Melair Stakes
SA Race #5 1 1/16m Dirt Stake
Purse $150.000 For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled In CA.
1 Top Billing Smokey Stover Cedillo A
A very consistent sort she ran with credit to be second in both the Gazelle and the Eight Belles and that sort of form looks way too good for a state-bred ungraded stakes. The draw is perfect and she looks the best bet of the weekend.
2 Girl Mazula Wood Duck Stables Hernandez J J
An interesting entry as she won her allowance quicker than Top Billing won hers and may be a filly with some improvement in her. Gets the perfect draw to cause an upset and her recent work says she is still on the up.
3 Amuzing Code Party Night Rider Stables McCarthy T
Ran well enough in the CA Oaks but then failed miserably in the Summertime Oaks last time. Her maiden win came in a time nearly a second slower than both Girl Mazula and Top Billing won over the same trip so she may have to find something to trouble them.
4 Steppin Out Mb Stables Gonzalez Ru
Showed just how fickle the class system is at HRP as she ran fourth in the Honeybee and third in the Gazelle as a maiden but then only just got home in a maiden last time. That suggested to me that while she doesn’t lack a class gene she may just have trouble quickening and may need a real test of stamina to be seen at her best. She could easily win this but if the pace is slow she may just struggle to accelerate when it matters.
5 Dem Say Night Rider Stables Prat F
Fourth in the Gazelle she has a bit to find on form but is a consistent filly who will give her best. She got too far back in the Gazelle and ran on late so she will need to find a position nearer the pace today from the wide gate to have a winning chance.
SUMMARY
This race looks at the mercy of Top Billing but you have to respect Steppin Out who could well upset her if the pace is strong. Of the other three they all have chances if things go their way.
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