Las Virgenes Stakes – Grade 3 (KYO) – $200.000

SA – 1 Mile – Dirt

For Fillies Three Years Old

January 28, 2023

With KYO points on the line, the Las Virgenes draws a field of nine with a couple of real standouts. Muddy Buddy got off to a slow start this year after a two-year-old season in which she never finished off the board in four starts. Gumption was good enough for a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies where she finished a respectable fourth.

Here’s the field:

1 Dolly P (Arindel) Won the Myrtlewood two starts back but couldn’t get it done in the state-bred NYSS – Fifth Avenue last out. This is the farthest this filly has ever run, so distance has to be a question mark. Mile works are good. Wait and see.

2 A Lot To Like (LionKing Stables) Three starts, two wins for this lightly raced filly. Broke her maiden at GG, then followed that up with a win in the AZ Juvenile fillies Stakes at TUP. Another one untested at this distance.

3 Perfect Illusion (Allinthegate) Won the Soviet Problem Stakes at a mile in the mud last out. Works aren’t as strong as some but expect her to be competitive here.

4 Cold Storage (Rock Creek) Graded winner of the Adirondack at two. She has been competing in Grade 1 company. Has not hit the board at a mile and beyond but finished a close fifth in the BC Juvenile Fillies.

5 Up She Flew (Aer Stables) Won the $200.000 Fern Creek two starts back. Finished third in the 1 1/16 mile Chandelier Stakes (Grade 2). Never off the board in four starts last year.

6 Muddy Buddy (Mb Stables) Won the $100.000 Cash Run last out, so distance shouldn’t be a problem for this girl. Never off the board in four starts, including a close third in the Grade 3 Golden Rod, another race with KYO implications. Like her chances.

7 Gumption (Alydar Stables) Won the Grade 1 Frizette, then finished fourth in the BC Juvenile Fillies and the Starlet, a KYO qualifier. Tested at a distance and at the highest levels. Another one that should have a say in the outcome.

8 Proud Passion (South Shore Stables) A nice filly that probably needs a little more experience before taking on this field. Broke her maiden last out at GG, but another one untested at the distance. May be asking too much of this one.

Picks: 6-7-3

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES