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

1 Shes A Looker Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A 122 —

This home bred made it three in a row with a game win in the Busanda last time running from the car park draw and getting up by a neck. You couldn’t get any more opposite of a draw today with the ace gate and it will be interesting which tactics either the trainer or the race engine employs for her today. I would imagine we will see her just behind the leaders, maybe mid pack and we have seen her potent finish in her last two which may be the answer today.

2 Credit Crime Aer Stables Ortiz I Jr 122 —

Well, this filly has superlative form through her resume and with the perfect gate today I would imagine she will be hard to beat. The winner of the grade one Spinaway and third in the BC Juvenile fillies at two she comes here for a much-awaited seasonal debut. She retains her grade one winning jockey in I Oritiz Jr and is working like she is ready to go. The obvious pick, but this is a tough field, and she is racing against fillies with a fitness edge.

3 Angel Wings Waldo Alvarado F T 122 —

A nice sort who has been strong seconds in two ungraded stakes in the lead up to this she is hard to pick for the win but may find some points and a few dollars running from this decent draw today. Her works have been improving but at only 15.1hh it could mean that she has a way to go yet, and this tough race may come a bit soon.

4 Valkyria Alydar Stables Espinoza V 122 —

The stable has been flying so far this season and this late closer has won her last two including the Silverbulletday Stakes last time. Well back for most of the race she flew home and won in the end by a very easy two lengths. The Silverbulletday is usually a good early pointer for the Oaks so if there is a strong pace and she can find some gaps late she could be another big winner for the yard.

5 Million In Mind Asgar Geroux F 122 —

She has been running well in State Breds winning the LA Futurity last time, but this is a step up in grade today and she may have a bit to find. Having said that she deserves her shot and has been pretty consistent and competitive up to now so she may surprise a few.

6 Quail Trot Wood Duck Stables Lopez P 122 —

This stable has been in good form this year and brings this filly here with a good chance of keeping that run going. She was very impressive when taking the FL Sires races last year and looked to get better the further she went in her races. That was borne out last time in the Santa Ynez when she came hard and late and only just failed to win ending up third in a photo finish. I like the jockey booking here and the fact that she has adjusted her running style to the race pace in the past which is essential in these big fields. A winning chance.

7 Out Of Tlove Williams9 Velazquez J R 122 —

Was set an impossible task with 128Lbs in the Silverbulletday on seasonal debut and unsurprisingly faded back to tenth. Prior to that she was a grade one winning juvenile taking down Credit Crime in the Alcibiades so back on level weights today I would expect a much better run. She was busy at two and sometimes that can be a sign of a flat three-year-old season so I will wait and see if she can recapture her brilliant best before getting back in her camp.

8 Bordeaux Glorify Stables Hernandez R M 122 —

Just made it home in a big photo finish for the Santa Ynez last time over a trip that may end up being her best. She led them all the way but the post in the Princess Elizabeth at the end of last year so clearly has ability over further, so she has a shot here although this sticky draw won’t make it easy depending on where she is instructed to run.

9 Aquitaine Mb Stables Centeno D E 122 —

Another that was in that photo finish for the Santa Ynez, she ended up second, inches behind Bordeaux and inches in front of Quail Trot. In her races to date she hasn’t screamed out that this trip will suit, looking just a bit weak at the end of her route races but with time to strengthen and grow she may be better suited now.

10 Date Knight Our Athletes Gaffalione T 122 —

The winner of four from six including the Ginger Brew last time, half her wins, including that stakes win have come on the turf so she is a bit of an unknown today back on the main track. Her works say she is worth a shot, but this is a competitive contest, and she gets a poor draw to try and re-start her dirt journey.

11 Ride With An Edge Mb Stables Prat F 122 —

Another ex- turfer there will be a lot of interest here as she is sent to the main track after the champion trainer bought her for a fair sum of $175.000. No doubt impressed with her easy win in the Blue Norther Stakes they clearly believe she is up to this, or they wouldn’t be here but as for us as punters she is a bit of a dark horse with no more than decent works to go on. This wide draw may not be the kiss of death it used to be and I will be watching her very closely.

12 Express Service D J C Racing Stables Smith M E 122 —

A deep closer in the car park draw, I guess we know where this one will be after a half mile. She was another that was in that Santa Ynez photo finish and looking back through her form I really liked her fifth in the Frizette but of course we have to rely on factors which are out of her control in this race. If the pace is fast which these qualifiers tend to be she could well follow a pattern which has been repeated a good few times this season and come late and wide and nab them on the line. A slow pace may well see her a late flying tenth though, so you have to go for one or the other.

SUMMARY

Well, the shape of a lot of these qualifiers so far this year has been a strong early pace followed by a wide closer grabbing the win on the line although of course as that pattern gets noticed so instructions change, and we may well see a lone winner from the front pretty soon. It will be an intriguing race with plenty of chances so let’s take a look at the best of them. Credit Crime looks good on paper and is sure to be right there at the end and seems the obvious choice from a great gate but there are a few more here that could steal the win most notably Shes A Looker and Quail Trot both of whom look well suited by this trip. Then there is Out Of Tlove who may be the pace influence, and she is certainly good enough to win this if she is left alone in front. I would suspect there will be some gameplay though so I am not sure she will get away with that and I am going with Express Service to offer some betting value and follow the recent trend by coming late and wide for the win. Watching Ride With An Edge too as she comes to the main track.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES