The Beldame – Grade I (P4)
1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
1 Triple P Sanny Village Baze T C
Not many grade ones get only 5 runners so whereas i wouldnt give this one a shot at any of the purse normally in this small field she has a chance from the ace draw. She took the whole three year old season off so didnt break her maiden until her debut as a four year old but since that win she has done pretty well winning and placing at ungraded level. She isnt the best in the field but f things go her way she could take home a pay cheque.
2 Osmium D J C Racing Stables Bravo J
The Personal Ensign form looks key here with three of the five having run in that race last time and of the three this one managed to place best finishing third from a terrible gate. That was a great effort from the draw and it came off the back of two grade two handicap wins. She is one of the few four year olds that has improved and from this much better draw will take all the beating.
3 Had Some Drinks Mb Stables Saez L
She was beaten eight lengths by Osmium and Queenwood when tenth in the Personal Ensign so on that form it is hard to see her winning today. But of course we all know that form can change pretty drastically from race to race at HRP and i am pretty sure she wont be that far behind them today. She had made all to win a slow run Shuvee Handicap the race before that and went to the front again in the Personal Ensign but fell away pretty tamely under a much faster pace. If she led in slow sections she will go close other than that she shouldnt be winning today.
4 Ineffable TwinTowersRacing Gallardo A A
A consistent sort she doesnt seem to have the X Factor but is an honest sort who will be in the race for a long way. She may find herself battling for third though. A length behind Had Some Drinks in the Shuvee Handicap, that line of form has her well behind Osmium and Queenwood.
5 Queenwood Smokey Stover Velazquez J R
The winner of the grade one Acorn and three grade three’s as a three year old she has struggled to recapture that form this year but is a high class filly who is in with every chance of her second grade one today. A quiet start to the season saw her grab very close seconds in the Beholder Mile and the DEL Handicap as she built to an autumn campaign and she ran pretty well to be fourth in the Personal Ensign last time just a whisker behind Osmium. There will be nothing between them again although this filly does have the wide gate which may be the difference.
SUMMARY
If ever there was a more obvious one two than this race i have never seen it. Box up Osmium and Queenwood and if you fancy third then Had Some Drinks looks the obvious choice.
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