Goldikova Stakes – Grade II
SA Race #7 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Pure Motor Night Rider Stables Vazquez R A

Despite just the one win this year this mare has had a good year so far and strikes a winnable race here from a perfect draw. An ungraded stakes winner out of the gate in January she has been aimed pretty high since and has done pretty well in some hot races. Maybe her best effort came over this trip and track in the Buena Vista when she stalked a good pace and kept on for second from a wide draw. The same effort here from an inside draw makes her a decent chance. She hasn’t run since striking an off track in the Penny Memorial in July and being beaten by Hawaii County but she isn’t as effective in the wet as that winner and a dry track will see her much closer if not beating that runner today.

2 Summers Day Maxmillion Farm Van Dyke D

She went off the boil a bit last Autumn after winning the Lake George and the Lake Placid and has done something similar this year which put a bit of a question mark next to her. A very good winner of the CD Distaff Turf Mile In May she ran pretty well to be fourth in the Just A Game but that ran a bit flat in the KD Ladies Turf last time out. It could’ve been the off track that saw her run like that so the theory about not being an Autumn horse could easily be wrong and she is certainly from the right stable for a turf route graded stakes race.

3 Omnibus High Voltage Valdivia J Jr

She had promised a bit but had to be taken down the grades to really find herself and since then she has won three in a row culminating in an ungraded stakes win last time over this trip. The trainer certainly seems to have found her secret instruction as she has led and finished much better than she did in the early part of the year. She too hasn’t raced since July so may be a but ring rusty or well rested we wont really know until they cross the line. An improver who may just be on the up.

4 Party In The Brig Mo Mentum Farm Rispoli U

She looked pretty promising as a long sprinter early on this year but has been stretched out since and one feels that her bubble burst in her last start in the Rodeo Drive. This trip may in fact turn out to be just right as i feel some of her best efforts have come around the mile distance. She has been busy in the last few months and if she has got over that last run she is right in this race with a chance.

5 Hawaii County Mb Stables Hernandez J J

I don’t think she is a true wet tracker but her best recent races have come on an off track so any rain would be ideal for her in this race. With over 1K in prize money she is the most accomplished in the race and hails from the champion trainer so that could well be enough to put her in for the win. She may be better from off the pace so the draw shouldn’t bother her so it is just a matter of what the race engine spits out as to whether she will win.

SUMMARY

An interesting race as every horse is good enough but all have little blots on their copybook. Hawaii County will be a popular choice for obvious reasons and if it rains i can’t see her being beaten but this may just be one of those races where you pick the biggest odds and hope today is their day.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES