The 19th Running of the G1 Spinaway
Sunday, September 4, 2022
SAR Race #9 $300.000 7 Furlongs
2YO Fillies 119 Lbs
Course Record-1:20.24 (AnotherBomBay-2004)
Stakes Record-1:21.79 (Que Seras Creeps-2016)
Closing weekend at the Spa brings us a bevy of racing at the highest level and Sunday’s edition of the G1 Spinaway is no exception. For the 19th time here at HRP, some of the game’s best juvenile fillies will try to utilize the 7f Spinaway to put themselves in position to make November’s BC. Nine such hopefuls will line the gate with the rail horse, Lucky Star, being the only stakes winner; however, three other runners have beaten winners already and Apache Farm has been runner-up in back-to-back graded events. While some may lament only nine passed through the entry box, let’s meet the maidens, winners, repeat winners, and proven stake horses that make up the field for the 19th G1 Spinaway:
#1 Lucky Star (Calia Stable/J.J. Castellano): Winner of the $150.000 Astoria came back to run 5th here in the G3 Schuylerville last time. Draw is advantageous for a runner that has yet to be headed at the first point of call in all four of her races. Now, we may see a change in tactics as this is the first time we’ve ever seen her drawn inside a single horse, let alone the rest of the field, so we could see a slightly different plan of attack.
#2 Apache Farm (El Primero Rodeo/F.T. Alvarado): Polar opposite of the rail horse, this lass likes to settle towards the rear before producing her best stride in the latter stages. She’s 2x graded placed, so there’s no denying that she’s been among her division’s elite thus far. Filly takes her race with her and it’s hard to see a scenario where she isn’t in contention when the money is one the line. If we’re really trying to nit-pick, the last mile work doesn’t impress, but they aren’t going a mile in this one.
#3 Doctor Quinn (Mb Stables/R.M. Hernandez): Won at first-asking at FP before bringing a hefty investment from a new barn. Promptly got started on earning some of that money back with a wide gated win in a N1X over this same surface. Likes to mix it up early and is perfectly drawn to employ those same tactics here. Does make the jump from the allowance ranks to the highest level for this, but there’s nothing to obviously fault about her form this far.
#4 Mind Game (Arindel/D. Moran): The first of a pair of maidens in here, this lass made two quality starts for her breeder before being purchased for $300.000 by the current outfit. Just missed in debut for the new connections when she was a runner-up in local MSW. Gets an opportunity to reward the barn’s faith in a big spot here and you have to like the confidence they’re showing in her by running in this spot. May see her try to get just a little closer to the early action and any improvement makes her a player.
#5 Gumption (Alydar Stables/M. Murrill): Made her debut in her breeder’s silks, but she was transferred to the current barn after the $165.000 payment went through. Took a big money N1X at CD in first start for new connections before running a bang-up 2nd in a G3 here four weeks ago. Has shown herself to possess plenty of early foot if she wants to get involved from the start and it’s hard to see them changing what’s been working for her in this spot.
#6 Super Bella (Arindel/E. Jaramillo): Purchased for $25.000 before her debut and has yet to run poorly in three tries. Was a runner-up in her first start, but she totes a two-race winning streak into this spot. Like the fact that she has been able to sit off of the early pace and come with her run, and there’s enough speed signed-on here that she should sit a similar trip here. Faces better here, but she’s another that appears to bring her running shoes wherever she goes.
#7 Bourbon West Party (Mb Stables/P. Lopez): $55.000 purchase has gone 2nd, 1st, and 2nd again in three starts for quality outfit. Like the fact that, even as she’s gone longer, she’s shown a definitive running style that has her placed right behind a target. Problem for her in this spot is that there are others drawn inside of her that want that same trip. From out here she could get caught three-to-four wide; however, she may be able to grind them down late as long as she’s running comfortably.
#8 Shes So Pure (TwinTowersRacing/M. Franco): The second maiden in here, she has been getting closer and closer to the winner’s circle. Four defeats have been by a combined 3.5 lengths, so, while she’s shown an ability to close, she hasn’t shown a real “killer” instinct…yet. No faulting the connections for trying her in this spot, and, if she can get a traffic-free trip, there is plenty of speed to set up her rally.
#9 Tokyo Story (Smokey Stover/K. Carmouche): 2nd on debut, she came back three weeks later and broke her maiden in a high dollar MSW. Has three stakes-placings since, including a tough luck third in a local G3 last month. She’s run well from wider draws than this, and like the fact that she has shown a couple of wrinkles in ultra-competitive efforts. She’s got five ITM finishes in as many races, so can’t expect that she’ll misfire in this spot, just has to prove she’s ready to beat these types.
Final Analysis: 2yo runners are notorious for their inconsistency; however, this group doesn’t seem to abide by that tenant. It’s a tough race, but we’ll say they finish 3-2-1 in the 19th edition of the G1 Spinaway. Good luck everyone
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
