Las Virgenes Stakes (KYO) (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
SA- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile on the Dirt
February 9, 2019

This weekend, the 15th running of the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes will take place. This is a KYO-prep race with 10 points on the line for its winner. We are just getting started with both the KYD and KYO preps right now, so the my focus this month isn’t going to be as much analyzing the points, but more looking at the various runners as they try to establish themselves as threats for the first time, or continue the successes that they had as a two year old, and into this season. We’ll have the BC Juvenile Fillies winner, Camp Hollywood, in this field to add to the excitement of the race. While success here may mean a KYO entry, it does not guarantee extended success. Last year’s winner, Ivanka, has not won since, and did not beat anyone in the KYO. There are ten going to the gate here, and here is the run through the field.

#1- Honorable Melody (LionKing Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This California bred is one of the fillies hoping to assert herself into this level of competition. In four starts, she has managed just win, but that was the only time in which she has gone at least a mile, and she looked sharp in her win, especially in the stretch. A recent mile work at TUP is not going to impress, but the track and jockey colony need to be factored in for that time, too. Wish she had a mile work, here, recently.

#2- Bodacious (Joshua Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- New trainer Joshua Stables and old trainer D J C Racing Stables think differently on this one. D J C found it tough to get her to break her maiden, and dropped her into a $16.000 maiden claimer. She ran very well in that win, which was also her first time going long, but D J C does not have a second chance, as she was claimed by Joshua Stables. The great F Pennington gets the mount.

#3- Test Of Time (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Had a great stretch between May and October that saw her win the Grade 3 Mazarine BC Stakes, and place second in the Sorrento Stakes. This got her to the BC Juvenile Fillies, and after setting the pace, she dropped to ninth by the time they hit the wire. Did not bounce back well after that last month in the Santa Ynez, and that does concern me a little. I am anticipating a tactical change here that does not see her on the lead early.

#4- Diamond Di (Aer Stables, ridden by M Franco)- Acquired by the trainer in private sales in October for $55.000 from Barcelona Farms. Has not really proven herself yet in three races, with only a $40.000 maiden claimer win for Barcelona. In her Aer debut, she set the pace early in an allowance and hung around to remain third. Working well heading into the race, and perhaps with her we will also see a tactical adjustment.

#5- Camp Hollywood (Estero Farms, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The winner of the BC Juvenile Fillies has already been picking up the KYO points, and should be considered the one to beat here. Prior to winning the BC, she took the Grade 1 Frizette at BEL. Her last start saw her disappoint, slightly, when she was fourth in the Starlet at LA, but she ran a little different tactically in that race. While she still ran fine, I don’t want to see that’s definite that we will see her go away from that, since this race is shorter, too, but I am expecting her to bounce back well here.

#6- Sharp Suit (Rampage Stable, ridden by J Rosario)- Had a good summertime, winning hte Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at DMR, then placing second in the Chandelier here at the end of September. This got her to the BC Juvenile Fillies as well, and while she was only a length behind Camp Hollywood, it was a seventh place finish. I’d be fine with that in and of itself, but she threw up quite a dud in her last outing, the Santa Ynez.

#7- Blondewithawarrant (Mb Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Acquired by Mb Stables in the June auction for just $30.000, this filly has been very successful since the sale and currently rides a three race winning streak. The third win in that streak was her stake debut, the $75.000 Hut Hut at GP. After two months, she is set to return to the track, and it should speak of the confidence that Mb has in here in that she is the only entry of his in the race. Expect a good race out of her.

#8- Sassy Mamba (Tiratzo, ridden by Alan Garcia)- Another one that was picked up affordably in the auction. Sassy Mamba was picked up in the December 2017, unraced, for $22.010. She became a stake winner in her last start, the $125.000 Gasparilla at TAM, three weeks ago. Earlier in her career, she attempted the Grade 3 Schuylerville, and did not run well. Now, she looks to be on better form to try that again.

#9- Kaikoura (Smokey Stover, ridden by J Talamo)- The filly by Pinkman has won two of seven career starts. After breaking her maiden, she made an impressive leap forward by finishing second in the Schuylerville, and thus establishing herself as one of the early threats in the division. A couple months later, she won the Grade 2 Pocahontas, and then was within a length of Camp Hollywood at the BC Juvenile Fillies, finishing fourth. Like Camp Hollywood, she went to the Starlet afterwards, and they each a below their standards race to show for it. It’s not imperative, but she could use a strong bounce back race here.

#10- Magic Command (Allinthegate, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Started her career off with two wins, first at the free track, then in an $85.000 allowance to offset some of the missed money opportunity to come with breaking the maiden at MNR. It was off to graded stakes afterwards, and she would run fifth in the Pocahontas, then third at the Grade 3 Tempted over BC weekend. Topped Honorable Melody in a $30.000 TUP stake to close out 2018, and faces her toughest field here.

Prediction: 5-9-7-4

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES