4/8/23

   3   KEE   Appalachian (GII)           

 $400.000          3yoF          1m Turf      120lbs

The.  Most.  Beautiful.  Place.  On.  Earth.  To Lexington we go and opening day at KEE where we catch a nice field of eleven sophomore sod fillies, set to go a flat mile in the Appalachian (GII).  You can always count on Mb Stables to be loaded in these races and no reason to look elsewhere today… let’s give Raw And Real the top billing as she comes into this one winning four of her last five starts and seems the one to get past.  Speaking of winning, let’s put The Freakshow’s Sinister City in the second spot as she risks her four race skein today.  It’s a nice bunch and you could certainly make a case for each… get down to the rail, we don’t want to miss anything!

Here’s The Field –   

Four wins in a row, so the barn has this one on her toes.  Looked good winning the FL Oaks (GIII) at TAM, so this is right in-line with where you’d expect her to be.  Probably the one to get past if she keep running like she has been. 

Not much in her ’23 debut, but it was on the main track, and she certainly seems to be more of a weed lover.  Came back nicely to be second in the Lady of Shamrock at SA and the big barn doesn’t show up just to run. 

Four wins in her last five starts and the big barn has her ready to do some more damage today.  Wire to wire wins in her last two including the Herecomesthebride last out on the SoFla lawn.  No doubt she’s a horse to put on your tickets. 

Just missed in the FLA Oaks (GIII) and that was fresh off of her maiden win, so she stepped right up to the graded types and didn’t flinch.  Another like that and you have to put her in the thick of things.  The bar is hot right now. 

Looked good taking the Arnaz Stakes at DMR but ran a pair of bad ones beating one in the NYS Fifth Ave and tiring to beat a couple in the Alexandra (GII).  She’s gotta improve off of those races or it’s going to be another long day. 

Three-for-four, so there is no doubt she knows her way to the winner’s circle, but her only blemish was also her only black-type race, where she was fifth in the Ginger Brew at GP.  Sharp barn, sharp horse… don’t ignore.

Upset in the BC Juv Filly Turf (GI) at 19/1 odds, but her ’23 debut was less than thrilling as she beat a couple in the Santa Ysabel (GIII) at SA.  I’d give her a bit of a pass in that one as it was on the main track, it was wet, and I think she does her best work on the firm lawn.  Her best makes her tough, but who shows up?

Broke maiden at TAM and it right to the deep end of the pool with her.  Sharp outfit, so they know what they have, and her am gallops would indicate that she could be any type.  Nice horse, sharp barn, good odds… hmmmm.

Three starts this season, all vs. Alw types and all on the grass, with mixed results.  She was fourth at SA on the downhill, third at FG, then sixth at FG, both of those sprinting.  She stretches it out a bit here, trying to find a bit more. 

Only her fifth start and she has two wins for a lowly rated trainer.  She rallied to be third in the Lacombe Mem at FG, but this is a step up and she may find this a bit salty. 

Two wins from five starts including an Alw win at GP last out at the mile and an eighth distance.  She seems to love the lawn, both victories coming on the green stuff, so give her a chance to be in the mix here as well. 

COZMAN  1 / 3            Willie’s Green Card    3 / 8 /1 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES