The Pitcher Stakes – Grade III
MTH Race #9 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Balius Threshold Ferrer J C 124 —

One of those that always runs well, she has been thereabouts in some good races so takes her chance for this nice purse. A capable sort, she will enjoy this draw if she can get away with them and will be looking for a top four finish.

2 Alice Springs London Racing Moore R L 124 —

Taking out her poor effort in the Bayakoa where she hated the wet track, she is an improving sort that certainly has the ability to make her presence felt from this great draw. She was very good in the Ruffian Handicap when an odds-on favorite and backed that up with a decent fourth in the grade one Phipps last time so is a in-form filly. Ryan Moore takes the reins, and this trainer knows how to win good races so as long as the track stays dry, she should run well.

3 Jinxed Artist Smokey Stover Hernandez R M 124 —

The trainer has given this filly some time off after two disappointing efforts this year but if she is back to the form that saw her win the grade one Spinster last year then she will be a winning chance. The trainer loves the girls, and will no doubt have a match lined up for her if she doesn’t show some zest today, but her recent work says she is fit enough to do herself justice, and she was a very good last year, so I wouldn’t be writing her off.

4 Chica Lugo Mb Stables Franco M 124 —

A grade one winner over this trip when taking the Apple Blossom Handicap in April, she was then bought by Mb Stables for $425.000 and very nearly won the grade one Derby City Distaff just ten days later. She sprinted again in the Winning Colors last time but after finishing fourth the trainer has decided to bring her back to her grade one winning trip and who could argue with that decision?

5 American Sky Iolaus Racing Dettori L 124 —

This filly started racking up a sequence back in October last year as the trainer fought to find her old form. She went four straight and then was narrowly beaten in the grade one La Troienne and looked right back to her brilliant best but then reverted back to her bad ways last time when a no show in the Phipps, Her works say nothing has changed so we should probably just write that last run off as one of those HRP anomalies and if she is at her best she would certainly be a winning chance in this race.

6 Untidy Mb Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

Possibly the number one stable entry she was huge when winning the La Troienne but disappointed last time in the Phipps much like American Sky. With an unbeaten record on an off track, it has to be said that she is better with rain but her best on a dry track is still good enough to win this and the trainer will be keen to put her run in the Phipps behind her.

7 Atomic Woman Williams9 Geroux F 124 —

An interesting recent sales record for this filly as she was bought at auction by Fractious from the Arindel dispersal sale and then sold at a loss just a month later. The new owner will be hoping for some return here, but she may be up against it here against a field of fit fillies and running from the outside gate.

SUMMARY

This is a decent race with seven chances of the win but there are also a few stand outs. If it rains Untidy should win, but even if it doesn’t, I would expect her to be in the first three if not the winner. American Sky and Jinxed Artist have the ability if they are back at their best and Alice Springs has beaten Untidy and American Sky recently so shouldn’t be written off. If I had to choose one to beat Untidy it would probably be between Balius and Chica Lugo with maybe Chica Lugo being the more likely.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES