Nassau Stakes (Grade 2)- $175.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
May 26, 2019

North of the border this Sunday, we will see a field of six go to post in the 12th running of the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes, a race that has recently been dominated by the three year olds. In the early days, there were not any three year olds winning this race, but now they have taken the last three. They make up four of the six horses in the field, and have a five pound weight allowance. Last year, Noble Moment won the race, which was her last career win, and was retired after last season. Something that I found interesting is that the last time a Nassau winner ended up winning another race in their entire career was in 2014 with the late E Adventure. So, whoever wins, be careful! Let’s meet the field!

#1- Ednas Revenge (Childs Play, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Earlier this week, Ednas Revenge was in the barn of John Henry, but was sold in a $70.000 private sale. She’s won six of 18, a decent clip, but none of those are in any of the stakes she has attempted, for which there are several. She’s been a rather consistent fourth place finisher in stakes, and while she might better that a tad, winning will be more difficult. As a four year old, carries five more pounds then all but one.

#2- Diluted (Mb Stables, ridden by L Contreras)- Another one making their debut for a new trainer in a private sale. Diluted has had more time in her new barn, as she was acquired from Aer Stables at the beginning of the month for $365.000, two days after winning an optional claimer. Been part of the exacta in seven of nine career races, and the two she was not were her first race, and the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf (7th). She seems as though she has been steady this year, and this is a good spot for her. Trainer will be sure not to let Princess Street get too far ahead of her. It’s Mb we’re talking about there, so he’ll have an answer.

#3- Low Key Desires (Aer Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- The trainer would look awfully smart if he could take down Diluted with this one, who is making their stake debut in this race. In seven races, she has been productive, though perhaps a little unspectacular when considering she is making this kind of a jump. Maybe that’s how she is supposed to do it, with her name being what it is, and all.

#4- Windian (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by J M Campbell)– Given her outstanding pedigree, and the fact that she is in the barn of one of the game’s top breeders, I am a little surprised this one has not been sent to shed, even with the short femur. She has been a little inconsistent this year, rotating good starts and disappointments in her four races. If you believe in that pattern, though, she is due to run a big race, and I believe she will. The trainer clearly feels that there is plenty more that she is capable of achieving. One of the two older horses in the field, though.

#5- Illustrious Cat (Chili King Stables, ridden by Alan Garcia)- A promising filly who initially showed promise when running against NY-breds, and then followed that up win a Grade 3 win across the country at DMR for the Durante Stakes. She has become consistent, but is wanting to make more of a presence at this level. She has not always found nice weather in those attempts, it looks like that has done her in. We look good here in that regard, and that can bode well for her. If she runs like she did in her last race, she can win this.

#6- Princess Street (First Street Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- Making just the sixth start of her career, and comes off a win in the $100.000 Memories Of Silver at AQU, where she went wire to wire. That had to be encouraging for the trainer, because her prior race, at the same distance, she also looked to wire the field before folding badly. Perhaps soft turf was a reason for that. She will be glad to get a chance to run on the highly likely firm turf here. A little shorter distance could be to her liking, too, but I do wonder if she just needs to be a tad faster, overall, to beat some of these.

Prediction: 2-5-4-6

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES