The Athenia – Grade III, 10/21
BEL Race #6 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
1 Minnesotalus The Sidley Stud Ortiz I Jr
The stable is in good form at the moment and even though this filly hasnt managed a win so far this year she is certainly good enough to be a chance in this race from the ace draw. She won the Frankel Stakes at the end of last year and has run four times this year in graded company in the hope of adding to that. She ran well enough to be second in the matchmaker and third in the Violet Stakes to be competitive here and has the advantage of being lightly raced as we draw to the end of the year.
2 Therapy TwinTowersRacing Bravo J
She started the year off well taking a small stakes race but has been a little inconsistent since. A very good second in the Ruffian Handicap was followed by runs in the grade one Phipps and Hirsch but both ended in failures causing the trainer to take a look at some different options. One of those is a trip back to the turf and with a 1:34 3/5 work a week ago it may be just the change she needs to reignite her season.
3 Sinuous Beauty Mb Stables Alvarado J
Claimed for $30.000 this three year old took a little allowance at ELP for the new owner and is now thrown in the deep end. As usual she has the uncanny ability as most do from the stable to work stakes winning times so although her form line reads pretty poorly she could easily be yet another stakes winner for the trainer.
4 Woman On A Mission Greeko Holdem Velazquez J R
A fairly consistent sort she struggles to win too often but has run a few good races in stakes company, A couple of good seconds in ungraded company prompted Greeko Holdem to buy the filly for $45.000 and she ran well enough in the Nobel Damsel Handicap last time to suggest that was a good investment. Closing well over the mile she was only a quarter length behind in that race in finishing fourth and has since worked a sub 1:35 turf mile which would be good enough to see her right in the finish again.
5 Proud Luck Wolfs Den Lezcano J
Just one win from 17 starts doesnt read well but she does have ten other money finishes which tell a much better story about her chances. A widish draw wont help and she hasnt really stepped out in this sort of company before but she will be competitive if nothing else.
6 Snacks D J C Racing Stables Cancel E
She has been thrown at graded stakes races in the hope something sticks and she has run well enough to suggest that with the age weight allowance she will be a threat in this race. She ran a brilliant race to be sixth beaten just a length in the grade one Diana and didnt run too badly in the Sands Point last time out when running on into sixth. Some very slick work times suggest she is up to a graded stakes and the only thing that may be against her here will be the wide draw.
SUMMARY
If Snacks wasnt drawn wide i would be liking her chances and as it is she may still win but there are six other fillies in this race with a very similar chance of winning.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
