The Spinaway Stakes Grade 1 [BC]

7 Furlongs on Dirt
Purse $300.00 For Fillies Two Years Old
Saratoga Racecourse Saratoga Springs, New York

With $300 and a Breeder’s Cup entry on the line it’s a big day for the two year old fillies lined up for Saturday’s renewal of The Spinaway Stakes this weekend at the spa in upstate New York. Will Name You Later from Serenity Stables exits a big run where she came charging late to just miss in The Adirondack Stakes over this track. She should appreciate the extra distance here and might be able to turn the tables on probable favorite Runningfortheroses from Aer Stables. “Roses” has more speed and sat a perfect tracking trip in the aforementioned Adirondack, never more than a length back, she moved to the lead and hung on for the big win. Can’t fault those taking her right back. McNamara from Nynl Stables draws the rail and has plenty of gas. The lightly raced filly has never been headed at the start yet, so expect her to make good use of her speed here. She could easily open up around the far turn and never look back. Whispering Pines from Mb Stables was favored in the Adirondack but never got on track and ran a dismal tenth for a barn not use to bringing up the rear in stakes races. Right back into a spotlight race and gets one of the stranger jockey moves that you will ever see in securing the services of Johnny Velazquez here. I say that because Johnny V is the regular rider of Gaelic Commander, probable favorite in The Nashville Derby ($3000) Saturday at Kentucky Downs. Hard to understand the human connections at times and this is clearly one of those times.

Of The Rest

Taxation Is Theft from TwinTowers Racing is another runner that possesses plenty of gas and will not be waiting around too long to show it. If she doesn’t run herself raged early, she could move to a wide open throttle at the same time as McNamara and they could open up here turning into the stretch.

Diamond In The Sky from DJC Racing Stables improved with added distance last time and should appreciate the additional real estate here. Would obviously love to see a dog fight up front for the lead to flatter her late kick.

Class Play from Delta Farms is just a touch low on numbers when compared to the top picks, but has been right there in all starts. Slight improvement puts her squarely in the hunt and she would also welcome a dog fight up front.

Teraset from Winning Link Stables has gone the distance of this race and that could be a valuable asset in her corner. Not the greatest post draw in the world, but with her style she should be able to work out a decent trip. Slight improvement needed to get a piece of this pie.

Fast At Knight from Our Athletes is a Cal-bred who has raced exclusively in state bred races so far and has always been right there. Hard to get a solid gauge here, but she has shown guts and should offer pretty good value if you believe. Will be coming from off the pace if she fires.

Big Tipper, also from TwinTowers Racing won at first asking going short, then got her second win in her third start last time while traversing a flat mile. She should be plenty aired up for this seven panel test, but the level of competition and numbers earned say that she will still need plenty of improvement to get close with this cast.

Tiptop Shape from Williams9 just broke her maiden at Finger Lakes for straight maiden $16 and draws the outside post. That resume doesn’t exactly get the pulse racing when looking at the overall context here. Have stranger things happened, yes, but not often enough to change my mind for this engagement, pass.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES