The nation’s leading jockey, Javier Castellano, will pilot our daughter of Scat Daddy, Lavender Chrissie in Friday’s $200,000 Eight Belles Stakes Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. We expect big things from Lavender Chrissie. Trainer Dale Romans thinks she could be the best 3-year-old filly in his barn.

The grey filly broke her maiden at first asking in at the end of October at Churchill before failing to fire in a first level allowance race in November. She was found to have a guttural pouch infection after the race, a legitimate excuse for the effort. Upon shipping to Florida, she didn’t blossom as hoped, her coat was on the dull side and she was hard to keep weight on. We gave her the time she needed, and she came back strong, winning an allowance race by five lengths on March 29 at Gulfstream.

A good effort in the Eight Belles will likely have Lavender Chrissie pointing for the Acorn Stakes (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

The race before the Kentucky Oaks, the Eight Belles goes off at 4:52 ET. Live coverage from Churchill Downs runs from 12:30-6:00 PM ET on NBC Sports Network.

Lavender Chrissie breezing at Churchill under Tammy Fox:

Lavender Chrissie winning an allowance race at Gulfstream by five lengths: