Alexandra Stakes – Grade II [KYO]
FG Race #11 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Agapova Royalty Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

The winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies after two fine seconds in the Chandelier and the DMR Debutante she certainly has the credentials to start a very strong chance in this race running from the ace draw. She ran fourth on the turf in an allowance at FG on seasonal debut which should sharpen her up for this, but I do have some reservations. She has a closing style which won’t be suited by this draw and very often with this race engine it seems to result in hard closing placings rather than wins, so she will need some race engine luck just as she had in the BC, but if she gets that she has a potent turn of foot and could put herself top of the KYO tree.

2 Rubimaulu Arindel Hernandez R M 122 —

Another that likes to run just off the pace she was a hard closing nose second in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at the end of last year and certainly carries plenty of form into this race. Like the horse inside her she will need some race engine luck from this draw but in both cases, it may be the draw that helps them stay closer than normal, so her chances are obvious. She has always looked like a mile plus will suit and the trainer is just beginning to rev up their stable for another successful year.

3 Prevail Arindel Saez L 122 —

As we see so often from this ‘random’ draw two stable mates are drawn next to each other. This one beat her stable mate a nose in the Princess Elizabeth last time out, both closing hard and, in the end, either could have won. It was this filly who prevailed though, and I am pretty sure there won’t be much between them again today. These three inside draws all like to come from behind so it will be interesting to see if anyone clicks the gaming button to try and change that up but if not, there will probably only be enough gaps for one of them.

4 Jamaican Coffee Night Rider Stables Carmouche K 122 —

A decent enough filly who has some form on the board and whilst it may be a tick behind some of the principals, I do like the way she had been working prior to her seasonal debut. The wide draw she had in the Silverbulletday Stakes turned her into a deep closer and whilst she made up plenty, she only managed eighth. Previously she had been more on the speed in transit so this draw should allow her to do that again today and with some of the top picks here likely to be closing she may get first run on a few.

5 Jawaher D J C Racing Stables Ferrer J C 122 —

Another with a similar running style she has had some nice efforts through her eight-race career and wouldn’t be without a chance in this competitive race. Her results have been hampered somewhat by wider draws and she gets the right draw for a mid-pack runner today, so I expect a run. Her works say she is in the ballpark and if she can reproduce her fine effort in the Golden Rod she may be a decent each way chance at odds.

6 Reaper Lightning Fractious Lopez P 122 —

The top stables here at HRP have one thing in common, if they want it they are willing to pay for it. Fractious bought this filly for $300.000 at the end of last year and I can certainly see why they thought that was money well spent. Running on turf after an allowance win on that surface she did well enough to qualify for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf but ran a poor race that day and was not a factor. Probably the thing that caught the new owner’s eye was a hard closing second in the Demoiselle in only her second start on dirt and with the trainer of the moment now at the helm and the in-form Lopez on her back she may pay back a majority of that investment today.

7 Commie Queen Party Martyparty Husbands P 122 —

She wasn’t too far behind Reaper Lightening in the Demoiselle and won nicely on New Years Day so she certainly deserves a shot at this. Another that raced as a deep closer from wider draws it will be interesting to see where she ends up out of the gate with so many seemingly trying to save themselves for a late run. She may well be the dark horse in this field.

8 New Vision La Canada Racehorses Bridgmohan S X 122 —

Second in the Golden Rod and ahead of Jawaher she closed out her juvenile year as a top prospect for the KYO this year after four solid efforts. She was made favorite to win her seasonal debut when taking on an optional claimer at SA but looked in need of the run when fading into fourth. In truth that effort was a little disappointing and her works haven’t really kicked on since so I am a little bit ‘wait and see’ with her. The advantage she does have is that she is more of an on-pace sort with a lot of her rivals wanting to be closing so she may just get an easy trip.

9 Devil In High Heels Fractious Spencer J P 122 —

Her form says she is good, and her works say she is outstanding so it will be interesting to see how she handles this good field from a tough draw. She won an optional claimer at SA in 1.35 flat, far faster than New Arrival went in her race at SA so that is a definite tick in the box. Her racing style seems more consistent and may suit the race more than some so I may be throwing a couple of Disney Dollars her way if the odds monkey’s throw her out as a 50/1 shot.

10 Altered State Mb Stables Murphy O 122 —

In my head I can see this race as clear as day. With so many closers in the race this filly uses the wide gate speed push to take an uncontested lead. She takes the first half mile in 47 and change, backing up the field off the front and then kicks for home with three to run. She pulls clear on the bend and then holds off a wall of closers by a head. OK, so that might’ve been a race I have seen a few times before, but this race has a similar look to it and it is certainly one of the scenario’s that could play out. On paper though this filly isn’t quite good enough to hold on despite two wins from three starts, but her works are thereabouts, and she has proven she has some heart in those two wins so who knows!

11 Children Of The Sod Onlineracingclub.com Cedillo A 122 —

Went respectably in the BC Juvenile Fillies ending up sixth and the went to the turf to win the Durante Stakes next time out so clearly has the ability. Her seasonal debut from a wide draw was a little lack luster but today with the wide gate she may find it much easier to clear the inside draws and get on the pace. If it isn’t Altered State that ends up leading then it will be this one, as long as the race engine doesn’t select them both to fall all the way back and whichever one does end up on the front will have a very good chance.

12 Midnight Rumble Riggins Racing Perez Al 122 —

Finally, into the car park we go and here we find Midnight Rumble who is another closing type. The draw won’t bother her as she can go with choice B and run to her running style or choice A and end up in the lead and either of those choices could work for her. This filly however doesn’t need any gate or engine help as she is a decent sort all on her own. A close fourth in the grade one Frizette she ran well all season but suffered a little, as the closer’s do on this engine of closing too late in most of her starts. If things work out she could win.

SUMMARY

Well, what an interesting race this is with just about every fancied runner wanting to arrive late on the scene. What makes it more interesting is that with the with just a couple of on pace runners they could well steal this race before the race engine gets the closer’s going. If that’s the case, then the most likely winners are the three wide gates with Altered State being the most likely to lead. The other scenario is that one of the other trainers sees the problem and presses the game button to turn their closer into a front runner, then we may see a very interesting race, especially if there is a speed battle early on because there will be ten closers all flying home at the same time.
Whatever happens it will be fun to watch, maybe the one to look out for is wearing high heels!! good luck to all !!!!!

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES