‘Fifty Shades of Grey’-Inspired Lingerie Line Recruits Penelope Cruz’s Sister …

The biggest fashion news breaking Monday is that there will be licensed lingerie and fragrance lines based on the best-selling trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey, in stores soon.

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Fifty Shades author E.L. James and her agent Val Hoskins chose UK-based Caroline Mickler Ltd. to be the global licensing agent for merchandise based on the sexually explicit trilogy. So keep an eye peeked for other Shades-inspired lines, including sportswear, perhaps even fragrance, beauty products, bedding, stationery, jewelry and um, adult toys.

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But some lingerie companies are already jumping on the Fifty Shades of Grey SM bandwagon with their fantasy fashions that evoke the kinky adventures in James’ novels.

Mónica Cruz, actress Penelope Cruz’s  younger lookalike sister, has already stripped down to her naughty skivvies as the new face of the luxury lingerie brand, Agent Provocateur. And surprise, surprise, the new video has a decidedly Dickensian Fifty Shades of Grey feel.

In the commercial entitled “Wilhelmina: Show Your True Self,” Mónica plays a Victorian woman whose true spirit is unmasked by a magical camera. A grizzled British actor looks through the lens as the upper class lady’s “true self” is revealed.

One bra and panties outfit —  the Novah —  is deep fuchsia-red satin with a black lace overlay, featuring a balconette bra and high-waisted panties.

Another design —  the Whitney —  is a complex arrangement of sado-masochistic black straps that Monica shows off with aplomb, but would probably give Mr. Grey himself pause.

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Agent Provocateur’s creative director, Sarah Shotton, told WWD: “She’s a professional dancer, a very sexy women. I’ve never seen a woman move like that…Mónica is a beautiful embodiment of the Agent Provocateur brand, knowingly sexy and empowered by her own sensuality.”

We’re gonna go on the record right now as predicting a serious slew of unlicensed Grey-inspired products to flood the gift market around holiday time. Just a hunch.

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Questing dominates in Alabama

Questing, ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., set the pace and was never challenged in winning Saturday’s $600,000 Alabama Stakes for three-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Questing broke sharply from the gate and quickly took the lead in the 1 1/4 mile race. Trying to keep up with the pacesetter were Zo Impressive, even-money favorite Grace Hall and In Lingerie with the remainder of the seven horse field trailing.

Questing, owned by Godolphin Racing, continued to lead the field around the final turn as Grace Hall dropped off the pace. Running in second was In Lingerie who separated herself from the rest of the field.

Heading into the stretch Questing opened up her lead and cruised to the wire nine lengths ahead of second-place finisher In Lingerie. Another eight lengths back in third was Via Villaggio followed by Zo Impressive, Grace Hall, Sea Island and Uptown Bertie.

Questing covered the distance in 2:01.29 on a fast track.

Questing was coming off a 4 1/4 length victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 21. The Alabama is the third straight win for the filly and was worth $360,000.

The daughter of Hard Spun has won four of nine lifetime starts for $674,876.

Following three starts in England to begin her two-year-old campaign, the filly finished fifth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies behind My Miss Aurelia and Grace Hall. She began 2012 with an allowance win on June 24 at Belmont Park. Ortiz has been aboard Questing in her last three starts.

Questing returned $6.40, $4.40 and $3.50. In Lingerie paid $5.60 and $4.00, and Via Villaggio paid $5.70.

Recent Eclipse Award winners Royal Delta (2011), Blind Luck (2010) and Proud Spell (2008) all won the Alabama.

Preceding the Alabama, Point of Entry, ridden by John Velazquez, took the lead heading into the stretch on his way to winning the $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational. The four-year-old colt covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:26.40 on a firm turf course.

Owned by Phipps Stable, Point of Entry won the Sword Dancer by four lengths and recorded his fourth straight win. The colt, who gave his trainer Shug McGaughey his first win in the race, adds $360,000 to his bank account which now totals $964,490. Point of Entry has won six of 13 career starts.

Point of Entry was reunited with Velazquez after the new Hall of Fame jockey was sidelined with an injury in June. Velazquez won the Sword Dance in 1998 with Cetewayo.

Point of Entry, the 7-5 favorite, paid $4.80, $2.90 and $2.30. Al Khali returned $5.70 and $3.90, and Brilliant Speed paid $3.70 to show.

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