A graduate of Godolphin’s Flying Start program who worked for trainers Tom Proctor and Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey before going out on her own in November 2021, Schultz saddled Alex Joon to victory in the July 15 Edward P. Evans for Virginia-bred/sired horses at Colonial Downs. She has placed in four other stakes, including a second in the July 22 Monmouth Cup (G2) with Whelen Springs.

Choctaw Racing Stable’s Cecile is from the first crop of Grade 1 winner Mendelssohn and is named for the wife of 19th century German composer Felix Mendelssohn. She began her career last fall and raced twice on dirt before being moved to the grass in the spring, graduating in a one-mile maiden special weight May 13 at Churchill Downs in her turf debut.

She has raced twice since, both at one mile, running fourth by three lengths in the June 24 Wild Applause at Belmont Park and beaten 2 ¾ lengths as the favorite facing her elders in a July 22 allowance at Monmouth. The Searching will be Cecile’s first try around two turns.

“We had to run her against older last time but she ran well. She’s learning how to run,” Schultz said. “We’ve always thought she had talent. She’s always worked really good in the mornings. She’s had some little setbacks here and there but nothing major.

“We got to run her at Oaklawn and got her back up to Kentucky and got her tuned up and ready, and then we got her on the grass,” she added. “We always had that in our head, but she works really good on the dirt so we weren’t opposed to running her on it. We were really happy when she ran so well at Churchill. We’ve always liked her, so we’re trying to get her some black type.”

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Cecile drew Post 3 and will be ridden by Forest Boyce, who is also named on her stablemate. Among the competition are Irish Group 3 winner Speirling Beag, one of three from trainer Graham Motion; Mike Trombetta-trained stablemates Livelovenlaughter and Naval Empire; and Irish-bred Bolivie, making her third North American start for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I feel like our filly’s doing really well,” Schultz said. “Obviously, Mike Trombetta has a couple of nice horses. I think Brendan Walsh’s horse looks like it’s pretty good. There’s quite a few nice fillies in there, but I think [Cecile] definitely fits and I think that we have a good chance.”

Ten Strike Racing’s Yesternight has made three starts, all sprinting six furlongs on the dirt. She broke her maiden in debut April 23 at Oaklawn Park and exits an 8 ½-length open allowance romp July 14 at Monmouth.

“We really like her,” Schultz said. “We bought her as a yearling. She was the first horse in my stable when I decided to go out on my own. She’s a very forward filly and she’s run really well for us so far. It’s kind of time to try stakes company. She looks like she’ll run two turns, so we’re just trying to look for the right spot.”

The 13th running of the Searching is Race 6 on a nine-race program that includes the $100,000 Bald Eagle Derby for 3-year-olds scheduled for 1 3/16 miles on the All Along turf course in Race 8. First race post time is 12:25 p.m.