NY Stallion Series- Fifth Avenue
AQU- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled In NY
Six Furlongs on the Inner Dirt
December 16, 2017

The 12th running of the Fifth Avenue, part of the NY Stallion Series, takes place this Saturday at the big A. It’s a race for two year old fillies that were born in the Empire State, so we should expect it to attract another quality field. Last year, Canadian Racing picked up the win with his filly, Retrospective. Unfortunately, she did not use it to catapult her into bigger things as a three year old, as she has not run in another stake since, and was most recent seen running at the free track. 2015 winner, Lady Is A Tramp had a little better career, but also not win another stake. Hopefully, whoever wins this race will have a better result. Here’s the field.

#1- Five Roses (Aer Stables, ridden by J Alvarado)- A winner of one out of six races thus far, but had always been in the money until her last effort. Last month, she tried to stretch it out in the DED Princess (Grade 3), and struggled late so the trainer cuts her back to what had been working before. A pair of third place runs in the Grade 2 Adirondack and Grade 3 Matron a few months ago show the potential that she has while sprinting. This is going to make her one of the top choices, and if she can get a smooth rail trip, it may be tough for anyone to catch her.

#2- Unbendable (Estero Farms, ridden by J R Velazuez)- Out of the same sire, Give Me Five, that Five Roses from, it might make you wonder for a second if that sire was deactivated too quickly. Unbendable also ran in the Adirondack over the summer, but did not finish as well as did Five Roses. She’s had a little more difficulty running for higher purses, and no one was interested when she was put for a $40.000 claiming tag in her last start, one that she won.

#3- Phunny Devil (Asgar, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Making the 11th start of her two year old campaign. Phunny Devil has two wins, with her maiden win coming in a quick second race with everyone else being a debutante. In August, and again off a short rest, she took a starter allowance at DMR. Otherwise, attempts to move her up in class have seen finishes off the board for the most part. In her last though, maybe a turning point with a good third place run at the $100.000 Glorious Song.

#4- The Squaw (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by R Santana Jr)- Comes back to the main track after running her last three on the grass. After a pair of good runs in July, she did not step up at the Grade 1 Natalma, and after about three months to think about it and rest up, The Squaw heads back to the dirt here. Hopefully, she’s improved a little bit. Some recent seven furlong breezes are ok, but do not wow, either.

#5- Ker Splash (Spankys Barn, ridden by K Carmouche)- After picking up two wins for her prior trainer, Ker Splash was acquired by Spankys Barn in private sales for $60.000, and just two weeks later, placed into a very similar race for juvenile female New Yorkers: The Key Cents. In that race she ran third, coming from off the pace to get close late. If she does that again, she should be one of the contenders here. I am intrigued more by another here, but she is very capable.

#6- A Woman Scorned (Threshold, ridden by C H Velazquez)- This filly by Flying Miglio has shown promise in her young career. After the debut race did not go well, she has not done anything other then win. A strong showing on the last weekend of the SAR meet was impressive, and she followed that up against NY-breds in the $50.000 Shesastonecoldfox at FL in late October. She has certainly earned this opportunity to take on this field, and I always like a horse that knows how to win. She’ll pose a threat.

#7- Diplomatic Chaos (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Speaking of knowing how to win, Diplomatic Chaos does not know how to do anything else. She is three for three in her career thus far, which includes a win in the $100.000 Glorious Song last month, a race in which she defeated Phunny Devil. The 92 SRF that she attained in the race is the highest that any of these have done, and I simply think she is the class of the field here. There’s a couple in there who have the ability to ruin her day if she doesn’t bring her best, but she is the one to beat.

Prediction: 7-1-5-6

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded