Wishing Well Stakes
SA Race #7 6 1/2f Turf Stake
Purse $100.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Cherokee Shocker Invicta Group Llc Bravo J 123 —

This isn’t the strongest field ever assembled for a stakes race, but it is one that has some promising types who may be on the brink of better things. This four-year-old was highly tried last year and managed a second in the Limestone but generally didn’t live up to expectations. She was given an easier start to this year when taking an optional claimer at TAM and whilst that was a game effort, she may just have to improve a bit to win this. The gate is good, but she may not have the scope of some of the others.

2 Laptop Oquinn Farm Franco C 123 —

Lightly raced with only five starts she has won two including her last start in an optional claimer at SA. That was a decent effort from a similar draw over this course and distance so there is plenty to like about her but today is another test to see if she can take the next step.

3 The Black Water Arindel Hernandez J J 123 —

Another course and distance winner her win came in the grade three Las Cienegas Stakes but as is usual at HRP that field was no more competitive than Laptop’s win in an optional claimer so not too much should be read into that. Upsides Cherokee Shocker when a place behind that horse in the Limestone it looks very tight between these first three in the gates and it is almost impossible to separate them.

4 Point Of Honor High Voltage Rispoli U 123 —

The winner of three of her last five, she too won over this course and distance when taking the SSM F/M Turf Sprint and went quicker than both of the other recent course and distance winners. I feel she could just have an edge over her rivals today as an on-speed type who loves this trip.

5 High Return Maxmillion Farm Smith M E 123 —

Never write this trainer off on the SA Turf even though he has only just bought this ex-router. As i have said before sometimes a horse can improve when swapping stables and if this one does, he is in the right hands to take advantage.

6 My Girl Makita Smokey Stover Kimura K 123 —

Last but not least is the best mare in the race, it is just whether she is ready for a new campaign. The winner of over 1.9K in prize money she is probably not the same horse that won the KD Ladies Turf in 2021 and was only fourth in this race last year so there are obvious signs that she is slowing down. She is all class though and that could be enough.

SUMMARY

This is a tight looking race and i just favor Point Of Honor by the barest of margins. My Girl Makita could well prove too classy for the rest but there is very little between them.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded