Bluebonnet Stakes

LS          6 1/2f                  Dirt                      Stake

Purse $75.00  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward Foaled In TX.

The undisputed king of TX racing is Luz International, and they hold 50% of the entries for this race. It is not a race where we will see a BC winner in the six runners, but it is a race that holds plenty of interest and healthy competition. Here is how they line up:

1 Gerri G                                          Luz International         Fuentes M T Jr              124      

The eight-year-old carries a penalty but with a long career, 15 wins and $743,78 in prize money she could be good enough to defy it. A battling second beaten just a neck by her rival today in Solar Quinta last time there won’t be much between them again today and with a better draw today Gerri G may just be able to find enough to change things around, especially as the weights are leveled today. She is admirably consistent and rarely misses the first three, a winning chance.

2 Kinfolk                                          Luz International         Eramia R E                     122      

Under a length behind Gerri G and Solar Quinta in that last start she showed speed that day and was just outbattled down the stretch. It is likely that she will go forward again here and with a better rider on board may be able to find something to last home        

3 Solar Quita                                T Boy Racing                  Juarez A J Jr                    124      

Beat three of her rivals here when taking a similar race last time but gets a penalty and that will make things harder to repeat that effort. She is a bit hit and miss but if she is still in the right mood will certainly be right in this.       

4 Jersey Delight                            Night Rider Stables                   Elliott S             122

Did pretty well in the Maple Leaf and the Beldame at the end of last year suggesting this sort of grade is well within her grasp. She was a bit disappointing at TAM but came back to form with a decent fourth at GP last time and could be coming to a peak at the right time for this,

5 Unfinished Symphony          Luz International         Wethey Jr F                    122

A grade one winner in a statebred ungraded stakes should be an easy choice and to be fair it is hard to find a reason she can’t win this. The most obvious reason is that she is a three year old taking on battle hardened older horses on equal weights and that is possibly too much of a burden here at HRP, though of course, maybe it shouldn’t be. She clearly has plenty of class but it would surprise me if that was enough to win this against olders at this time of year.

6 Uspinmerightround                Xcel Racing                    Amaya D R                     122

The last of the four in the Yellow Rose Stakes last time she has some work to do to swap the placings with all three rivals today. She seems to lack a bit of early pace which may see her go back again today and unless there is suicidal pressure up front I am not sure she will be able to out run them to the line.

SUMMARY

The obvious interest in this race is the three year old grade one winner taking on older horses on basically level terms. If this were real life I would be confidently calling her as the winner but here at HRP it is very tough for the three year olds at this time of year. Class will take her a long way but I think it may be Kinfolk who will get the bets of the draw and weights today. Jersey Delight will be strong at the end and may beat the rest in what will probably be a photo finish.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded