07/13 The Diana – Grade I
SAR Race #8 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
1 Made It Through Mb Stables Lezcano J
The three year olds are starting to dominate these races as usual at HRP and there is no better owner at taking advantage of this anomaly than Mb Stables. This filly hasnt got the sort of form to win a grade one but is working 1.10 flat for 6 furlongs and if you add that to the weight allowance she has to be a chance. Just recently she has started to look more like a router running on nicely in the Edgewood to be fourth and then again in the Mount Vernon. She has to be the best three year old in this though and on form she isnt so whilst she could beat better older horses she may struggle against her own age group.
2 La Terrifiant Our Athletes Velazquez J
Probably the best horse in this race and with the perfect draw she must get full respect even though she has to battle the three year old weight allowance. The BC Juvenile fillies winner as a two year old she ran third in the BC Distaff last year but rather than keep on trying on the dirt her trainer switched her to the turf after that. That decision immediately paid dividends with a win in the grade one American Oaks proving once again that there are many more dual surface horses at HRP than in real life. This season she has continued on the grass winning the Wiley at grade one and running a game third in the Just A Game last time. On works she isnt fast enough to beat the three year olds after the weights are taken into account but this is a filly with a ton of class and is a dual grade one winner on this surface.
3 Maggie Greene The Sidley Stud Colon L H
Here’s another filly that has her fair share of class but has to beat the weight allowance before she has to worry about the older horses to win this race. Not beaten far in two turf BC races her grade one win came in the QE II over this trip and after a successful two and three year old campaign she has looked just as good this season so far. The easy winner of both the Orchid and The Sheepshead Bay this season my biggest concern is that in this grade she may find the 9 furlongs too sharp. She has a good draw to work with and a top turf jockey to help her a long so a big effort will be expected.
4 Sweet Gail Sccj Stables Rosario J
An honest sort she isnt as accomplished as some of the other older fillies in this race but she proved when a neck third in the Wiley right behind la Terrifiant in April that she has the form to run very well. She was a little disappointing over this trip in the Gamely last time but take out that effort and she is entitled to be in calculations.
5 Chais Princess Maxmillion Farm Gutierrez
The shock winner of the SA Oaks after just a cheap maiden win she was bought by Lionking Stable for $350 only to be sold again at a $125 loss after a one paced effort in her only other start. Maxmillion Farm bought her and sure enough the turf king has put her to grass and she has shown a liking. With the weight allowance and decent enough form in her last two starts i could easily see her winning this even though on paper she is nowhere near the class of the older fillies.
6 Na Pali Smokey Stover Bejarano R
Last years brilliant winner of the BC Juvenile Turf she came back this season with two good wins off the cuff including the FL Oaks. The rains came to KEE in her next start and HRP showed its off track crazy side and she was beaten 15 lengths into last place as an odds on favorite. I think its safe to just completely ignore that. She ran in the Regret last time but after stalking the pace ended up a one paced third and whilst her form figures are still very appealing you have to worry that she is going the way of many juvenile stars and not improving through her three year old season.
7 Trippi Tip Toe Estero Farms Maldonado
Maldonado dropped 1 percent and suddenly couldnt ride a bicycle but now he’s back up to 10 percent there are hints of his turf domination returning so this could be a good booking for Estero Farms. Beaten a lengths by Na Pali in the FL Oaks she went onto to win a sprint stakes race before stretching out again to run a very nice second in the Honeymoon over this trip. I think furlongs is at the edge of her stamina but looking at her works and her good form over a variety of trips i think she just may be the dark filly in the race.
8 Fomalhaut John Henry Talamo J
What can you say this five year old winner of the NY at grade two last time out is pretty much working slower than every three year old in the race and she has to give them all 6Lbs. Thats pretty much lights out right there but this is a tough consistent mare who if it came to gutsing out in a finish may just prove stronger despite the weight.
9 Emotionless Team 7 Illusions Prado E S
It wouldnt be a Stakes race without a daughter of Cherokee Sunset in the race and whilst this ones form and this wide draw look to rule her out of contention we have seen many odd results recently and this certainly wouldnt be the oddest.
10 Not Charleigh Now Gdp Inc Pennington F
Drawn out in the cheap seats this filly has really hit her straps this year winning the Beaugay and then running a brilliant second in the Just A Game. She would need the perfect run from out here to beat the three’s but it has happened before and there is no reason it cant happen again.
SUMMARY
Well i could talk all day about the older fillies and mares in this race but experience tells me not to dwell too long on them as they face the new generation. The likes of La Terrifiant and Maggies Greene both of whom are easily good enough to win this race find themselves giving 6 Lbs away to horses that can work just as quick as them. If it comes down to a race then these older horses should have the strength to beat their younger rivals but i very much doubt it will have much to do with that.
So at my peril i will ignore the older horses and concentrate on the best of the younger ones any of whom could win. Chais Princess gets the Maximllion treatment so a win there would be interesting and the BC Juvenile champ Na Pali, if she came back to her best, could easily win. But i am outside the box for this one and its going to be Trippi Tip Toe for me.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
