The MTH Oaks – Grade III
MTH Race #5 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.
1 Wow D J C Racing Stables Diaz H R Jr
The trainer has brought this home bred filly along nicely improving from her maiden win in November last year. Two decent efforts at ungraded level including a win in the Star Shoots where she was very game in winning by a head over a trip that was a little short of her best. Her trainers patience was rewarded in her last start when she kept on really strongly to finish second beaten just a neck in the IND Oaks with Secret Eyes safely behind her. The draw is perfect for a stalking run and i think she is ready to take the next step.
2 Opus Void Allinthegate Torres Jo
Just one win for this filly that was taken from Mb Stables in a claimer. She has bounced around levels and surfaces in her career but i think on dirt she is capable of running to this grade. Her works are strong enough with this favorable draw and though her form doesn’t measure up to some i think she has a chance to win some place money of she ups her game.
3 Secret Eyes Arindel Ferrer J C
This filly won two grade ones as a two year old but has been a bit disappointing as a three year old although there is still plenty to like about her chances at this level. She took a couple of races as a three year old to win but when she got home in the Gazelle she went to the KYO a strong fancy to add a third grade one to her resume. Despite a good draw she was pretty much a no show in the KYO but came back for a good third in the Black Eyed Susan before another disappointment in the grade one Acorn. Her last start saw a third in the IND oaks and whilst her form is pretty good you have to say she hasn’t really trained on from her glory days as a two year old.
4 Gracie G Alydar Stables Castillo I
Another with just the one win but her form looks a lot more consistent than some. Amazingly it was only in her last start that she broke her maiden made more amazing because prior to that first ever win she was second in the grade one Ashland and fourth in the KYO. Officially she is a last time out maiden winner but her form and works probably make her favorite to win this.
5 Brilliant Sod Nakamura Stables Gonzalez J L
In normal stables you wouldn’t give her much of a chance at this level but Nakamura knows their digital horse flesh so you have to take a closer look at her. Consistent at overnight level she didn’t do much when upped to graded level last time but that was on an off track and she gets given another chance today. The work times are good enough but she has something to prove today.
6 Illusive Motives Smokey Stover Corrales G
The daughter of Neon Wolf went through the FL state bred series as a two year old running very consistently and taking the FL Sire Stakes Susan on a muddy track. She has been brought along slowly at three going back to allowance level to move through her grades but she showed in the OH Derby last time when taking on the boys that she is very much up to this level. Her mile work last time says she is ready to take a race like this and she hails from a stable that knows how to win these fillies races.
7 Rematch Mwn Racing Juarez N
Another that went through statebreds, this time in LA and she has done very well racking up a consistent record. She was claimed in her last start and whilst she doesn’t look the best on form she is a tough filly and clearly has plenty of ability. She will need to up her game a bit and the race engine will have to be kind with this draw but she is in the race with a chance of taking home some sort of check.
8 Bring It On Waldo Peterson F
This filly has made her name on turf in recent races running third in the Jessamine before a strong finish in the BC Juvenile Turf saw her an excellent fifth from a wide gate. She has disappointed a little this year and that is what would have made the trainer look back at the dirt and that may be a great decision based on her 1.36 and 4 recent mile work. She may turn out to be the one that is overlooked in this strong field.
9 Soviet Sensation Mb Stables Sanchez M J
The winner of the GP Oaks had excuses for her run in the KYO and then did well without getting into it in the Acorn but has since got back to winning ways in a big ticket CD Allowance. If she wasn’t hung out so wide and based on her trainers name she would probably start favorite for this but the draw can be a leveler and she will have to overcome it to win this.
SUMMARY
A very competitive race and it will take a very good filly to win it. Illusive Moves would be a very strong chance, even more so if it rains, and i will make her my tentative first choice. Of the others i feel Bring It On may surprise a few and Gracie G looks well above average despite only just winning her maiden. The best of Secret Eyes will see her go close and if she does so should Wow. Then of course you have Mb Stables entry Soviet Sensation in the car park who would always be a danger.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
