The Matriarch (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
December 4, 2016

Not too long after Attraction won the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, many trainers discussed who they felt was most deserving of the Horse Of The Year award.  Usually, it’s an award the has people look to the BC Classic, or the TC series, but that division had plenty of depth and even though Atomic Twister won the Classic and is an amazing horse, it’s hard to consider him the horse of the year.   Many people looked to two horses, Wicked Heat, the winner of the Distaff and the KYO, and Attraction.  It did seem as though Attraction was the preferred choice overall in that discussion, and it would be an honor that I don’t think anyone would complain about if she did win.  Still, the BC did not end the racing season for Attraction, and in the Matriarch she will have a great opportunity to solidify her status as the greatest horse of this racing season.  While Attraction will be the favorite, and perhaps have very low odds, this race is not a walk over for her.  There is plenty of talent in this field, and talent, should it be defeated, that makes this another very worthy race to put on her resume for the year’s greatest honor.  The five others in this field will not be considered for horse of the year, but they are very good and talented and can go into 2017 knowing they defeated Attraction in their last race of 2016 if they are able to be so fortunate.  Let’s look at our field!

#1- Iron Punch (Joseph Racing, ridden by R J Albarado)- On the rail, this Cranberry Punch filly has had a successful career with six wins in nineteen starts, including multiple graded wins.  The most recent of which came two races ago right here at DMR when she topped the great Broomsticks Copy en route to winning the Grade 2 Mabee Stakes.  A win today would allow her to proclaim that she punched out that one and Attraction in her last two victories.  She does not seem to like off tracks, so we can throw out her last start, the Flower Bowl.

#2- Attraction (Mm Racing, ridden by R Bejarano)- You have the feeling that this race could be about solidifying her case for horse of the year.  Let’s look at that year so far: she has run in 10 races, and has won six of them.  The biggest win was obviously the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, but there was some other very nice scores in there, including two other Grade 1’s: The Wiley at KEE and The Diana at SAR.  So, it hasn’t mattered this year where she has been: east coast, west coast, or in between, she has been consistently beating the best in her division.   As many trainers discussed horse of the year in the forums, I was on record putting her second behind Wicked Heat.  I personally love the double that Wicked Heat pulled off this year (winning the KYO and BC Distaff).  So, I was not giving her the nod then, but would winning the Matriarch have me change my mind?  Is there enough talent in this field to put her over the top? I actually think there is, and if she wins this race, I will be won over in that regard.

#3- Christine (John Henry, ridden by F Pennington)- Here’s the mare to watch.  This is the one that can completely crash the Attraction coronation.  While Christine is not going to be in horse of the year discussions, she has also won multiple Grade 1’s this year, starting with the Just A Game in June (where she beat Attraction), and the First Lady in October (where she beat Broomsticks Copy).  This is not one that backs down from taking on the elite in her division.  She too ran in the Fillies and Mares Turf, but she was never a factor in that race, finishing in the 8th position.  Looks like there was tactical adjustment in that race that didn’t pay off.  I’d be shocked to see her any where other then with the leaders early on in this one.

#4- Captain Caveman (Aer Stables, ridden by F Prat)- This three year old filly was claimed by the current trainer in July for $25.000, and Aer Stables wasted no time putting her back in longer races.  After winning an optional claimer, she was back into a graded stake, where she had run early in her career for Downwind Stables.  She would run second in that race but has not seen a graded race since.  Moving her back down just a slight notch proved successful as she won the ungraded Shiraz in her last start, immediately after running third in the ungraded Pebbles at BEL.  I don’t think she can beat Attraction at her best, but if that one falters, she can surprise and pick up a win.

#5- Tennessee Queen (Kopites, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Purchased in August from Riggins Racing for $75.000 and responded off a four month layoff with a third place run in the Ballston, finishing in a dead heat with Christine for that spot.  Most recently, she is coming off a win against three others in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes at SA last month.   Looking at her past performances, however, you’ll also see that sometimes she just does not show up.  This cannot be one of those times.  Like Captain Caveman, she can’t beat Attraction if Attraction brings her A-game, but if that one does not, then Tennessee Queen could pull it off.

#6- Condottieris Fox (Hawaiian Shirt Guy, ridden by G L Olguin)- The four year old has won 9 of 22 career starts, with two of them coming this year after an amazing six-for-nine campaign as a three year old.   This year has seen her go much shorter and much longer then she will be running today, but if there is a distance that I think she could sneak a win away from Attraction at, it would be at this one mile distance.  Her last start, the Grade 1 First Lady at KEE, saw her taken on the other of today’s big rivals, Christine, and while that one was the victor, she was fourth but less then a length out.   Expect her to be in the mix, and if there is a possibility that Attraction and Christine are both at front and battling each other too hard, this is the one to worry about coming from off the pace.

Prediction: 2-3-6-4

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES