The 12th Running of The Busher
Saturday, March 4, 2023
AQU Race #3 $200.000
3YO Fillies 122 Lbs (plus penalties) 1-Mile
KYO POINTS RACE (50-20-15-10-5)
Course Record-1:33.67 (Omni-2004)
Stakes Record-1:35.04 (You Just Have 2 Wait-2019)
#1 A Lot To Like (Riggins Racing/M.E. Smith 124): Stakes-winning filly started her season at SA before being sold for just $25.000. Debuted for the new outfit with a sharp 3rd in the Suncoast at TAM. Late-runner grabs the rail here and should be able to save a ton of ground before uncorking her run.
#2 Greenhousegasparty (Mb Stables/F. Geroux 122): Lass has five runner-up finishes in eight career races, including a nose defeat in G2 Chandelier. Made her seasonal debut in January with another runner-up in a GP allowance. If she finds that finishing punch, she could be live here.
#3 Be Exceptional (TwinTowersRacing/A. Beschizza 122): A G1 runner-up in December, she caught a muddy strip at FG and finished 9th in January’s Silverbulletday. Has a bit more versatility than the duo drawn inside of her, and she doesn’t run many bad ones on dry surfaces.
#4 Fire Form (Mb Stables/F. Prat 122): Finally broke her maiden in her fifth attempt, and she retains Prat’s services for this first crack at winners. Worth noting that she did win in her first non-sprint start and that win came on this engine. Should be sitting midpack, or closer, but the water is deeper here.
#5 Scam Dancer (TwinTowersRacing/J. Alvarado 122): Two-time winner tried the Busanda to start her sophomore campaign and briefly set the pace before finishing 10th of eleven. Seems to be more comfortable with a target in front of her and she should get that here.
#6 Chrystal Cave (Maletto/F. Pennington 124): Filly beat the brakes off of PA-bred stakes company last year with four black-type victories. Made her seasonal-debut with a 3rd-placed finish in the G3 Forward Gal at GP, so she can compete with these types, too. Likes to be involved early and doesn’t have a lot of speed drawn inside of her.
#7 So Blitz (Asgar/M. Franco 122): Lass graduated from the maiden ranks in her seasonal debut here in January, then followed up with a strong runner-up effort down at TAM. Retains the services of Franco for the fourth consecutive start, and she only needs a small move forward to be a force here.
#8 Ruth Langmore (Luz International/T. McCarthy 124): Late runner has found the late magic in back-to-back starts to break her maiden and take the Martha Washington. Filly should get plenty of pace to run at here and she has proven that a wet surface won’t bother her either.
#9 Yow (Royalty Stables/E. Maldonado 122): Just a maiden win to her credit, she fell just short in January’s Martha Washington. Last two efforts, including the maiden-breaker, came over the off going, but she was runner-up in her career debut over a dry strip.
#10 Let It Shine (Rampage Stable/J.L. Ortiz 122): Lass broke her maiden at FL and was immediately thrown to the wolves in the G2 Golden Rod. Was 6th of nine that day; however, she returned in January with an impressive score in an FG allowance. Another that likes to sit back and allow things to develop, she’ll have to work out a trip from out here.
#11 Miss Sodfather (Maxmillion Farm/S.X. Bridgmohan 122): Filly waited until November for her unveiling and has taken two straight since that runner-up defeat. She’s got the early foot to get herself into position, and the fact that she’s done all of her racing going a route of ground can only be seen as a positive.
#12 Dublin (Greyfriars Stable/A. Bocachica 122): Two-time winner brought a winning bid of $34.010 in the December auction. Trainer has taken their time figuring her out and brings her back here for her first start since the 5th-placed effort for the old barn in October. Does have some speed and has a win going a route of ground.
#13 (Also Eligible) Silly Relleno (Rock Creek/TBD 122): Took her December debut at GG before returning in the Busanda where she was 5th, beaten only a length. Certainly, has the looks of a runner and, even with the wide draw, she certainly is eligible to make another forward move should she get in.
Final Analysis: With rain now a 50/50 proposition, we’ll lean on the Martha Washington form and play 8-7-9 in the 12th edition of the $200.000 Busher at AQU. Good luck to everyone in all of their races on this massive racing weekend.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
