The Ladies Turf Sprint- $100.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
February 12, 2022

The Ladies Turf Sprint may not have one of the bigger purses that you will see, but it will still provide a chance for trainers to see if their horse can make a jump into this level, if they should stay in it, or if they can return to running for bigger purses. We see each of these paths come together for this race that runs for the 16th time. It’s purse has ranged from $50.000 to $150.000, with 2021 being a drop to the present level from its high point. That race was won by Call Craze, for Alydar Stables and it would be the highlight of the now retired mare’s season. Here are those involved in our race this year!

#1- Ruby Jaws (Arindel, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Last ran on New Years Eve in the Abundatia, a very similar race held right here that has two coming back for it. Ruby Jaws was second in the race, missing out in a photo finish. She started 2021 off very well, with the biggest victory being the $150.000 Sidney in late April, where she defeated Call Craze. These conditions are right up her alley, and I expect a good race from her.

#2- Hitch A Ride (South Shore Stables, ridden by M Tunon)- This race will start exactly the same as the Abundatia did, with Ruby Jaws breaking from post 1 and Hitch A Ride from post 2. For Hitch A Ride, it ended with her finishing third, but only missing by a half length so that can certainly be reversed here. Her biggest win of 2021 came in April, capturing the $75.000 Camilla Urso, her only stake win to this point.

#3- Silent Anticipation (Mwn Racing, ridden by C J Lanerie)- Was claimed by the trainer for $16.000 at PRX last October, in what was her third win in a row at the time. She hasn’t won yet with Mwn Racing, but she does come off a decent allowance performance which gives the trainer confidence to make her stake debut here. This is a five year old mare who works very well, so she has earned a chance to see what she can do here.

#4- High Roller Lord (Rheingold Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- At times, this Lord High Admiral mare has been moved into stake racing, but her career has predominantly been in overnights. Overall for her career, she knows how to get to the winners circle, with seven victories in 18 starts, so it seems as though she could get that first career stake win. Won an optional claimer at FG last month.

#5- Cassandra G (Angelos Stable, ridden by R J Albarado)- Ever since arriving at Angelos Stable in August 2020, Cassandra G has seen her career take off. She was winning before the claim, but Angelos was the first to bring her forward. A strong 2021 was highlighted by a win in the Grade 2 Monrovia at SA, and just last month she ran second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas. If there is a concern with her, it may be that this race is a bit too short.

#6- Ms Joyce (RNP Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- With eight wins in 23 starts and over $700.000 in career earnings, Ms Joyce has certainly had a great career. She won multiple ungraded stakes last year, including the $200.000 Maddy Stakes and also finished third on the dirt at the Grade 1 Test. She has gone back and forth between the two surfaces, and with a disappointing showing in the Inside Information just two weeks ago, it’s back to the grass!

#7- Molly Cat (First Street Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- She has won a little more than $200.000 in her career, with five wins over 18 races. In August, one of those victories would be in the $75.000 Lady Erie on PID’s main track. Since then, she has only seen optional claimers in her next four starts and got her first win since the Lady Erie last month at TUP.

Prediction: 1-2-6-4

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded