SA 5 Las Cienegas Stakes (GIII)
$100.000 F&M 4yo&Up 5 1/2f Turf 123lbs
The writers are back from holiday vacation and we get a hum-dinger here as eight ladies are entered for the Las Cienegas Stakes (GIII) going five and a half furlongs on the lush
SA lawn.
I’m taking Levi Sneaky as my top choice as her fast closing fourth on BC Day is enough to get my attention. Add in her win over a soft track here, her lone score of the year, and I think this may be a place for her to kick off ’20 in style. Five Million is my second choice and will probably have some odds with her. She didn’t win in ’19 but I like that race over the surface back in June and I think she may turn her form around. I’ll go to the rail for my third choice and put Call Me Spannish in that spot. She was claimed for a mere $10.000 but has been close in all of her starts under the new ownership and I think the rail will be a good spot for her to come after them in the late stages.
Here’s The Field…
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Call Me Spannish |
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La Canada Racehorses |
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Franco G |
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123 |
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7/1 |
She’s been solid as a rock, never missing the board in nine starts last year and I don’t see any signs of that letting up. She likes to come from off of the pace, which should fit well here, and I’m not sure why she’s always double-digit odds… I like her a bunch.
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Pennys Pearl |
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Angelos Stable |
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Bejarano R |
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123 |
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3/1 |
Solid wire-to-wire score against graded horses at GP taking the My Charmer Hcp (GIII) to close out her successful ’19 season, which also saw her change hands. She’s hasn’t missed a beat for the new barn showing two wins and two fourths since the hostile takeover and I’d look for her to fire another big shot here today.
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British Chai |
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Mo Mentum Farm |
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Van Dyke D |
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123 |
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5/1 |
Tired to beat on on BC Day, but don’t let that get you down because she can run. Two graded wins in ’19 including the Honorable Miss (GII) at SAR and a runner-up effort in the PID Masters (GII) prior to her BC Day efforts. Grass may be her only question mark as she’s never won on the green stuff.
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Five Million |
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TwinTowersRacing |
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Fuentes Ru |
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123 |
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10/1 |
She didn’t have her picture taken last season although she was close a few times including a third in the Wilshire (GIII) over this track. She’s going to need her best to be part of the festivities today.
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Growling In The Wind |
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Our Athletes |
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Rosario J |
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123 |
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7/1 |
Her only off-the-board race of ’19 was her last start at GG where she was still a respectable fourth vs. CA bred stakes types. She’s never raced on the lawn and doesn’t even show a work on it so she’s a bit of a wildcard here today. The barn has been hot so far this year winning at a .58 rate.
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Gemischt Von Strauss |
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Drabfantasy |
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Smith M E |
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123 |
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5/2 |
Solid win last out over this strip and at today’s distance as she stalked and pounced in the Maddy Stakes (GIII). She just broke her maiden four back and seems to have a ton of up side while showing some serious speed. She may be the one.
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Heidi Fleiss |
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Maxmillion Farm |
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Maldonado E |
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123 |
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10/1 |
Only a maiden win from eleven lifetime starts but she was a fast closing second at AQU in the Autumn Day to close out her season. Back to back bullet works getting ready for this so she may be on the improve.
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Levi Sneaky |
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Estero Farms |
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Gutierrez Mario |
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123 |
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9/5 |
Closed well to be four here in the BC Turf Spring (GI) and her last win came back in Feb over this track in the Swell Life (GIII) so she may like the home cooking. There is a good mix of speed and closers today so if she can get a clear lane late, look out.
COZMAN Picks 8 / 4 / 1 Willie’s Green Card 8 / 6 / 4 Scotty 7 / 2 / 8
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
