The Allaire Distaff Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
PIM- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
May 20, 2016
A fabulous weekend of racing that will be highlighted by the PRK on Saturday at PIM, actually starts on Friday with a handful of stakes taking place. One of these will be the ninth running of The Allaire Distaff Stakes, a grade three event for females, three and up. The race first appeared on our schedule in 2006, and boasts Halfbaked as a previous winner, having done so in 2007. The details of this race have not always been consistent, having been classified as both a Grade 2 and a Grade 3 over the course of its history, with purse levels ranging between $100.000 and $200.000. It had also been a shorter race until last year’s event that went 1 1/8, as prior editions went 1 1/16. Also, the race has not been held here every year, with there being no such race in both 2010 and 2014. No trainer has won the race more then once, but it has been J R Velazquez’s territory, with that jockey taking three of eight previous races. He has a mount in the field of eight as well, so let’s meet our runners! Note that while it is likely to be wet on PRK day, Friday looks good at PIM.
#1- Sweep The Ash (Eastern Equine, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- There is much to like about this filly that is starting on the rail. She is very consistent, hitting the board in nine of her twelve starts, but what I like in particular is the overall steadiness of her SRF figures, frequently posting numbers in the mid to high 90’s. Right now, though, Sweep The Ash seems to be at the top of her game, coming off a second place finish in the Apple Blossom Handicap at OP last month. Don’t forget, she was in the BC Distaff last fall, and finished third. It might be fair to wonder why she is taking a step down here, but I still like her as the horse to beat.
#2- Vertigineux (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R J Albarado)- After some tough racing luck in the Orchid, where she was forced extremely wide for the stretch, the trainer put her right back on the track for the Grade 1 Wiley, but could only finish 6th against the likes of Attraction and Broomsticks Copy. Those, of course, are turf races, so this represents her first race on the main track since February. She’s won six of sixteen on the dirt, so don’t worry about the surface change. Vertigineux is capable of winning this race, but it seems as though the trainer is still searching for the perfect race conditions to show her at her best.
#3- True To Form (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- An up and coming Commanding filly, she will look to live up to her name in this one. That form has seen her win four in a row, and five or her last six. That said, we’re not talking about the same type of races others have been in, as the three ungraded stakes that she has won leading up to this do not even combine for the amount of purse offered here. True To Form is clearly improving, you can see that in her work times, but the trainer was probably hoping this field would not be as good as it is. Never rule out anything from this stable, and especially not one on a winning streak like this, that has a five pound weight allowance.
#4- Halloween Candy (Harrell Racing, ridden by J R Leparoux)- She could be running in an MSW at PIM this weekend, but instead the trainer is putting her up against BC Distaff runners in this race. It almost worked last time, as she went into the Grade 2 Gazelle last month and placed fourth. Also, it must be said that state of our game with three year olds against older getting a nice weight allowance like this, is something that is very appealing to all of us. But if I’m taking a three year old, it’s True To Form.
#5- Kayce (Oval Express Farms, ridden by J J Castellano)- The Dawn Invasion filly is coming off a career best race, even though it didn’t end up in a win. She was second in the Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap last month, beating some pretty good horses in the process such as Shadow Of A Doubt and Devil Wears Prada. That was her second graded appearance, and she probably wants people to forget about the first one, which was a while ago now. The knock on her is that while she is consistent, and knows how to get a check for her trainer, she still has only won twice in her career. This seems to be the type of race where she is at her best, and with a break here and there, she is capable of winning. More likely though, you’ll just want to put her in your trifecta.
#6- A Class Angie (Night Rider Stables, ridden by H A Karamanos)- No one in this field has won more in their career then A Class Angie, who’s career earnings now stand at $2,430.300. About half of that was won last year as she won races such as the Grade 1 La Troienne and Grade 1 DEL Handicap, the latter of which was done from post eleven. That earned her an appearance in the BC Distaff. She didn’t win that, but started this year by beating the horse that did (Lullaby Maker Tf) in the $400.000 HOU Ladies Classic. Off of that, it seemed like she was going to pick right up where she left off, but she hit a roadblock in her last two races. She was beaten soundly by Sweep The Ash in the Apple Blossom last month, so you can understand more why A Class Angie dropped down. It’s time for her to reboot her season in the right direction.
#7- Sonoma (Alabarda Stable, ridden by J Pimentel)- The five year old Hollywood Stunt mare never seems to get much love at the betting window. Two races ago, she went off at 132/1, and had her picture taken with the winner at the finish line in the third place run at the Grade 2 Buena Vista, but she would still go off at 28/1 in her next start. That was the Grade 3 Orchid, and she was third again. Sonoma will make the same move that Vertigineux does from that race, going from turf to dirt. She’s in tough company, but if she can recapture some of that magic that she had during the winter of 2014, she could surprise here. More then likely, at high odds again.
#8- Baja Burrito (Buddhabase, ridden by J R Velazquez)- On the outside, J R Velazquez will be looking to pick up his fourth win in nine editions of this race while aboard Baja Burrito. The Meals On Wheels filly has won eight of 22 career starts, with five of those victories coming last year. The highlight of that stretch came around Thanksgiving last fall, when she won the Grade 2 Fall City Handicap. She was unable to build off of that race in her last start, and was a distant seventh in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita back in March. After a couple months of rest, she should be very ready for this spot, which is a drop for her. She’ll get the race’s top jockey, and must be considered a strong contender here.
Prediction: 1-8-2-5
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
