NY Stallion Series- Fifth Avenue ($500.000 Purse)
AQU- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in NY
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
December 14, 2024

On a weekend that will have several State bred stakes taking place around the country, it should come as no surprise as to why breeding in New York is so popular within the game. The purse levels for the Fifth Avenue and Great White Way far exceed what we are seeing in other states. Here, we will look at the Fifth Avenue, which is the race for juvenile fillies. This is the 19th time that the race has been run and the sixth time that it has been run at seven furlongs. The race has been particularly friendly to Night Mare Racing, as the trainer has won the last two races, including last year with Lady Lara. The Hard To Deny filly went on to have a strong three-year-old season, which would see her run in the KYO, win the Grade 1 Test at SAR, and then place third in the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint last month. That’s a tough act to follow, but a field of eleven will give it a shot. Let’s meet them now:

1- Dianas Fury (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by Ru Silvera)- After breaking her maiden at LAD in September, Dianas Fury made a trip to WO for the $125.000 Glorious Song Stakes, also a seven-furlong race, and got the win there as well. Now, after starting from post five in the last three races, she goes to the Fifth Avenue and from the rail this time. Can she pick up another big one and likely establish herself as a name to watch as a three-year-old?

2- Affair (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by S Elliott)- D J C gets the two inside posts, leaving the outside three posts to Mb Stables, which we will get to later. Affair has made half of her six starts with the NY-bred condition, and two have been in stakes. In September, she won in the $125.000 Gimma right here, topping Gigafemme in the process. An unrestricted stake last month did not go as well for her here, so she may be happy to be back against NY-Breds.

3- Panamoulu (Blazin D, ridden by A R Rodriguez)- Anything that is out of the great Hanamaulu, one of the best broodmares we have seen in the game, will get your attention right away. And Panamoulu is doing just what past siblings have been able to do: win big races. Thus far in her career, she is three for four, with one stake win. That was in the $75.000 Tah Dah Stakes at BTP, which may not intimidate many here, but it shows her potential. The one race she did not win was the Grade 1 DMR Debutante, and that was a struggle, but given her pedigree, I can freely throw that out.

4- Peppered Fine (Night Rider Stables, ridden by D Davis)- The last time we saw this filly, she was running second in a $5.000 FP N1X allowance in September. It’s been a couple months, and clearly there has been improvement behind the scenes if she is entered here. Unfortunately, she does not have any public works since that FP race, so while I am sure she is improved since then, the lack of seeing recent works will keep me from including her in my picks.

5- Gigafemme (Big Guns Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- She’s been a regular participant in NY-Bred races, as all but her debut race have come with the condition. Broke her maiden at SAR in the July and then was able to cash a check in both the Gimma, where she was fourth, and the $200.000 Maid Of The Mist here, where she was third. Seems to represent herself every time, so should be in the mix here as well.

6- Heart Of Joy (Royalty Stables, ridden by A J Juarez)- A big acquisition by Royalty Stables from Fractious, and this will be her first start in her new silks since the $500.000 sale. You can certainly see why that price was paid, as she has been first or second in four of her five starts. This includes an impressive, wire to wire win by two lengths in the Maid Of The Mist six weeks ago. She likes to get out on the lead early, and I don’t see why that will change here. Royalty Stables can start winning back some of the purchase price already.

7- Merlene Ottey (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- Won on debut in May at LAD, but has not really shown anything in the two starts that followed, being beaten by a combined 14 lengths. Soundly defeated here last month in the Key Cents, finishing last, and being a full second behind the horse that was next to last. The trainer is obviously confident, but like her stablemate, I need to see it first.

8- Neon Sara (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by F Geroux)- Won on debut, which is her only win in five starts, but she still has been running well as of late. In her last two races, she has been second, highlighted by running in that spot in the $100.000 Arnaz Stakes last month at DMR. Bear in mind, though, she was defeated by three lengths in that one by the winner, Arrowette. This is a good test for her.

9- Chemistry Crackle (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Now, we get to the Mb Stables portion of the starting gate as the trainer drew the three outside posts for the race. Naturally, I have to also mention that all three of his entries in the Great White Way are also together. Chemistry Crackle took on Heart Of Joy in the Maid Of The Mist last month and ran second to her, though was beaten two lengths with a come from behind effort. It’s probable to expect that the trainer will try to have her be a little closer at the start this time around.

10- Sugar Queen (Mb Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- This one is still a maiden, and these are the types of stakes you can see maidens get up and pull off the surprising win. That said, I think this field is a little too deep for her to do that. She last ran on Halloween, and was beaten by three lengths at DMR, running fourth. Probably is one to watch down the road but is in a tough spot right here.

11- Salty Heifer (Mb Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- Bred as a yearling, but did not make her first start until October, so likely was a slow developer. When she finally appeared, she won on debut at FE in a turf race, and off of that came here for the $100.000 Key Cents. She would win that NY-bred race with a come from behind effort, making her 2-for-2 early in her career. Her work times are excellent, and the conditions of this race should suit her very well. Definitely be looking for her in the stretch.

Prediction: 6-1-11-3

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded