This weekend, Gulfstream Park will host the prestigious Grade 3 Herecomesthebride Stakes, a one-mile turf race featuring ten promising three-year-old fillies. Among the contenders is Civetta, a Godolphin homebred stakes winner who narrowly missed out on graded company in her last outing. For this event, Civetta will be equipped with blinkers for the first time, aiming to enhance her performance. The race offers a significant opportunity for these young talents to showcase their potential and possibly earn a place among the elite in the coming season.

Civetta has shown remarkable consistency in her five starts, never finishing worse than third except once. After capturing the Wait a While stakes by a neck over Thanksgiving weekend, she placed third in the Ginger Brew stakes on January 4th. Her connections strategically bypassed the Sweetest Chant stakes in February to give her a rest before this important race. Michael Banahan, director of bloodstock at Godolphin, expressed optimism about Civetta's preparation and believes the break will benefit her performance. "We wanted to freshen her up, and we think it sets us up nicely for this race," he said.

Another notable entrant is Mrs Worldwide, a two-time stakes winner on dirt making her turf debut. Trainer Brian Lynch noted that despite a disappointing fourth-place finish in her previous start, Mrs Worldwide has been impressing in her workouts on grass. "She’s handled the turf very well in her works, and we’re confident she’ll run well," Lynch commented. Luis Saez will ride Mrs Worldwide from post 2, adding an experienced jockey to her team.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse enters three fillies in the race: Classic Q, Smudge, and Vixen. Vixen, in particular, boasts an impressive pedigree and recent form, having finished second in the Natalma stakes and sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She kicked off her sophomore campaign with a convincing win in the Sweetest Chant stakes on February 1st. Casse’s trio represents a formidable challenge for the field, given his history of success in this race.

The Herecomesthebride Stakes not only serves as a critical stepping stone for these young fillies but also highlights the depth of talent in the three-year-old class. With a mix of proven performers and newcomers, the race promises thrilling competition and offers a glimpse into the future stars of the turf. As the fillies line up for the start, all eyes will be on how they perform under pressure, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in their careers.