September 4, 2014
The Grade II Prioress used to be one of the ultimate races for three-year-old filly sprinters, serving as a stepping stone to the Grade I Test and onto the Grade I BC F&M Sprint but now, it serves as a minor end to the SAR meeting and will be run for a $300.000 purse on Sunday afternoon at its standard six-furlongs. Won in real-life by such stars as Next Move, Ta Wee, Safely Kept, Xtra Heat and Indian Blessing, and at HRP by the likes of Shes A Class Act, Stromboli and Cleopatras Magic, it does not feature the Test winner who finished up the track in the Grade I Ballerina but does get the runner-up as well as a recent Grade III winner over the course who could be improving at the right time, and for the right distance.
1-El Gran Cuffed (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-D J C Racing Stables)
It took quite a while for El Gran Cuffed to finally come through in stakes company but she sprung the upset in the Shine Again at nearly 20-1 and the fear is that she will be heavily backed off that effort, and bounce against this much tougher level. That was certainly a career-best effort and she moved away from her rivals like a good thing but six-panels might not be her best distance and she needs to find enough in the last furlong to run past her speedier adversaries.
Analysis-Was excellent in her stakes win but might not get the set-up here
Fair Odds-8/1
2-Babatime (Three-year-old gray filly / Owner-Sanny Village)
Babatime was not considered one of the better sprinters of her generation but she proved she can handle the level with a solid second in the Test and as her speed ratings improve, so does her chances of taking a big win at some stage. She seems to enjoy going shorter than most in the field and she certainly has the speed and with outside zip, she will be sitting the perfect trip and might be able to hang around for a piece like she did last time out over this course.
Analysis-Should be good enough to hang around for a share
Fair Odds-9/2
3-Dead Ant Dead Ant (Three-year-old gray filly / Owner-Wynnewood)
Dead Ant Dead Ant is a multiple Graded Stakes winning sprinter who tested older runners in the Grade II Princess Rooney last time out and wound up a respectable fourth and with the drop back into three-year-old company, looks like a big shot to add a seventh career win to her already impressive credentials. Her speed ratings have been excellent since being purchased for a huge $350.000 and with a victory over the course, there is a lot to like with this filly as she looks to further cement her F&M Sprint status.
Analysis-Has been sharp all year and this is a reachable level
Fair Odds-9/5
4-Bally Z (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-Diablo Diablo)
You have to respect a filly who has never finished worse than third in nine career starts but it took Bally Z a long time to finally break through and although she has two straight wins including a docile score in the Regret at MTH, this is a much tougher test and she will need to prove that she can handle the quick fractions needed to win. She seems to be improving late in the season and she obviously loves going short so look for her to sprint to command and really take it to these fillies early, in the hopes of battling them into submission turning for home.
Analysis-Speed threat seems to be getting good
Fair Odds-4/1
5-Rock Dies Happy (Three-year-old gray filly / Owner-Drabfantasy)
After faltering in her debut going long last November, Rock Dies Happy is a perfect three-for-three this year and comes in off a sharp win in the Grade III Victory Ride, making her a logical choice to extend that streak for a very hot stable at the moment. She finds just enough to win in her races but is untested at this distance after starting her career going much longer and that could be her downfall against proven commodities going six-furlongs.
Analysis-Rides a winning streak into the biggest race of her career
Fair Odds-5/2
Overall
Dead Ant Dead Ant looks like a very good thing in the Grade II Prioress and given the fact that she is the only Graded Stakes winner in the field, and moves down from a tougher event against older fillies and mares, she should find this race well within her grasp in both class and distance. Rock Dies Happy has a big chance to extend her winning streak to four from the outside post, if she can get into a good position behind the early leader, who will be Bally Z as she tries to extend her streak as well with another good effort off the move up in class.
Prediction
Win-Dead Ant Dead Ant (9/5)
Place-Rock Dies Happy (5/2)
Show-Bally Z (4/1)
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade II
