Royal Delta – Grade 3 – $150.000
GP – Dirt – 1 1/16 Mile
For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
February 18, 2023
1 Sinful By Nature (D J C Racing Stables) Started this year off with a win in allowance company at SUN. Before that, this four-old-filly put together a string of in-the-money finishes that included a win in the $100.000 Lady Erie and a third in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes. In twelve starts, she has only finished off the board twice.
2 Present Tense (Mb Stables) Another one knocking at the door in stakes company. Second in the Grade 3 IND Oaks in July, she was close again in the $275.000 Dogwood in September. Nice win in allowance company before finishing second again in the Rampart (Grade 3) last out. You just know she’s going back to the winner’s circle, and this could be the time.
3 Confederate Warrior (Paradise Stable) Only one career win for this filly, but she’s been close several times in state-bred stakes company. Wouldn’t count her out, but she will need to bring her A game to compete here.
4 State Star (Smokey Stover) Three race win streak was ended last out when she tried the Grade 1 LaBrea where she finished third just ½ length back. Looking to get back to the form that got her to the winner’s circle in the GP Oaks (Grade 2) last April.
5 Directors Chair (Nakamura Stables) Second in the Grade 3 HOU Ladies Classic last out, just half a length behind Karloffs Monster. Hasn’t been to the winner’s circle since the Grade 3 Pucker Up Stakes in August, but as tough as this spot is, it is much softer than some of the races she’s tried lately.
6 Anivia (BomBay Stables) Won the Wayward Lass last out after a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Maple Leaf Stakes. Seems a bit outclassed here.
7 Secret Eyes (Arindel) Won the Locust Grove (Grade 3) in September but couldn’t get it done in her two subsequent starts. If you throw out her last start that came with a little less than three-weeks rest, she has been very consistently in the money for the last six or seven months. I’m willing to give her the benefit of the doubt on that one – may have been a little shorter than she likes.
8 Laffy Crack (Night Rider Stables) Grade 1 winner of the Hirsch in August which got her into the BC Distaff where she finished a respectable fourth. Finished just behind Present Tense in the Grade 3 Rampart last start. Could come down to these two again.
9 [Rename1654] (TwinTowersRacing) Probably a bit outclassed in this field. Hasn’t had a win since May 2021, and except for a second in the CTT Stakes on turf, hasn’t show much recently.
10 Pink Attack (The Sidley Stud) Back-to-back wins in the Zenyatta (Grade 2) and the Trillium (Grade 3) won her a spot in the BC Distaff where she finished 10th. After a ninety-day plus rest, she is ready to make her 2023 debut. With that one caveat, she looks strong in this field. Look for her close to the lead.
11 Low Beams Please (Parkers Pride) Changed hands two starts back, then won an optional claimer at GG, the only time she ever ran for money in her career. New barn seems very optimistic about this filly, but this is a big step up.
Picks: 10-8-1
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
