Megahertz (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
January 16, 2017

On Monday, the second running of the Megahertz takes place, and it will mark the debut of Lucky You racing in new silks.    Even though she did not finish well in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, she was one of the best of her class last season, and can say that she forced Attraction to a dead heat in a Grade 1.  The four year old now races for Maxmillion Farm, and is the headliner for this seven horse field.  That doesn’t mean give her the trophy, now.  Not at all.  Among those opposing her will be Eva The Diva, who must hold the record for most races that I personally previewed if I ever did keep track of such a thing.    It appears as though this will be a competitive race, so let’s look at the field!

#1- Captain Caveman (Aer Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Back in July, Aer Stables won a three way shake for this filly and turned her career around, moving her from a sprinter to going long, just like her dam would.  Captain Caveman has been able to overcome the masculine name an win two out of five, but the biggest result for her was likely her second place run in her most recent outing, the Grade 1 Matriarch to Attraction.  It’s not quite the dead heat with her that Lucky You pulled off, but it is a lot more recent.   She has a great shot and should be one of the favorites here.

#2- My Lady (Sheffler Stables, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- While running for Calia Stable, My Lady ran in some top notch races last year, including the Acorn and BEL Oaks, though would not hit the board in either of them.  Sheffler picked her up in the September auction hoping to get her to the winner’s circle, but she still has not won in nearly a full year.  A run of three runner ups in a row was snapped with a sixth in her last outing, and she cuts her distance here ever so slightly in hopes that it can make a difference.

#3- Catienus (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- The four year old comes off a successful season that saw her win three of eleven, and hit the board in eight of them.  Most importantly though, she seems to be in the best form of her career right now and may be due for her first graded win.  Her last start was a victory last month in the ungraded South Beach at GP.   Probably needs to run the best race of her career to top a couple of these, but I think that ability is within her.

#4- Lucky You (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by V Espinoza)- Maxmillion Farm became the lucky trainer to get their hands on this filly after Rouge River Stables sold her off in early December.  The sale price was $180.000 which could stand to be a bargain just as long as she is able to brush off a disappointing BC performance.  As I believe that she will do that, I am looking forward to seeing her pick up some big wins in 2017.  The purse here might be small compared to some others, but it’s a start.  I also see no reason to have concerns about her based on her works and am attracted to her enough to put her on top.

#5- Spanish Fly (Our Athletes, ridden by J Talamo)- One of two in this field that Our Athletes has, one of which is a consistent standby and then there’s Spanish Fly who may have seen her better days.  She used to be a regular at the stake level, but the only win in such a race was a $75.000 ungraded event.  Most recently, she has been running in open allowances and seemed to have a niche there with good consistent performances.   She gets a chance here to show her stuff at the graded level again, and it will be interesting to see how she handles it.

#6- Glow Bright (John Henry, ridden by R Bejarano)- The El Gran La Maison filly was purchaed by John Henry in private sales in August after three wins and two seconds in five starts.   The price was $80.000, and she responded nicely by romping a field at GG less then a week later.  That result prompted the trainer to elevate her career and she ran well in Pebbles at BEL, even if her fourth place finish may not give you that impression.  In that race, she was a length behind Captain Caveman.   Most recently, she ran second in an open allowance that also saw Spanish Fly (5th).   Has the ability, but a bit like Catienus in that its going to have to be her best to score a win.

#7- Eva The Diva (Our Athletes, ridden by F Prat)- Once again, its Eva.  So, what I haven’t I said about Eva in what seems to be the other fifty times I’ve previewed her.   Yes, I realize she only has 27 career starts.  Well, I can say this.  She raced last week, and is coming back so soon?  If she’s really a diva, she might not like that.  It will be a nine day turnaround for her since running fourth in the Las Cienegas.  If she was fresher, I’d like her chances better.

Prediction: 4-1-6-3

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES