The Ticonderoga ($200.000 Purse)
BEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled In NY
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
October 30, 2021

Saturday will feature a handful of races for NY-breds at BEL to keep us busy as we await the BC next weekend out west. Among those races is the 19th running of the Ticonderoga, a race for NY-bred fillies and mares on the grass. It is a race that has been dominated by D J C Racing Stables, as the trainer has won the race four times, including three consecutive years from 2014-2016. He also won it last year with Diva Delite, but will not field an entry in this race. As for Diva Delite, she would not win again, and raced for the final time in February, and is currently retired. Let’s take a look at our field of eight this year!

#1- Chai Appeal (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by S R Bahen)- We saw her in the Ticonderoga last year, and she would finish third, missing by a length. Can she do two spots better this time? Her wins are scattered throughout her career, and she hardly ever seems to have a bad race so we must consider her a contender here. La Canada Racehorses may regret letting this one get away in a $25.000 claimer in late August. She’ll have to be better than she was in the Violet last time out, but I think she can be.

#2- Indecisive (Mb Stables, ridden by E Jaramillo)- She’s not the most well known foal out of Laugher, that would be Bite The Bullet, or Hilarity, or Easier Said. Goes to show then good her pedigree is, and of course sire Worst Case Scenario is a good one too. Indecisive has gotten her chance in big races, but she has not really stepped up. Has two wins, but nothing greater than an allowance at AQU in March. Lesser competition here could help her alot.

#3- A Girl Has No Name (Nakamura Stables, ridden by L Saez)- This five year old mare has won at a good clip, with eight wins in 22 starts. The vast majority of those are overnights, but at times she has gotten a chance to run at this level. When she has, it has been a struggle as she has not hit the board in any of those races. Perhaps one day she will have a breakthrough since she is no stranger to the winner’s circle but she’s disappointed a lot of bettors in stakes up to this point.

#4- Ponzi Scheme (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- A winner in two out of ten races thus far, breaking her maiden in her fifth try and then taking a $93.000 allowance at CD in late May. She has been lightly raced since then, with a flat showing in the Coronation Cup, on soft turf, putting her on the shelf for a couple months. This will be a return to routing for her after three sprints.

#5- Miami (Century Acres Farm, ridden by J Alvarado)- Well, there’s not a whole lot to talk about with this one, given she only has two career starts. She made her debut last December, and it was a dud. She would not be seen on the track again until the sixth of this month, where she won at PID. Off of that, the trainer gives her a test to see what she can do against much better competition. Neither of her two prior starts came on the turf.

#6- Apache Snow (Wood Duck Stables, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- When this race goes to post, it will be exactly one year since the last time Apache Snow won a race, which was an allowance at GG. Off of that win, she was sent to the Grade 1 Matriarch and finished third, so things were looking up. Instead, Apache Snow has gone cold, but nearly broke the skid in her last race, an optional claimer at CD. Maybe the anniversary of her last win can stir good luck and get another one.

#7- Wonderful Authority (Smokey Stover, ridden by D Davis)- This filly has not had trouble winning lately, however, with four victories in her last six races. That stretch is highlighted by capturing the $150.000 Pebbles right here at BEL about six weeks ago. Wonderful Authority also raced in a similar race to this one at SAR in August, the Liberty Stakes, and finished second. Expect her to have a good shot in this race as well.

#8- Cherokee Latte (Chili King Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Starting on the outside we have this Cherokee Scope filly that will be looking for her third win in what will be her 16th start. It has not been a full year since she last won, like Apache Snow has, but it’s been 51 weeks, so close enough. Her last two races have seen her be a lot closer to ending her streak, being within a length of the winner each time. Maybe her and Apache Snow will dead heat for a win, then.

Prediction: 7-1-6-2

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded