8/8/2020

 9    SAR      The Test (GI)

        $400.000       3yoF          7f Dirt        122lbs

Upstate NY and The Spa, we catch a VERY talented group of sophomore fillies for The Test (GI), and this seven furlong, main track sprint looks to be one heck of a contest.  You really have to give all of them a serious look… I’m going chalk here (or at least I think I am) as I put Z Is For Zero on top.  She’s won five in a row including three graded races, plus she zinged home in the Great Lady M (GII).  She can fly and this looks like a spot to show her best.  I’ll take Threat Unknown in the second spot as she was third a length back to the top choice last out.  She’s won five of eight and contends every time she’s in the field.  I’ll put Marbles Blitz in the third spot, meaning I left out both of Mb Stables charges here… probably a big mistake.

Here’s The Field –

She’s still looking for her first win of the ’20 season, showing a placing and a third from six stats.  She did run big last out when second in the Victory Road (GIII) at BEL.  She closed from way back and the extra sixteenth could play to her.  She was 35/1 in that race, so she should come with a nice price at the windows. 

Another that was second last out, but she does show a win this year, beating Alw horses at GP back in Feb.  She was ninth in the Acorn, but it was good to see her bounce back a bit last out.  She was passing horses late in that one but was no threat to the winner… can she improve here at a shorter distance?

Claimed for just $12.500 back in March and paid immediate dividends winning the Skipat at PIM in her first start for Mb.  Came back to be third in the Victory Road (GIII) and looks ready to build on that success.  The stable is still playing with her medication a bit, so I’m still not sure she’s run her best race… today?

Well, she sure is making this race horse thing look might easy… undefeated this year in four starts and won her last start of ’19 so it’s a five race streak she has going right now.  Her last three have been graded races… class, speed, ability… she’s got it all.  I think she’s the post time favorite in this one. 

Back-to-back wins coming into this one, as she beat horses at a tag on a muddy WO strip then took now a nice Alw race at CD last out.  This is another step up in class today, but she may not notice and could just keep on running.  Give her a look, she’s running well right now. 

She’s been tough as nails since that forgettable BC Day race… three wins, two in a row coming into this one, along with a slew of other good starts, she sure does look to be running well right now.  This is her first graded effort since that race in Nov, but she looks to be a running well and has to be given a solid look.

She’s been tough of late, other than that dud i the Santa Ysabal (GIII) where she proved that sprinting is her game.  Three wins in a row since then and four of five, so you know she can flat out haul the mail.  Another unbelievable claim by this barn, taking her for just $10.000 when she broke maiden.  She’s gotta be looked here. 

She’s been running bit all of her career, five wins from eight starts and was right there in the Great Lady M Stakes (GII) last out after winning the Eight Belles (GII) at CD prior to that.  She give an honest effort every time and there is no reason to doubt it here. 

Never a bad race but this is her first time in the deep end of the pool.  Broke maiden two back then just missed vs. Alw horses at ELP last out.  Now it’s graded foes and the outside post to boot.  She certainly has talent but this is a tough spot. 

Categories: FEATURED STORIES, Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES