Lost in the European dominance on turf here last fall at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships was the performance by Emory Hamilton’s homebred Pleasant Passage. 

Trained by Shug McGaughey, Pleasant Passage was a fast-closing second to Meditate (IRE) in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). 

She will make her return to the races Saturday in the 35^th running of the $400,000 Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association going a mile on the turf. 

“We gave her time off after the Breeders’ Cup, and she went to the farm for a bit,” said Anthony Hamilton, assistant to McGaughey. “Since she came back, she’s been doing super and the decision was made to run here.” 

The third dam of Pleasant Passage is Hamilton’s 1987 Ashland (G1) winner, Chic Shirine. For Hamilton, McGaughey also trained Peaceful Passage, dam of Pleasant Passage, and the filly’s second dam, Flying Passage. 

Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Pleasant Passage in her debut victory last August at Saratoga, has the mount Saturday.  

The race after the Appalachian Presented by Japan Racing Association, McGaughey will shoot for a stakes double when he sends out Rodney Lundock’s Maryquitecontrary in the 22^nd running of the $600,000 Madison (G1) going 7 furlongs on the main track. 

A winner of five consecutive races, Maryquitecontrary will be making her Grade 1 debut and will be ridden by Luca Panici.