Was on a tear as a three year old filly walking away with the Gr. I Acorn, Ballerina, and the Gr. III CT Oaks, but the vines haven’t been as fruitful as a four year old, even while the betting public still believes.

• Desert Stormer Stakes – Grade III Purse $100.000
• Santa Anita Park – For Fillies and Mares three years old and up.
• Six Furlongs – Main track
• May 19th, 2019

While she would end up finishing last year with a fifth place in the BC F&M Sprint, and a fourth place finish in the Gr. I La Brea Stakes, John Henry’s Coldpack is looking to get back to the top, and soon. While she has been consistently attacking the seven eights of a mile, she drops a furlong, while dropping a step in class as well for this event. While most of her recent affairs have seen her in the hunt early and fade down the lane, hopefully she can use her efforts over this surface as a juvenile, where she closed late to capture the $100.000 Landaluce Stakes. G Stevens was aboard, and he is set to retire this coming Wednesday, so does he still have one last winning ride inside him. Trainer has opted for Talamo in the irons.

So which of these other five ladies could do the damage and come out on top. For myself, I would like to believe that Mb Stables Helping People should show some stuff on Sunday. The bay filly did beat Coldpack last year in the Gr. I Test, but that was over a sloppy surface. Either way, Helping People has the talent, and just recently competed on the grass, and that could be a nice prep for this move back to the dirt.

Another I would add to your trifecta pick would be Smokey Stover’s Seydoux, who while racing for other interests brought home a victory in the $100 Correction. This barn has put a lot into the purchase, and while she went longer last time through in the Gr. I Apple Blossom Hdcp., this shorter distance plays into her wheelhouse, and she should be full of effort.

As with the other three competitors, I’d give the edge to Night Rider Stables Smart Queen over Team 7 Illusions Machined and Mo Mentum Farms British Chai. Mostly because she went gate to wire in the $50 Lady Bird back in February, and she seems rested, while also staying sharp with works. Machined has be concentrating her efforts on the sod in her past three affair, and I think that surface is a better fit for her, and may hinder her progress switching back to the dirt for this event. As for British Chai, her pedigree speaks volumes, but that just hasn’t been showing up at the track. Is winless in her past six starts, but if the weather Gods are on her side and she could get some rain and some off footing, its a whole new ballgame, so keep that in mind come post time.

Duffer

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES