jemima's Pearl, Lookinforchange, Maker Or Breaker, Moon Philly, My Wandy's Girl, She's All In, Snuggs and Kisses, Summer Applause, Vilao and Wildcat's Smile.