Las Virgenes Stakes [KYO]

1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $100.000 Filly 3 Year Olds.

1st        Breathtaking   Big Guns Stables         Dettori L            1            1:35.39

Lived up to her name here with a strong on pace performance which saw her come home comfortably in front of a strong field. What actually makes this performance remarkable or odd depending which way you look at it is if you compare it to her last win on the turf. So, not forgetting this was her first ever run on the dirt, she won over the same trip last time out at AQU on the turf which is generally seen as a faster surface than the main track.     The first call and the half mile call were basically the same as her win on turf which considering her position in the race was similar would normally lend itself to a horse weakening late. Though she ran noticeably slower through the second half she still maintained her advantage and was pretty dominant in the end which I feel is the mark of a good horse. This is her third win from five starts and as I said her first run on dirt after a strong work on the surface. She could be one of those that no-one noticed going into the sharp end of the classic races.

2nd       Lucky Delite    The Sidley Stud            Franco M          1            1:35.65             

Another admirably consistent effort from the filly running from off the pace and into second. She has quite the elastic running style but may be suited over these long trips with a bit more restraint as she ran on the pace when disappointing a little last time. I can see her making the KYO field just on her consistency as she accumulates points.

3rd        Rotaloa             Martyparty       Bridgmohan S X           hd          1:35.98

Surprisingly, couldn’t make the lead even with the outside speed push but got herself handy early on. She kept on really well considering that early effort and as a fairly untested filly may be one that will prove up to this level. 

4th        Illusionary State          Nakamura Stables     Bejarano R       1/2        1:36.02

Went back from her wide draw and made ground for fourth but had a lot of horses to get round today. This was her first race at this sort of trip, and I am still not sure if she ran like a router so she may be worth putting a question mark on if she runs over a trip next time. 

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded