Bessarabian Stakes – Grade II
WO Race #3 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $175.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Dialing Angelos Stable Crawford J 123 —

She was maintaining her good form nicely through the spring winning the Whimsical and finishing a close third in the Great Lady M. It was all going well until the rains came and as we all know that can result in wild and improbable swings in form at HRP. Well, that’s what happened here as this five-year-old finished 11th beaten ten lengths, twice as far as she has ever been beaten in all her previous 28 starts, we knew she didn’t like it wet as she had under performed before, but it is clear that as she has aged, she has really become allergic to rain. Anyway, ignoring that run this has been a consistent stakes performer for the last two years and I would think if the ground stays dry she will again be running top three.

2 Flysohigh Asgar Moran D 123 —

A lightly raced four-year-old who has built her form nicely this year after breaking her maiden right back in February. I do worry this extra furlong may be a challenge for her, but she gets the two stamina, so will be given every chance by the race engine. Proven at this level this maybe not hers to win but i expect her to be on pace and in it for a long way and if the pace doesn’t sap her stamina, then she could sneak the win.

3 Striding Edge Fractious Salles L 120 —

The stable has been in good form this year and they throw the ball at the stumps here with a three-year-old who is having her first start in a stakes race. Another that may be allergic to water, her only poor run came on an off track, around that blip she has been consistent and good. She is happy to run a mile so three-year-old should be OK and she may be stronger at the end with her weight allowance than a couple of others.

4 Sweet T Spb Racing Gallardo A A 120 —

Another lightly raced three-year-old who has managed three wins and two seconds in five starts. Her last run was in the Chillingworth Stakes where she stamped herself an above average filly by dead heating for the win. It is clear she has a ton of ability and is quickly improving; the question is whether she has improved enough to take this competitive race.

5 Grandest Lady La Canada Racehorses Pinto M 123 —

Dead Heated with Sweet T in the Chillingworth and that puts her right in this as both these fillies are proven in this grade and looked suited to this trip. As a four-year-old she has to once again give weight to the younger filly which addresses the difference in work times and experience so they should be very close to each other again.

6 Not A Big Deal Mb Stables Wilson E J 123 —

The five-year-old is a seven times graded stakes winner and grade one winning juvenile so it was a bit of a surprise to see her at CT and SUN this year but apart from those two trips to the lower grades she has maintained her form pretty well. On speed she can sometimes be a bit weak in a finish so the champion trainer will have to work their magic to find this one a place just off the speed and saving energy early on. On her portfolio of form, she should be the favorite to win.

7 Failure To Launch Wood Duck Stables Stein J 123 —

4 wins in a row and two graded stakes wins preceded her run in the TC of America last time but like Not A Big Deal she ran a puzzling race to end up out the back. That may have been her blip for the year which seems to be happening to a lot of these horses so I would expect her to be far more competitive here.

8 Chatta Code Ace Racing Stable Alderson J I 123 —

A real solid four-year-old with 8 wins in a busy career she is pretty consistent and is running at what may be her best trip. Though she hasn’t got the standout form of some she is certainly capable of winning this is the race engine is kind to her from the number eight gate.

9 Sexy Angelina Night Rider Stables Sanchez Al 123 —

Had her seasonal trip up last time when way back in the Spinster but had been consistent before that and tasted victory with a last gasp win in the Seaway immediately prior to her flop last time. A winner at the trip is always a good thing over seven furlongs and if the race engine chooses back not forward from her wide gate she may again come home with a wet sail and surprise a few.

10 Beautifully Grusome TwinTowersRacing Contreras L 120 —

I would imagine that the trainer will use the wide gate speed push to get her in front and she has the class to make it very uncomfortable for her rivals if she gets away with an average pace. She has shown ability over longer trips this year although is yet to win but this could be her chance to break the seasonal duck.

SUMMARY

A very competitive race with plenty of good chances. If I had to bet on one, I would probably go for Not A Big Deal simply because she has probably the best form, but I am not that confident in a decent race with a mid-pack draw.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES