CD Distaff Turf Mile – Grade II
CD Race #7 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.
One of the best days of the year at HRP kicks off at Churchill Downs and whilst the obvious highlight of the day is the KYD there is plenty of interest and dollars available on the support card.
The older fillies and mares start the show in a race that has been a great curtain raiser in the past. Who can forget Attractions double in 2015 and 2016 of the resurgence of Australia Wide last year when they took it with Franke.
Three of the last four running’s have been on a rain affected track so it is always worth keeping an eye on the weather especially as it is wet through to Thursday.
So who is going to take this years running? Here’s a look at the runners and it is great to see a few of the lesser lights of HRP trying to get in on some Derby day glory:
1 Admire Beauty Arindel Jaramillo E
This four year old was a consistent overnight claimer until she was claimed last September. She followed her improvement curve upwards with the new owner winning the Tropical Park Oaks and then the Suwannee River in game fashion but then failed last time on a rain affected track in the Hillsborough. The state of the track is the one thing on HRP that has a huge impact on horses and i think we can forget her last run unless the track is wet for this race. Her work times are very good and whilst there is still something to prove against this caliber of opposition she has plenty of heart and will be perfectly positioned from this draw,
2 La Terrifiant Smokey Stover Gaffalione T
You don’t get much better than this mare at HRP. The winner of 13 races and the amazing record of two BC wins and two BC thirds for over 6K in prize money she is one of the greats of the game. Bought for a massive $1751 after her last BC effort she has followed a different path for the new owner running in three sprints after a win in the grade one Matriarch all at ungraded level. Her form this year is clearly not up to par with her previous efforts but she was only a length back last time in the Royal Heroine when brought back to the mile where i feel she is most effective.
One feels the money paid for her was not for her remaining racing career but for a career in the shed and today may be D Day for her. From the perfect draw today she gets her chance to prolong that amazing career and you would be a brave man to say she cannot win.
3 Fomalhaut John Henry Fuentes Ru
Another tough old mare she may not have the record of La Terrifiant but she does have one to be proud of. The winner of eleven races and well over 1K in prize money she has won 5 stakes races but always struggled a little in teh grade ones. Two from two this year she is clearly still at the top of her game and it wouldn’t take much to see her winning or placing.
Her works are strong and she has a bit of off track form so i can see her right in this at the end whatever the weather.
4 Ewa Beach The American Beschizza A
It was kind of Smokey Stover to let this consistent mare go to a newer stable for just $40 because it was to become the stables first ever stakes winner when she won the Marshuas River very impressively in January recording a sub 1.33 time with 124Lbs. Her last start in the Buena Vista was full of merit too when running from a wide draw and sticking on well to be beaten just a quarter length. She could well be the dark horse in this race and will offer some value.
This may be just a consistent filly that hasn’t won since taking a couple of claimers last year but in the hands of TwinTowers she becomes a possibly 1000/1 winner. She was much improved in the Turf Distaff last time after two placings at overnight level and whilst it is true that neither her works nor her form adds up to her winning this race it is not unusual for the trainers horses to be in that position and turn up on the day.
6 My Girl Makita Smokey Stover Gutierrez Mario
The trainer is so focused on the breeding aspect of this game that he has a glut of brilliant fillies and mares and this second entry gives them a very strong hand. Bought for $750 after a fifth in the BC fillies and mares turf she gained her first win for the new owner last time out when taking the Royal Heroine Stakes. In that race she beat both Hash Tag Hash and La Terrifiant which should be a great pointer for her winning this race but i am always a bit dubious of form where the draw is concerned and she raced from the two box that day which is a big advantage.
It would be no surprise to see her winning today, in fact on form she would be the top choice i guess.
7 Hash Tag Hash Fractious Velazquez J R
Bought for a very reasonable $150 she had been a frustrating filly for her previous owner but her form is good enough for a race like this as long as the rain stays away. She was in a wide gate and led the Royal Heroine for a long way before being worn down last time and whilst she doesn’t exactly have a great draw today she may not be catapulted to the front like she was in that race so could run better. Lightly raced i think there is more upside to her than most in this field so i would expect her to be taking home some sort of paycheck today.
8 Miss Pinnacle Party South Beach Racing Lezcano J
A consistent sort at overnight level but there are a few things against her here and it is tough to see her winning. She was a good winner at overnight level last time but the time wasn’t overly quick and TUP is a long way from Churchill Downs. I would try hard at making a case for her as she has won a little stakes race before but this wide draw is another nail in her coffin and she will need a set of circumstances in order to pull of a win.
9 Bagina Chili King Stables Ortiz I Jr
No-one likes a wide Bagina especially if it doesn’t turn out wet.
Having said that she was massive in taking the Hillsborough in her first wet run which had me thinking she was one of those with webbed hooves, but then she ran a strange race in the Wiley in her second wet start so maybe i was wrong about that.
There is no doubt she has ability and form good enough to be in the finish here and a close fourth in the grade one Just A Game last year from a wide draw says this wide draw isn’t a death warrant. On her best day she is a danger on her worst she may struggle.
SUMMARY
Well because of the amount of races at this sort of level over the weekend the field contains two distinct and very different types of runners. On one hand we have the likes of La Terrifiant, accomplished stakes runners that have proved them selves and then on the other we have good overnighter’s who may just be on the upward slope of their improvement curve.
So who is it going to be? well i feel that La Terrifiant has all the class and my heart goes for her but my head says the likes of Hash Tag Hash and My Girl Makita are the ones to go for. But as usual i will ignore my heart and my head and go for Ewa Beach to cause a mini upset.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
