The 18th Running of the Suncoast Stakes
February 12, 2022 16:55
TAM Race #15 $150.000 1m 70yds Dirt
3YO Fillies 120 Lbs (plus penalties)
KYO Points Race (10-4-2-1)
Track Record-1:38.40 (Scottish Song-2013)
Stakes Record-1:39.32 (Live For Today-2017)
The eighteenth running of the $150.000 Suncoast Stakes will, for the fifth time, offer KYO points on a 10-4-2-1 basis. The one mile and seventy yard will go off at 16:55 as race 15 on the Saturday TAM card. As the only stakes-winner in the field, Sophia Florsch, will tote 122 lbs while her ten opponents will carry the 120 lb minimum. Over half of the field will enter the gate as winners of a maiden race only but only one (Jessicas Secret) will be facing winners for the first time. As more and more fillies continue to try their luck in KYD preps, this appears to be a group that is looking to fill the void that has been created by their absence. Here’s your field for the Suncoast Stakes at TAM:
#1 Threaded (Mb Stables/C.J. Hernandez 120): Rail-horse prepped for this engagement with a 4th place finish locally on January 15th. All seven starts have been sprints so far and while this will not be her first time going two turns, it will be her first attempt routing. Sprint form shows plenty of gas to be involved in this from the start and trainer knows how to get the most from advantageous post draws. Respect.
#2 Jessicas Secret (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco 120): Last-out maiden win was right here at this same trip just a few weeks ago so the surroundings shouldn’t bother her. That effort was a significant improvement from the first three starts of her career and came against only four rivals. Still, she won the right way on that day, and she gets the services of the barn’s preferred pilot. All that aside, she’s taking a big step-up and will need another significant jump to best these.
#3 Upstate (Our Athletes/J.R. Velazquez 120): 3rd-place finisher from the Busanda returns quickly as she looks to accumulate KYO points in back-to-back races. Appears to be a stone-closer and will need the pace scenario to help her out a little bit in here. Last two stakes tries have seen her passing foes through the lane, but she’ll have to get moving a bit sooner as she shortens-up from 9-furlongs. February 6th work signifies she’s ready but can’t really blame anyone for being a bit concerned with the quick turn-around. Your call.
#4 Cb Lady (Maxmillion Farm/A. Cedillo 120): Maiden-winner will be facing stakes foes for the third consecutive start after encouraging efforts at CD last fall. Those runs she utilized differing tactics so it’s anyone’s guess as to what she does leaving the gate on Saturday. Nothing wrong with the way she’s prepped for this return engagement and fully expect her to bring her best performance. Deserves strong consideration.
#5 Broomstick Storm (Arindel/E. Jaramillo 120): Five starts have all been sprints and while she only has the maiden tally, she’s never been beaten more than two lengths. Although second, she did finish in front of the rail horse in their common last race and did so while racing on the front-end. Sprint form shows she has the ability to rate if that is what she is asked to do, so it will be interesting to see what kind of trip she gets. Works are at least comparable to the rest of the field but taking a stand against her until she shows more grit finishing her races.
#6 Hollywood Mind (Estero Farms/S.X. Bridgmohan 120): Barn’s first runner of ’22 couldn’t hang-on against NY-bred N1X foes in her first try versus winners and looks like she will be in front early again here. If she can slow down just a little bit early, she may leave herself with more in the tank coming-down the lane, but it doesn’t appear that they will just hand her the lead in here. Perhaps she is capable of passing horses, but she hasn’t given anyone the chance to be a target for her, so we just don’t know at this point. We do know that she has speed, and you hate to take that weapon away from those who possess it.
#7 Karloffs Monster (TwinTowersRacing/D. Davis 120): Strong effort down at FG in December and that February 6th breeze is right in line with what it takes to win these types of races. Hasn’t beaten winners in two tries, but she was second-best in one and just missed in the aforementioned FG effort. Seems to be much better suited to routing and should be able to lay close to whomever sets the pace. Think it’s just a matter of time until she puts it all together and we’ll make her the top selection.
#8 Sophia Florsch (Wolf Ridge Stables/D.E. Centeno 122): Two-time stakes winner has to give her ten rivals two pounds, but you already know that she likes to get her picture taken in the afternoons. Previous efforts have all been one-turn sprints, so she has to prove she can be effective going a route of ground. She appears fast enough to be laying close early and, if she handles the distance, she should have every chance to prove her quality. Two pounds isn’t a lot of weight, but it is enough to keep her out of the superfecta.
#9 Chatty Cathy (Night Rider Stables/A.A. Gallardo 120): In typical fashion for the barn, this lass was plucked from the claiming-ranks for $20.000 last month and she gets an immediate class test. Owns two wins from three starts; however, the wins were sprints, and the one loss came going a route of ground. Work tab shows her to be a little bit behind the best in here, but she’ll have a chance to take home a minor award.
#10 Copper Philiogist (Greyfriars Stable/A. Achard 120): Broke her maiden off of an almost seven-month layoff and was sent right back at the same trip against stakes foes. Came up empty on NYD but she did pass a couple horses even if she didn’t make up a ton of ground. The one time she has been involved early resulted in her only win and this field doesn’t appear to be blazing fast, but this post makes things a bit more difficult for her. Definitely think she runs better here, but just not convinced her best will be good enough.
#11 Chatta Code (Ace Racing Stable/Mario Gutierrez 120): Another who was claimed just last month, this lass owns an impressive race record with three wins from just five starts. $28.000 isn’t a lot of money to pay for a horse that likes to win races and the trainer is keeping his cards close to his vest with no published workouts. She did break her maiden on debut, on dirt, at DMR back in July before making the next four starts on the grass. Last two efforts going long on the grass saw her dictating the terms of engagement; however, the draw was not kind to her and those tactics will be hard to replicate without taxing her too much. Love the claim and think she can round-out the exacta on Saturday. If she does that (or wins), she may be pretty special.
Final Analysis: 7-1-4-11 is how we see the $150.000 Suncoast Stakes at TAM. Good luck to all of the connections!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
