Sheilahs Warcloud, a 4-year-old filly still looking for her first stakes victory, will get another chance in the $150,000 Stellar Wind Handicap on Friday at Colonial Downs. In the past two years, owner-trainer Justin Nixon has had to watch his homebred filly come within two lengths of four stakes victories, only to fall short each time. “She’s run so hard on so many occasions,” Nixon said. “I’d really like to see her pop through and get a stakes win.” After a promising juvenile season, Sheilahs Warcloud seemed poised for a breakthrough in October when she finished second by three-quarters of a length in the Maryland Million Distaff. She regressed next time out, finishing third in open company, and then finished sixth as the favorite in the Politely to end her 3-year-old season. It was her first career finish outside the money. Nixon’s interest in the filly is intensely personal. Sheilahs Warcloud’s dam, Sky Lani, was purchased by Nixon and his partner, Dr. Megan Kerford, for $2,500 in 2019. At the time, she was in foal to Gastown Babe, now a 6-year-old mare who has earned $110,000. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Before passing away in 2022, Sky Lani also produced Sheilahs Warcloud and Reggie Runs Rogue, a 3-year-old colt. A stakes victory for any of them would mean more than the purse money. “I’m sure it’ll bring Megan to tears,” Nixon said. “It would mean a whole lot. Obviously, [Sky Lani] has been very special.” Returning from a layoff and cutting back to six furlongs in the Stellar Wind, Sheilahs Warcloud will have to rely on her stakes experience against several improving rivals. Binnie, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, has won 4 of 5 career starts for trainer Brittany Russell and is making her 4-year-old debut after notching commanding allowance victories against older horses in 2024. “I think I have her fit,” Russell said of Binnie. “Her works indicate that she’s ready to rock and roll, so I think we’re sitting on a live horse.” Pure Lure, another talented 4-year-old filly, also had success against older rivals last summer but will have to fire fresh off a layoff of nearly eight months. Mary Q, a 5-year-old mare who raced through the winter, ran against better stakes runners in open company last time out after a statebred allowance win at Parx Racing in January. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.