The Schuylerville (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
SAR- For Fillies Two Years Old
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 20, 2018
It’s time! Time, to stop talking about virgin two year old works (ok, we’ll never stop talking about them), and start showing that ability on the race track. Races such as the Grade 3 Schuylerville on opening day of the SAR meet provide the opportunity to really show who the top two year olds in the game. This is a Grade 3 event for two year old fillies, and part of several top graded stakes that take place at the Spa for two year olds. When the meet ends, we’ll start to have a better idea of who some BC Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies are contenders here, whether they succeeded here, DMR, or elsewhere. Right now, there is hope, but watching these horses run is more exciting then a 1:03 virgin work that ends up running 1:02 1/5 in their second work. The gate is full, let’s meet the field, with a little more focus on pedigree then on past performances.
#1- Kaikoura (Smokey Stover, ridden by J Alvarado)- Won a maiden race at WO last month, and is one for two in her career thus far. She is by Pinkman, a sire that I find very appealing, as he himself is by Pink Panther, and also out of the successful mare in Antiquated Idea. Pinkman knows how to produce a BC winner, as he is also the sire of La Terrifiant, who won the Juvenile Fillies last year. Her dam, Zapatista, had a brief taste of two year old graded action herself, running in the 2016 Spinaway. Plenty of reason for Smokey Stover to be optimistic about her future.
#2- Love Struck Baby (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Her sire, Mr Creepy, seems to be very good when it comes to producing competitive two year olds right of the gate. Love Struck Baby is proving that statement to be true again, as she has won both races that she has contested, including the $150.000 Astoria at BEL last month. The dam, Three Hearts, produces foals that know how to win, but until now doesn’t have that big name attached to her. That conformation is also a beauty, I may be love struck with her in my picks.
#3- Make You Blush (Rampage Stable, ridden by J Rosario)- On the track, her two races look much like Kaikoura’s. She won a maiden at WO in her second start just a few days after Kaikoura won with similar conditions. If she were to win, it would be the first graded stake win for the trainer, so there’s some reason to root for her. Virtual Realism is the sire. He’s from the Charley Farley line, but the jury may still be out on him, overall. The dam side features some good autogen bloodlines.
#4- Silk Tree (Alydar Stables, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Winner of one out of two thus far, and ran third in the Astoria last month, a race won by Love Struck Baby. She was involved in a photo for the win, so no reason why she couldn’t turn the tables here. Fear The Tree is still somewhat untested as a sire, with just 12 foals and no stake winners, but comes from the Tree Of Knowledge line. The other side of the pedigree is not as impressive. Poor front leg soundness could be a looming issue for down the road.
#5- Queenhood (Mb Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- Not to be confused with Queenwood, but that might be a good one for this filly to be looking up to. Has one win in two starts, that coming at CD last month. She is by Commanding, so has that very much in her favor. After all, he has become the best example we have of a greatly successful horse on the track being able to be as successful in the shed. On the other side, Ill Surprise You is not as impressive, but more then adequate with the likes of Ironbound.
#6- Born Rapido (Oquinn Farm, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Like others, this filly is one for two in her career. In her last start, she looked very impressive in winning a FL-bred maiden against a full field at GP. She is by El Gran Latro, part of the El Gran Senor line. He’s produced various successful horses, but none better then Various, who was a star as a two year old. Charley Farley is present on the dam side. Conformation is strong, but perhaps it remains to be seen if she will want to go longer distances. Seems to be on the right track with that, though.
#7- Grayte Crack (Estero Farms, ridden by L Saez)- Acquired by the trainer unraced in February for $50.000, and she is also one for two in her career. After running second in her debut at SA, she won in her last start at PRX, thanks to having the amazing F Pennington in the saddle, a jockey who has done things for Estero. Grayte Crack is a nice Chai Latte and Die Laffin mix, with Chai Latte present in the sire, Safecracker. With ideal legs, and a balanced conformation, she should have a bright future ahead of her.
#8- Gobekli Tepe- Scratched
#9- Z Command (Joshua Stables, ridden by R Santana Jr)- After running third in her debut, Z Command remained at PRX and destroyed the field, winning by six lengths, and she didn’t even need to have F Pennington riding her to do that! You have to be impressed with how she finished that race off, especially considering she went wire to wire. Strong pedigree is present, s she is by Good Authority, and intriguing son of Commanding, and out of Z Broken One, who is by Z Jinxed One, and there is some Charley Farley blood for good measure on that side. Great conformation too, I really like this one!
#10- Sassy Mamba (Tiratzo, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- She was part of that three photo at the Astoria last month that involved Love Struck Baby and Silk Tree, and she finished right between them. Her jockey, I Ortiz Jr, has been very successful in this stake, having won the last two Schuylerville’s, and three of the last four. She is by Stars And Bars, a son of Copper Bottom, and is out of Sinister Rear End, who has Charley Farley blood.
#11- Distorted Express (Jader Stable, ridden by M Franco)- The three horses in the field that have three starts have been drawn into the three outer most post positions. Distorted Express raced a pair of two furlong races, and was then sold for $10.000 last month to Jader Stable. She would break her maiden six days later. Pedigree has some Charley Farley on the sire’s side, but overall is not as impressive as others, but that doesn’t have to mean anything.
#12- Short Dance (Fractious, ridden by K Carmouche)- This filly has started her career with two wins in three starts. After the debut saw a defeat, she bounced back with wins at GG and CD. Her SRF of 89 was the next best of anyone in this field, behind the threesome who ran in the Astoria and got a 92 for their efforts. She is by Lannisport, a son of Pink Panther. Dam side features the HRP-Secretariat line with In The Box.
#13- Cheetah (Angelos Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- Drawing in thanks to the scratch of Gobekli Tepe is this filly be Dexter, who is a son of Charley Farley. The dam side is not as impressive, but still features the likes of Pure Steel. She has been in the money in all three of her races thus far, breaking her maiden in a PA-bred race at PRX with the services of F Pennington. That followed a pair of seconds.
Prediction: Races like this are always wide open and unpredictable. But, we’ll go 9-4-2-5
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
