Whimsical Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #6 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Commanding Jane Night Rider Stables Boulanger G 122 —

She has been a solid mare in her career so far and this race is just the sort of race that she ca be very competitive in. She ended the year well last year and whilst she hasn’t got into the frame this year has run two nice races in better grade. The draw here may be the key for her as she raced from wide last time but the last two times she has raced from this gate she has won, both times in back type races.

2 Sorority Girls Rbest Wood Duck Stables Gallardo A A 122 —

She did well after being purchased last year taking the NY Series-Staten Island on her last appearance of 2022. Her two runs this year have been against good competition in overnight grade and she has shown enough to say that she is still capable of winning at this level.

3 Here I Go Night Mare Racing Moran D 122 —

A consistent sort at lower grade she hasn’t really proven herself at this level but gets a chance from a handy draw today. Her last start win was in a competitive little stakes race at FON but she is taking on a much better field today and will need to step up on that.

4 Juilliard Mo Mentum Farm Walcott R W 122 —

A really good dual-purpose mare she has had success at all trips and on all surfaces and comes here off a very nice fourth in the Desert Stormer last time. She sticks to sprinting here, and I feel represents a very similar chance as Commanding Jane. She takes on a few that she has met before here but races from a kinder gate than she did last time and may come out a bit better this time.

5 Ldealtime Laga Lagastable Carroll D 122 —

A brave entry considering her whole career has been at the free track. On the face of it you could question the trainer’s sanity in entering here, but I can see why they did it and it is not as forlorn as it looks. This filly came off a 7 months break to win an open race after only just wining her maiden and worked a 57 and 2 on the dirt albeit a WIC, a few weeks before that. I think this filly is a lot better than a free track horse but whether she is this good remains to be seen.

6 Dialing Angelos Stable Crawford J 122 —

With just one recent glitch in the BC this mare has been in great form and took a really competitive open allowance at PRX last time by a comfortable margin. I like her chances here, but it is hard to look past the BC Sprint champion as a major chance especially when you consider Dialing was five lengths behind her in the BC.

7 Canary For One Mo Mentum Farm Husbands P 122 —

Third and beaten a length by Oceanus in the BC last year this mare has been consistent and tough again this year although she can be a bit of a bridesmaid in these stakes races. You would have to give her a winning chance, but her form figures say she should feature in the exacta’s and Trifecta’s rather than being a straight win bet.

8 Oceanus Wood Duck Stables Hernandez R M 122 —

This filly had a huge year last year ending it with two grade ones in a row and taking the BC Fillies and Mares Sprinting crown into 2023. The trainer has been bringing her along slowly which can be sensible as these good three’s turn four and she comes here for only her second seasonal start off a loss in allowance company last time. She would’ve needed that run so should be ready to get back to winning here with my only worry being that she takes on older mares on level terms and that can often prove tough.

9 Stinky Rene TwinTowersRacing Morales P 122 —

Perhaps better known as a turf router this very nice filly comes here to take on the HRP hack of a change of surface and distance. I have seen it pay off before at long odds so write her off at your peril.

10 Afar D J C Racing Stables Wilson E J 122 —

A consistent daughter of Distant Sunset she comes here off improving works but with little form to give her a winning chance against a BC Champion.

SUMMARY

Well, you don’t often see a dual grade one winner and BC champ in a little grade three, but such is the level of competition Oceanus finds a tough field to try and get back into winning form. On her stunning season last year, she should have little trouble in winning this, but I am always dubious of good three’s when they turn four and often like them to find their feet before tipping them. Hopefully she wins or at least runs well, but I will try and find some value with Commanding Jane and maybe a sneaky dollar on Stinky Rene just in case.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES