The Shuvee Handicap – GIII
7/21/19
SAR Race 5 1 1/8M – Dirt
Purse $200.000
Three Year Olds and Up Fillies and Mares

A small field of six going in this years running of the grade three Shuvee Handicap here at Saratoga Race Course. It is a very good field though as many of these are stakes and graded stakes winners. Let’s take a look at the field.

1. Nice Tactical Speed (12-4-0-1 $353.490), trained by Maxmillion Farm

The first filly in the field and this is also the first of the two from Maxmillion Farm. This filly is a multiple graded stakes winner and she can compete with this field. The only thing is that she is not very consistent so you never know if she is going to run good or not.

2. Snakie Pleasure (9-2-1-0 $208.800), trained by Maxmillion Farm

The other filly in the field for Maxmillion Farm and she is also a graded stakes winner but that was sprinting. She is very good around one turn but she is very suspect around two turns as she has never hit top three routing. Too suspect at the distance for me.

3. Blue Jeans (20-2-6-3 $483.300), trained by First Class Stable

And now to this filly who comes into this race off of a second place finish in the grade three Arlington Park Matron. She ran very well that day on the mud but I do think this race is a little bit tougher. She likes to come from behind so a quick pace will help her out.

4. Pumpernickel Basil (20-5-8-1 $559.800), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Once again another graded stakes winner in the field and this filly is coming into this race off of a neck defeat in the grade two Bed O Roses Handicap. She did win the grade three Royal Delta earlier this year so she has the ability to win here. She is my top choice.

5. Smile In Victory (10-1-4-1 $112.260), trained by Team 7 Illusions

No disrespect here but this looks like the weakest entry in the field as she has not been able to beat first level allowance horses yet. She has been tried in stakes with no success either. She would have to run her best ever race to win in here.

6. Down And Out (20-5-4-6 $450.160), trained by Mb Stables

The final runner in the field here is also a graded stakes winner and she finally gets to stretch back out. She has been sprinting in her last couple but I think routing is where she is best at. I think she will regain her old form here on the stretch out.

Summary

A very competitive field that is for sure as I could see at least five of them winning with any surprise but I can’t count any of them out. My top pick is Pumpernickel Basil as I think she is sitting on a big race. Good luck to all in the field.

4-6-3-1

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES