1/30/2021
1 OP The Martha Washington [KYO]
$200.000 3yoF 1m Dirt 121lbs +penalties
The fillies will be headed to the gate on Saturday afternoon and we have a big field for The Martha Washington, a non-graded race but with important ramifications for the Filly TC races. I’m landing on Brooklyn Bride as my top choice today. She closed well in the Santa Ynez (GIII) to be fifth and I think this is wanting the extra furlong. She won the Sandpiper at 6f so she just needs a clear path for her late closing style. Let’s go to the outside post and put Foregone Conclusion in the middle of this battle. She was a disappointing eighth in that Santa Ynez (GIII) but I think she can turn it around and be a serious threat today. Obviously I’d love to put Dan Patch in this, but the 127 impost is dodgy in my eye, so I’ll give Intercontinental a shot coming into this off of her maiden win at GP.
Here’s The Field –
First half of the Mb entry and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen the big barn run a maiden, especially at 3yo, in a stakes races but here we are… he must like this one. She was a runner-up in her first start at HAW on the grass, so she goes longer on the main track today. Rabbit or threat?
Broke maiden at first asking winning by five at PEN, then was third vs. FLA-bred Alw types at TAM, and takes another leap up the ladder going after black type competition. She made up some ground as the favorite at TAM so I’m guessing she has some ability. Give her a look.
Broke maiden last out in her sixth start and goes after the big girls here today. She got the job done at GP going seven furlongs after a runner-up effort at KEE. This is her first start of the season so let’s see if she’s this kind of horse.
Broke maiden three back at GG then followed that up with a nice stakes win at CD, taking the Rags to Riches, then ran an odd race in the Golden Rod (GII) at CD where she broke well, dropped back, then showed some late interest to be fifth, beaten two. I’d give her a serious look here today.
Three wins and a pair of placings from six starts so, she’s proven to be a runner; however, she’s been in for a tag or in starter races for the most part. She was tagged for $20.000 two races where she won and came back to win for $30.000 last out. Now it’s the deep end of the pool and we see what she really has.
Second part of the Mb entry and she’s been winning OptAlw races but has struggled against black type foes. Fourth, fifth, ninth, fifth, vs. stakes horses, then got back on the winning side at SA last out. Will she finally step up and get after it with this type of competition?
She got the the job done at WO in the Mazarine BC Stakes (GIII) at WO, and for that she gets an impost that would almost allow me to ride her. She will be giving as much as six pounds away, so if she can win here, look out… we may have a monster. She’s been close in a number of other stakes, so she has talent… but the weight may be tough to overcome.
Won the Sandpiper at TAM and was closing in the Santa Ynez (GII) so she’s flexed her muscles a time or two. She only picks up two pounds since that stakes win was a non-graded event, still she looks to have a nice late kick and they should come in handy as the distances get longer.
The third head of the Mb Stables snake and again we have a maiden going after stakes horses. She’s been close in both of her lifetime starts, but I’m still taken aback by the maiden condition. I guess we will see.
Broke maiden at GP last out for a $32.000 tag and got home in pretty fast time. She missed the board in all of her other (three) starts, so maybe they are finding what makes this one tick. It’s a tough spot to find out.
I really thought this one would run a bit better in the Santa Ynez where she tired to be eighth that afternoon. She’ was fourth in the BC Juv F (GI) and the Starlet (GI) and has been close in a number of other stakes. Can she get back to better form and make it count?
Early Scratch
COZMAN 8 / 11/ 3 Willie’s Green Card 8 / 4 / 6
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
