Veitch Disappointed That Petite Ile Out of Matriarch

Plenty Of Grace, a one-length winner in the Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita a month ago, won’t have Petite Ile to beat again when Hollywood Park runs the $200,000 Matriarch on Sunday.

But John Veitch, Plenty of Grace’s trainer, would have preferred another matchup with Petite Ile for his 3-year-old filly. “We’re running in this race because we think we’ve got a shot at the Eclipse Award (for filly or mare on grass),” Veitch said. “And I think we’d have a better chance with the voters if we beat Petite Ile twice on her own tracks.”

Petite Ile ran 12th in last Sunday’s Japan Cup. Royal Touch, third in the Yellow Ribbon, and Little Brianne, who was fifth, are running in the 1 1/8-mile Matriarch. Plenty of Grace drew the No. 12 post in the 14-horse field.

The lineup, in order, consists of Peinture Bleue, My Girl Jeannie, Taffeta and Tulle, Countus In, Vijaya, Double Wedge, Little Brianne, Royal Touch, Mistaurian, Sweet Roberta, Stylish Star, Plenty of Grace, Miss Josh and Petalia. Agirlfromars and Kikala are the also-eligibles in the event of any scratches.