THEY’RE not the distaff version of Affirmed and Alydar, not yet at least, but the 2-year-old fillies Gilded Diablo and Finder’s Fee could get a good rivalry going when they meet again in today’s $100,000 Astoria Stakes at Belmont Park.

After posting impressive maiden victories, the pair met for the first time in the five-furlong Fashion at Belmont June 5, with Gilded Diablo scoring wire to wire over Finder’s Fee by 11/4 lengths. Today they stretch out an extra sixteenth of a mile in the Astoria, a race that’s been won in the past by such 2-year-old filly champions as Ruffian, Dearly Precious and Meadow Star.

With fillies like Indemnify, Shawnee Country and Deed I Do set to press her in the early going, Gilded Diablo faces a tougher task this go-round, although trainer Mark Hennig feels she doesn’t need the lead to win.

“Gilded Diablo seems to be able to relax,” he said. “She’s shown the ability to rate. If someone wanted to go too fast, it wouldn’t bother her to come from off the pace.”

But trainer Shug McGaughey thinks Finder’s Fee, who breezed a sensational half-mile in :46.4 from the gate Sunday, is set to turn the tables.

“The other filly (Gilded Diablo) got the jump on us and we couldn’t catch her (in the Fashion),” he said. “I think a little more distance will help.”

Both fillies have pedigrees that jump off the page.

Gilded Diablo, whose only loss in three starts came when she ran fourth in her debut behind budding superstar Chilukki last April at Churchill Downs, is a daughter of the good sprinter Diablo.

From the same family that produced 1994 Astoria winner Unacceptable, Diablo is a son of Devil’s Bag, the champion 2-year-old colt of 1983 when he won all five starts, including the Cowdin and Champagne at Belmont.

Gilded Diablo’s dam, Gilded Moment, is a full sister to Gilded Time, who set a track record winning the 1992 Sapling and then took the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to clinch the 2-year-old colt championship.

Finder’s Fee is by Storm Cat, a Grade 1 stakes winner at 2 whose sire, Storm Bird, was a 2-year-old champ in Europe and whose dam, Terlingua, a daughter of Secretariat, won several graded stakes at 2.

Storm Cat is one of the top sires in the world, especially of 2-year-olds. His offspring include Sharp Cat, Hennessy, Mountain Cat and Tabasco Cat.

The female half of Finder’s Fee’s pedigree is just as strong. A half-sister to the 3-year-old colt Treasure Island (second in this year’s Peter Pan Stakes), Finder’s Fee is out of the dam Fantastic Find, who won the Hempstead Handicap at Belmont.

Other top runners from this bottom line include champion filly Heavenly Prize, last year’s Matron winner Oh What a Windfall and the major stakes winners Dancing Spree and Furlough.

Another filly in the Astoria with an outstanding pedigree is Meghan’s Joy, who broke her maiden last out in the slop at Delaware Park.

Meghan’s Joy is by A.P. Indy, who won the Hollywood Futurity at 2 and was Horse of the Year at 3, winning the Santa Anita Derby, Belmont Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic. A.P. Indy’s sire, Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, was unbeaten in three starts as a 2-year-old, all at Belmont Park, including the Champagne.

Meghan’s Joy’s dam, Queens Wild, is by Spectacular Bid, who also won the Champagne on his way to the 2-year-old championship. Queens Wild is from the family that produced such standouts as Belmont Futurity winner Eastern Echo and Sea Hero, who won the Champagne, Kentucky Derby and Travers.

We’ll play Finder’s Fee to win, use her both ways in exactas with Gilded Diablo and Meghan’s Joy, and box those three in the trifecta.