Penny Memorial Stakes – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.
1st Burning Forest Maxmillion Farm Bridgmohan S X
You know as a writer i constantly write about these races and over the years certain patterns have emerged. Three year olds in previous seasons in all aged stakes, Mb Stables in those 1K plus races and Maxmillion Farm in turf routes. Yet despite these consistent outcomes i still go back to the form book and try and pick the horse that i think should win on form, the letters SMH come to mind now i write about the Penny Memorial. Burning Forest is not a bad sort don’t get me wrong but two wins from fifteen and none in stakes company doesn’t scream grade three winner on the form book……. However and here is the key, the new race engine has made it easier to win from the front and this filly is a front runner. Now those two facts along with the perfect draw and Maxmillion Farms in the hot seat should have made this 45/1 shot an easy pick, but still i go back to the form book and tip something else, when will i ever learn!
I have no idea how good this filly is or will be but today, with everything going right she was the best filly by a half length. I felt the lead would be more hotly contested but in fact she managed a fast start and a fairly comfortable lead, it was fast enough but not break neck and in the end she had enough left to hold on. Congrats to the turf king on yet another winner.
2nd Too Scared To Party Smokey Stover Gaffalione T
The race engine almost certainly does not suit this filly at the moment. She likes to close late and just doesn’t look happy when she is pushed to stay closer to the pace. As it was she kept trying all the way to the line and with another furlong may well have won but despite having far superior form to the winner she just wasn’t good enough today. The paddocks may not be far away for her now but there is almost certainly a good win left for her if her trainer perseveres.
3rd All By Myself TwinTowersRacing Jaramillo E
Got into the perfect stalk but this isn’t the first time she has looked a little weak in a finish. She has plenty of class but just doesn’t possess the turn of foot of some others and often gets caught out down the stretch. Much improved she is only 15.2hh so may be a later maturer and with that may come more strength so i think she may make a decent five year old.
4th Break From Holly Nakamura Stables Silvera Ru
Like the two above her was close enough to the leader but it is certainly harder t get past a front runner on this new race engine and she just whacked away with the other two down the stretch. A good effort from this three year old that, like many from her generation. is struggling to keep tabs on the older horses.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
