Appalachian – Grade II
KEE Race #7 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Sannys Legacy Threshold Lopez P 120 —

A deep closer, she will need some pace on here over a mile but has shown enough that in the right circumstances and with a bit of luck she could be in at the end.

2 Ava Royalty Stables Velazquez J R 120 —

Made the running in the FL Oaks but was over run in the stretch to end up third a length in front of Sannys Legacy and right alongside People Easer. She raced from wide that day so if she wants to lead again today will have a much easier trip from this draw but will need a slower pace to get there. Her career best came in the BC Juvenile Turf last year when a lightening early pace saw her come from a long way back to just prevail on the line and after a seasonal pipe opener, she may be ready to do that again here.

3 Infiltrate TwinTowersRacing Gutierrez Mario 120 —

A decent enough sort but comes up against a few very good fillies here. She may be best trying to get a soft lead and kicking away and hope to hold on as I am not sure she will have the turn of foot to beat the BC winner otherwise.

4 People Easer Mb Stables Prat F 120 —

She has looked much improved this year with a very good run to be second in the FL Oaks on seasonal debut. She couldn’t get to the front that day despite a slow early pace and could not quicken from the stalk so she may be better off in front over this mile but the master trainer knows better than me. A strong dirt work recently made me wonder whether she would go for a KYO qualifier, but she has come here instead looking for a good purse.

5 Black Regazze Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A 120 —

The trainer is well known for educating their horses at much lower level and then letting them free in the bigger races and this one has done exactly that with two wins in TUP overnights in the lead up for this. Interestingly this is her first ever turf start and with a decent recent turf work that may be one of the factors that allows her to be a contender.

6 Aime La Nature Our Athletes Geroux F 120 —

A solid and consistent filly who runs this mile out very well and showed that when taking the Hercomesthebride Stakes from a couple of fillies that have gone on to much better things. She has a good running style for the mile and may well be the best hope outside the favorites.

7 Ruths House TwinTowersRacing Hernandez R M 120 —

A strong front runner who was fourth in the BC Juvenile but couldn’t cope in the FL Oaks last time after being taken on from an inside draw. She has an ideal chance to make the wider gate work here and get over and lead and if she does that could well be a win chance. She is a very good filly who has every chance.

8 Lacey Underall South Shore Stables Bocachica Ar 120 —

Was going for four wins on the trot when meeting a muddy dirt track last time and she ran the sort of race that brought her straight back to the turf. Good at overnight level before that she has a bit to find but will relish this return to the grass.

9 Haukea High Voltage Van Dyke D 120 —

She will need to dance away from the gate today to get on the speed where she has run her best races to date but if the wide gate speed push works for her here that could happen, and she has every chance if it does. Less than a length behind Aime La Nature in the Hercomesthebride Stakes last time that run puts her right in the mix.

SUMMARY

A really tough race to call as many of these look to have a good chance. The lead will be key to a few here as they have looked a bit one paced when running behind the speed, but I am not sure any of them will be able to deal with Ava if her last race has tightened her up to her BC winning form. People Easer is the obvious choice for second with maybe Aime La Nature in third.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES