The Matchmaker, Purse $150.000, Grade 3, One Mile and 1/8th, Turf for F&M 3+
Here we are with yet another graded stakes race on this great day of racing here at Monmouth Park. Here was have a small field of 4 runners who will be entering the stalls looking to add another stakes victory to their resume. Let’s take a look at the field:
1-Rock Warrior (Canadian Racing)- She was won 7 out of 19 starts, with an even more impressive 16 out of 19 on the board finishes. This 5 year old has earned over $1,100.000 in her racing career and a multiple graded stakes winner including a Grade 1 win. She has twice competed in the BC F&M Turf and is hoping to make it a 3rd time. In 2015 she has raced just 3 times with a win, a second and a third. The win came last out in an allowance race going 7 furlongs on the turf over a good track. In her only stakes try of 2015 she was a closing 3rd at SA in April so this is a very logical spot for her to take her shot at getting back on the BC path. Her best of 38 mile turf work at WO on July 15th shows me that she is ready to roll and in this small field has to be one to look at.
2-Aspiration (MB Stables)- She has won 5 out of 16 lifetime starts with all of those wins going long on the turf. She has found an home on the grass and has not left it. In 2015 she has started 6 times with 2 wins and 2 thirds. In her most recent race, an overnight stake where she won by a measured length where she pounced in the final ¼ mile and never looked like a loser. She has tried graded company in the past and did not disappoint herself but has yet to get over that hump and become a graded winner but has hit the board. She came out of that last win well and her public works have been solid. Is she going to be able to step up and beat a proven BC performer today?
3-Iceberg (D J C Racing Stables)- She has won 5 of 21 starts but hit the board in 15 out of 21 starts. 4 of these 5 wins have come on the turf and all were routing. She has won an overnight stake that she was in 5 races back but it was a small purse handicap for $35.000. She has tried graded company her last 3 races and the best finish she had was a 3rd in a 5 horse field in a Grade 2 at Belmont. Her most recent race was a race where she finished 8th by 19 lengths at Monmouth but that day the track was off so she may have just not liked the soft turf. Since that race she has one public work and it is solid but doesn’t give me any indication as if she is sitting on a big one. For being a small field she has picked some tough runners to go up against, can she get her first Graded Stakes win?
4-Fashion Lane (Smithtown Stables)- Has won 4 times in 19 starts with an astonishing 10 second place finishes. Every start for her has come on the lawn with the bulk of them being route races. She is a multiple Graded Stakes winner with a Grade 2 and 3 win. She is also multiple graded stakes placed so far in her career. In 2015 she has raced 5 times with a win and 3 second place finishes. All of the starts have been in stakes races and the win came 3 back in a Grade 3 race at Bel going today’s distance. The last 2 races she has run in the track have come back off and she ran ok but appears to do her best running on the firm ground. Since the last race she has posted just one public work and it was a solid one. Is she ready to hit the winners circle again?
For being such a small field there is a lot of talent signed on to run here in this race. I can really see this race going in many different directions but here is my prediction. 1-4-2-3
Warbucks
Categories: Grade III
