10/30/22
12 AQU The Empire Distaff
$250.000 3yo&Up F&M Foaled In NY 1 1/8m Dirt 3yo 121lbs Older 124lbs
We get a nice field of eight ladies set to go the classic mile and a eighth distance in the Empire Distaff for NY-breds. I’m headed towards the outside posts for my selections and took Secret Eyes on top. She’s looked good running with graded horses, so this race should setup well for her. I’d expect her to run back to that Locust Grove (GIII) second, and that will get the job done, I think. Let’s give Dont Eat The Fish a shot as well, as she has been doing very well vs. the NY stakes horses, and with only six starts, she’s got room to improve, and that could be dangerous.
Here’s The Field –
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Surrey | Smokey Stover | Jaramillo E | 121 | 5/1 |
She’s been on the board in all eight ’22 starts, Winning vs. similar in the NY Oaks at FL, then running third in the Fleet Indian at the Spa back in Aug. She seems to get a check every single time she heads over to the starting gate, so I wouldn’t doubt her today.
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Upstate | Smokey Stover | Velazquez J R | 121 | 3/1 |
Stablemate of the rail horse, and she’s tough as well… won back to back races, including the Johnstone Mile at SAR, then was third in the Pines Stakes (GIII) at DMR. She’s running bit and should be in the thick of things when they hit the lane.
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Texas Holdem | D J C Racing Stables | Franco M | 121 | 7/2 |
Back to back wins coming into this one, winning the Betta Be Rite at FL facing NY-bred types, then another victory in the Rondeau Bay Stakes at FE. She fits right in with this group and I would not be surprised to see her get her picture taken.
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Jedediah | D J C Racing Stables | Lopez P | 124 | 5/1 |
Three off the board finishes in her last three starts, but they were all graded races. Back to back wins prior to that including the Roxelana at CD, so there no doubt she has the ability to get the job done… now, is this the spot?
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Heightened Exposure | Mb Stables | Cedillo A | 121 | 6/1 |
Her lone ’22 win was vs. similar when she took down the Critical Eye at BEL, vs. NY-breds. She came back to be second in open OptAlw company, then tired to be fifth in the Fleet Indian, so she’s a bit of a question mark in my eye.
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Arindel | Saez L | 124 | 9/5 |
She’s been tough as nails this year, and won the Ballerina BC (GIII) in her most recent trip to the gate. Prior, she was the runner-up in the Locust Grove (GIII) at CD… add in that she just never seems to run a bad one, and you may have your winner right here.
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Dont Eat The Fish | Mb Stables | Hernandez R M | 121 | 5/2 |
The fish may be bad, but this one has been feasting on NY-bred stakes company, show a pair of runner-up efforts, then breaking thru for a nice score in the Arctic Queen last out. Three wins and a pair of second from six seasonal starts… yeah, she can get it.
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Promising Hope | Mo Mentum Farm | Maldonado E | 121 | 8/1 |
Broke maiden at the $35.000 level, then was sixth of seven in the Arctic Queen, so she obviously has to show more or it’s going to be another long day at the track.
COZMAN 6 / 7 Willie’s Green Card 6
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
