Canadian Stakes – Grade II
WO   Race #3   1 1/8m   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $250.000  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Commanding Faith, trained by Crocker Cgs
She threw in a poor one in the grade one Diana from a wide draw so that must be excused so taking that out she has very respectable form and with the three year old allowance must be respected. She made all to score by a length in the grade two Honeybee from the same draw and over the same trip and recently ran third in the DMR Oaks. consistently recording speed figures in the 90’s and working nicely enough i like her to be in the top three.

2 Shoot The Moon, trained by TwinTowersRacing
She took the CD Distaff Mile in the mud in May but has yet to prove she gets this extra eighth of a mile. She faded in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap last time over this trip so that coupled with the same sort of run in Allowance company at the end of last year suggests to me she may find the stretch a bit too much.

3 Isolated, trained by Mb Stables
Probably about the 200th best three year old in the Mb Stables and has yet to face stakes company but that of course means very little at HRP. Drawn nicely she won three in a row before getting narrowly beaten last time and whilst they were all in overnights we all know the class system mean very little. Her work times arent far off these and with the weight allowance she comes into the reckoning.

4 Must Be Nice, trained by John Henry
With a fairly long list of good efforts in graded stakes you would have to consider this four year old even though she has to give weight to fillies working the same times. I like the way she dug deep last time and nearly got up in the Matchmaker failing by a nose and as long as the rain stays away she should be fighting it out for the older brigade at the end.

5 Mo Ki Missy, trained by Spankys Barn
She lost her way a little after easily winning the grade one Rodeo Drive and then finishing close up in the BC but we saw a glimmer of that old form last time out and that may be a good tell for her chances today. Making all she took the Modesty Handicap with top weight by an easy two lengths and at her best she could be tough to beat today.

6 Rule Of Law, trained by Hambletonian Stable
A three year old on the rise she has looked very good in her last two races and could be the answer in a tricky race. She won the Royal North Stakes from a similar draw before a good win in the ONT Colleen Stakes and her off the pace style may come in useful in a race with plenty of speed in it.

7 Laff It Up, trained by Our Athletes
Had Shoot the Moon well behind when taking the Yellow Ribbon Handicap last time and has a pretty impressive win ratio without being too highly tested. The wide draw may be tough but she took the Valentine Stakes from a wide draw so it may not be too much of an inconvenience. There isnt anything without a chance in this race and she is right in it too.

SUMMARY
A very tricky race to read and it may just come down to who gets the pace and trip they need. I always favor the three year olds and am rarely wrong so i will put Rule Of Law on top but she faces some much better older fillies and will need every pound of the weight allowance to win.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES