KD Ladies Turf (Grade 3)- $500.000 Purse
KD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
September 12, 2020
The KD Ladies Turf is a newer race to the schedule, running in the game for just the fourth time, and has been a Grade 3 since its inception. The generous purse in which it offers has attracted a full field with some very well known names. One of those names is Angel Shark, who won this race last year. Since winning a graded race in January, she’s been somewhat quiet in 2020, but returning to a former place of victory can be a great thing, even if it means starting from the outside. She’ll contend with ten that are looking to knock her off, and here is a look at this field.
#1- Concordia (Nakamura Stables, ridden by G Franco)- Makes her graded debut here after winning five of her first nine races. One of them was right here in the KD Preview Ladies Turf last month in a far less exciting field, but she still did what she needed to do. On the turf, she is a perfect 2-fo-2, so has earned this jump in class, but faces some very tough company now.
#2- Chances Taken (Mb Stables, ridden by M Tunon)- The Coin Flip filly made a name for herself back in the middle of July, when she won the Grade 1 BEL Oaks on soft turf, coming from off the pace in the end to get it done. She would not be able to have the same level of success in the Grade 1 Beverly D, also on soft turf, and cuts her distance back a bit here from those races, but had success at or about this distance as well.
#3- Smart Queen (Night Rider Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- This will be her 30th career start, and the trainer hopes that it will be the six year old’s first graded win. Night Rider has done well with her in moving her up the ranks since claiming her for $14.000 in October 2018, and she did win a NY-bred stake this spring. Her last two starts, though, do not create optimism that she is about to beat some of those she faces here.
#4- Rules Are Madness (Angelos Stable, ridden by R M Hernandez)- An outstanding 2020 has allowed this four year old to surpass the $1,200.000 mark in career earnings, and there is no reason to think she is slowing down. She will come in here off a second place showing in the Grade 1 Diana at SAR, and prior to that she won the Grade 2 Ballston. During the Spring, she won the Grade 1 Gamely out at SA, so she is running as well as she possibly can right now. I wonder, a little, if she likes nine furlongs better than eight, but still is a strong contender here.
#5- Forty Chai (Estero Farms, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- Earlier this year, she won four races in a row, including a pair of Grade 2’s, the Appalachian and the Edgewood. That run would come to an end in her last start, which was the Grade 1 BEL Oaks at that race track. It was not a bad performance though, as she still managed third on the soft turf that day. Her bigger problem there was probably more the longer distance then the track condition.
#6- Shes A Native (Mb Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Does not seem quite as strong in here as does her stablemate, but if she can get back to how she was running near the beginning of the year when she won three straight, then her outlook can change. After placing fifth in the Gamely, she’s hit a slight rut, but is still able to collect a portion of the purse. That means you can’t overlook her, but against some of the horses she is up against, I can’t put her on top.
#7- Cest And Me (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by D Davis)- A veteran filly who has made 23 career starts, and found her way to the winners circle seven times. None of those trips have been this year, though she has still hit the board in three of five races, and the trainer still shows his faith in her by nominating her into top quality races. Ran third, missing by a length, in the Grade 1 Diana last month and there’s not a thing wrong with that.
#8- Zee Model (Gdp Inc, ridden by J Lezcano)- The filly by Z Jinxed One has won four of seven for her career, and that is highlighted by capturing the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at SA in June. Followed that up decently in the Ballston at SAR, but tired a bit to fourth in the end. That may simply mean that she will enjoy going back to only running a mile here. Have to like a horse that knows how to win, and she would definitely make a statement here if she did so.
#9- La Terrifiant (Our Athletes, ridden by A Beschizza)- She has become one of the best racehorses in the game, amassing now over $4,500.000 in career earnings. Sure, the Grade 1 Diana was not her best effort, but even then, she was still fifth. Occasionally, she will have a race like that, but she has proven to be a horse that you can count on to bounce back. Two starts ago, the reigning BC Fillies & Mares Turf Champion won the Grade 1 Just A Game, so she is still running well and figures to be a good choice to get a win here. If so, it would be the tenth of her career.
#10- Lady Cowgirl (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by P Lopez)- The trainer believes in this horse, and that is a good thing. Not sure if there are many other people out there who still do as she has not won since September of last year, and has only hit the board three times in her last nine starts. Has an occasional close call which keeps her being entered in races like this, but did not fare well on soft going in the Beverly D, whatsoever.
#11- Angel Shark (John Henry, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Last year, Angel Shark pulled off the win, coming from well off the pace from post 10, gaining four lengths in the final two furlongs in the process. That’s continued to be her style, but she has only won once since then. Fortunately for the trainer, she had a solid second place effort in the Grade 2 Ballston two starts back, and there are a few of them here that ran in this race. Don’t think she’s going to be repeat as the stake winner, but she can still contend.
Prediction: 4-9-2-8
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
