The Acorn – Grade I
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Filly 3 Year Olds.

1st Creepy Runner Party Mb Stables Velazquez J R

It is now pretty clear that this filly who won the Ashland prior to her average effort in the KYO much prefers a fast track. The first half mile was pretty competitive, and she settled a little further back but when asked to go and win her race she picked up nicely and won a shade cozily. Now a triple grade one winner she looks to be the main danger to Credit Crime for the fillies honors this year.

2nd Heart Of Joy Royalty Stables Centeno D E

She had to go pretty hard to get on pace but even as they approached the final furlong, she still held a healthy lead. I do wonder whether she is effective over the longer trips when forced to work early and a mile at this stage looks to be her trip but having said that she has been no more than a length off the winner in three of the hottest fillies’ races of the year, so it is hard to be sure. She is very good, but her form is starting to have the bridesmaid look about it and I wonder whether she deserves to step down a grade to get her confidence back up.

3rd Thousand Hours Mb Stables Franco M

Another that flopped in the KYO but came back to her best today, staying on nicely for third. She faces the problem of a very good crop of three-year-old fillies but as the division starts to mix with the older horses in the second part of the year, she may be able to find her niche.

4th Soliloquy Sunset Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A

Another solid run from the BC Juvenile Fillies winner but once again she raced up on the pace before just flattening out in the run for home. She wasn’t beaten far into fourth and she seems to me to be a filly that needs a very strong early pace and to come at them from mid pack rather than getting up on the pace early. She still has an impressive record but after winning three grade ones in a row as a two-year-old it has tp be said she hasn’t improved as much as some.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES