Nassau Stakes, Purse $200.000, G2, 1 mile, Turf for F&M 3+
There are five fillies and mares signed up this year to run in the 8th running of the Grade 2 Nassau stakes. The group lined up is full of stakes runners, including the 2014 BC Juvenile Turf winner, all lining up to try and add another graded stakes to their resume. All five of the horses have won a stakes race on turf and four of the five have won a graded stakes race on the turf. This should be an exciting edition of the race and I look forward to race run this weekend. Lets meet the field…
1-End Times(Sarah Stables)- This five year old mare is a former Grade 3 winner in 2014 and also a former runner in the BC filly and mare turf race in 2014. End Times comes into the race hitting the board in three of the four races she has run in this year, including a win in an overnight stake on February 17th 2015 at FG. End Times comes into the race working well, but will be coming into the race with just 3 weeks off. Will this be enough time off for her to run her best race…..we will see on Saturday.
2-Speculate (MB Stables)- This four year old mare is coming into the race on a two race win streak including a win in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap last time out, however both wins have come over much longer ground. Owner MB Stables has carefully handled this four year old only starting her eight times prior to this race and winning four of them. Speculate has worked her way up the class ladder earning two allowance wins before taking her first shot at stakes company which she did last time. Speculate is taking the next step up and going from a Grade 3 to a Grade 2. Speculate is also training well coming into the race, my question is, will this race be just to short for her ?
3-Fasionable Flyer (Chili King Stables)- This four year old comes into the race off an overnight stakes victory in The Powder Break on April 28th 2015 at GP. That was the first and loan stakes win in the career of this one, however it was a nice win. In 2015 Fasionable Flyer has been in good form hitting the board in three of her four races including two wins and a second. Fasionable Flyer’s work times put her right there with this group, but is she ready to make the jump into the graded stakes races and be a force? We will find out on Saturday.
4-Tropical Kiss (Nakamura Stables)- This talented five year old mare likes to win, and has won 11 out of her 20 lifetime starts including a Grade 1 victory in the Just a Game in June of 2014. 2014 was a banner year for this horse winning 4 races including two graded stakes races, and she ultimately found herself in the BC Filly and Mare turf where she finished 5th. Tropical Kiss has entered this yea much like last year winning two of her three starts including a Grade 3 victory in The Endeavour BC. Tropical Kiss is training well coming into the race and has to be one of the favorites to win this year’s Nassau Stakes.
5-Broomsticks Copy (Drabfantasy)- The lone three year old in the field Broomsticks Copy may have won the biggest race of any others in the field with a win in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2014. Owner Drabfantasy tried her on dirt the next run after that BC win, and she did not hit the board, but got her back to the turf to start 2015. In 2015 Broomsticks Copy has run two times with a win in the Grade 3 The Herecomesthebride Stakes, and then a disappointing fourth in the Honeymoon Stakes. Broomsticks Copy also comes into the race after being off only three weeks however this being only her third run of the year she should be fit enough to run. The question, is she ready to take on older horses for the first time in her career?
The field of five that is set to line up on Saturday is a very impressive one that includes a field where every horse has won a stakes race of some kind. The horses all come into the race looking like they are in form and the race can unfold in many different ways depending on what horses are coming into the race ready to roll with their “A” game. My prediction for the race is 2-4-5-3. Until next time may all your photo finishes be winning ones!
Warbucks
Categories: Grade II
