GII – Sorrento
$200.000 Graded Stake Six And A Half Furlongs On Dirt For Filly Two Year Olds
2016 Champ: I Figured
The GII Sorrento at DMR on Saturday afternoon has drawn a big field of eleven filly two year olds all looking to help their cause when it comes to getting their way into the BC Juvenile Fillies held at the same track in early November. None of these fillies currently have any points for the race but a few sit on the list thanks to current earns (Beat To The Punch 5th, Sweeping Slew 35th, Mexican 39th), so everyone will be looking to pick up those ever valuable points.
1- Beat To The Punch (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Stevens G L)
A win in the ungraded Debutante puts you near the top of the list of early two year old filly contenders and this year that title goes to Beat To The Punch. She went into the race as the betting favorite and did not disappoint, sitting just off the lead and making her move late in the race, winning over fast closing Mexican who is also in this race. Her work in the morning suggests a bit of improvement off last start leaving her a contender again in this one.
2- Phobos (Trained by Smokey Stover, Ridden by Arroyo N Jr)
Seventh wasn’t the finish Phobos’ new connections were looking for last time out as she ran in her first race under her new silks after being purchased for $270.000 in mid June. She pressed the pace early but was not able to sustain it down the stretch eventually losing by just over two lengths. The good news is her most recent morning work gives her the fourth fastest time for all two year old fillies and the second fastest filly as the top three works are all by the same horse. If she can follow that up on the track it makes her a top contender in the race.
3- Ambiguity (Trained by Blushing Meadows, Ridden by Espinoza V)
On July 21st her six furlong work at DMR puts her fifteen on the top workout list. Her last time out she broke her maiden going four and a half furlongs at SA. On that day she was able to win the short race despite being over seven lengths off the early lead. Her closing style should suit her well in this field as the early pace should be a quick one. Look for her to try and close from the clouds late.
4- Sweeping Slew (Trained by Toppedout, Ridden by Baze T C)
Five starts already in her young career but never outside the top three in those starts. Her race times are all comparable to everyone else in the field but the main concern with her right now is she has now run four times since the sixth of June and will be running in her third race in under a month when she leaves the gate Saturday evening.
5- Country Cheers (Trained by Alamogordo, Ridden by Blanc B)
Coming out on top of the four person shake for Country Cheers was the stable of Alamogordo. In her most recent race she won a $12.50 claimer while being claimed. That makes this filly two for two in her young career. She has no recent works showing so hard to see if she is improving or not but will likely need a big jump to have a shot in here.
6- Power Of Prayer (Trained by TwinTowersRacing, Ridden by Flores D R)
Another filly out of the Debutante is Power Of Prayer. In that race she finished in a dead heat for fifth. She is another one not showing a whole lot of recent works to go off of. The little bit of extra distance should be to the liking of Power Of Prayer.
7- Iris Nebula (Trained by Samlam, Ridden by Van Dyke D)
Never one to throw down a very impressive work in the morning but has shown some guts in the afternoon early on in her career is Iris Nebula. A very solid third place finish in her most recent start, the $100.000 Landaluce Stakes is enough to warrant not over looking her when it comes to post time.
8- Mesquida (Trained by Fractious, Ridden by Gutierrez Mario)
To the outside of Iris Nebula and finishing right behind her in fourth in her most recent start is Mesquida. Her work tab suggest she may be the better of the two horses and with a little more racing luck this time could out shine her. If she wants to continue down the BC trail she will need to start showing some more improvement then she has over the past few months.
9- Mexican (Trained by Team 7 Illusions, Ridden by Garcia Mar)
Coming from the nine post is Mexican. She is still a maiden but has been a threat to win in all three of her career starts which include two stake races. She is also in the top forty for quickest six furlong works and should be one to thrive as the distances get longer. Despite still being a maiden is a threat to win.
10- Growling In The Wind (Trained by Our Athletes, Ridden by Prat F)
Breaking her maiden last time out earned her the chance in here. Her maiden breaking time was a good one and combining that with her improving work times gives the connections hope she more then just belongs here. She has Prat F aboard who is only 1 for 32 this season with two year olds.
11- Sheza Cracker (Trained by Yahudi Stables, Ridden by Elliott S)
A wire to wire winner in her third career start broke Sheza Crackers maiden. She is in tough here with the outside post and wanting the lead in such a big field. She will need a perfect break from the gate in hopes of clearing the field early on and not being trapped on the outside.
My Selections: 2/9/1
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
