Santa Ynez Stakes – Grade II [KYO]
SA Race #6 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

As the juveniles turn three we start to see the picture change and those early types start to fade and the new prospects come through. This will be an early test of that as we see some successful two year olds take on some less exposed types. Good luck to all, this is how they line up:

1    Main Flirt     Fractious      Cedillo A

This filly carries a penalty for her Golden Rod win but gets into the ace draw so that ay not end up being such a big impost. Bought for $75 after an allowance failure the new trainer then seemingly changed nothing other than subduing her early pace a little and turned her into a stakes winner in the Anoakia Stakes. That win proved her ability to sprint and then in the Golden Rod she proved her stamina with a strong half length win with Bella Chica a length behind in third. There are a few here with similar form that have escaped a penalty which will make this tough for her but she clearly has ability and she once again gets the draw to do some damage.

2      Mans Final Frontier     Acber Farms      Davis D

An improving filly she has been successful on the state bred circuits capturing the South Ocean Stakes last time showing some great early pace. She won her maiden over seven furlongs so the trip wont be a problem and she is working well enough to be a danger from this great draw.

3      Jenga       Wood Duck Stables      Hernandez C J

Built up to a good maiden win at DMR but then the tower fell down in the Chandelier where she was pretty much never a factor. She just got home over this trip in an optional claimer last time suggesting she could do better today especially with this handy draw. The class gene is the question here, if she can find it she could do well.

4    Incendiary        Mb Stables        Velazquez J R

A grade two winner and a grade one runner up she gets in here without a penalty and looks like a very strong chance for the champion trainer. She notched up four in a row including the Schuylerville and the Adirondack before being beaten less than a length in the Spinaway. She struggled to get the mile in the Frizette next time and was dropped back to sprinting for an easy win in the Stewart Manor last time. This is a god field so she is no sure thing but she certainly has the form on the board to be very tough to beat.

5   Crepellana     YME Stable     Gaffalione T

Another grade two winner that escapes a penalty, her win came in the Miss Grillo on the turf. She contested the BC Juvenile Turf after that but ran a terrible race from a bad draw to finish second last and the jury is certainly out at the moment as to whether she can repeat her win at grade two level. She won her maiden over six on the dirt so i think she will OK on this surface but it was such a poor effort in the BC that she has something to prove before i can tip her to win a race of this nature.

6     Bella Chica       Mb Stables       Saez L

It goes without saying that MB Stakes will have multiple runners in every TC or KYO qualifying race for the next few months and this is the second of three representing the stable in this race. Third in the Alcibiades and then the winner of the Tempted she was only a length behind her Main Flirt in the Golden Rod and gets a 2Lb pull in the weights so that will put her very close. Another that has won at this trip she brings good form to this and wont be far away.

7       Reasoning     Mb Stables        Bridgmohan S X

The third stable runner she has been very consistent in state-breds winning two both over this trip and that included the big purse in the NY Stallion Series Fifth Avenue last time. She is working very well and actually may get in a little under the radar here with two stable mates who have been in the limelight.

8     Bay Cat       Crocker Ggs      Gonzalez Ru

Won three in a row including the Glorious Song Stakes but was then a terrible last in the Mazarine BC Stakes and she may just have reached a plateau in her improvement curve. Not for me today from this difficult gate but one that will be worth taking notes on.

9     Coconut Milk       Wood Duck Stables       Hernandez J J

Won on debut and then followed up in the Debutante at CD before a solid fourth in the Sorrento Stakes. Consistent since she has taken a big ticket allowance and finished a very close second in the Shamrock Rose Stakes under a penalty. If the trainer can get the tactics right from this difficult draw then she will be a major player here.

10   Sprint Tempest       Fractious      Jaramillo E

A real solid filly she may struggle from this draw in a good field but she certainly has ability so with some luck she may get into it. A strong winner of the Fern Creek last time she may struggle to get that position just behind the speed from here and then she may struggle. It will be interesting to see the tactics here with the stable mate in gate one.

11  Spearmint Rhino      Arindel         Pereira T J

Well it is hard to turn down a filly called Spearmint Rhino and she will be well used to getting tips but despite the attraction to the name she may just be a bit of an outside chance here. I really like her recent works and she won her WO maiden in good fashion last time. The trainer is tipped to have a great year and it may just start here if she can get round the draw.

12   Ginger Latte     Nakamura Stables       Carrasco V R

There is no better trainer than Nakamura at getting them home from wide gates and this consistent filly is a real trier and is just the sort the stable likes. A determined winner of the Shamrock Rose Stakes last time she may lack a bit of toe at this level but she will give her best.

SUMMARY

A tough time of year to be picking winners but you can’t go far wrong with Mb Stables runners so you could go with any of them. For the sake of a bit of interest and maybe some good odds though i am going for Spearmint Rhino as an each way shot.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES