Starlet – Grade II [KYO]
LA Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies Two Years Old.

1 Balance That Budget Rock Creek Smith M E 120 —
Looked pretty good in the Spinaway when making good ground from a tough draw to be fifth but then disappointed on the turf in the Jessamine, back to the main track today she gets a career best draw and may be the dark filly here at rewarding odds.

2 Techno Baby The Sidley Stud Valdivia J Jr 120 —
Stepped up in grade and trip to take on the Mazarine BC Stakes last time but didn’t really get involved and ended up an anonymous sixth. The trainer clearly thinks she deserves a second chance and she gets a great draw which the trainer may use to try and resurrect her front running tactics that had seen her win the Breeders Classic at CT.

3 Haggis Reaper Jokerjoes Reyes A A 120 —
The owner is looking for quick pay back here after paying $90.000 to take this from Temulac Stable just a few weeks ago. A consistent enough sort she will need to step up on what she has done so far to be competitive here but was OK in the Golden State Juvenile last time and a good run wouldn’t surprise.

4 Zeibekiko Night Rider Stables Leparoux J R 120 —
Finished third behind Techno Baby at CT where she was running on well over the shorter trip and then went on to run pretty well in the Tempted where again she made up plenty of ground to be a close third again. Claimed for just $10.000 I think this filly has more to offer and if she can get her timing right, she could be a good bet.

5 Tranect Acber Farms Elliott S 120 —
With all her form in turf sprints which includes a close second in the Matron we only have her dirt works to go on and they are pointing towards a very big run here. She had always finished well in her sprint races and her sub 1.37 dirt mile work suggests she will be even better over this trip and maybe this will be her breakthrough race.

6 Crait High Voltage Hernandez J J 120 —
Well, you don’t get much better than a closing fourth and beaten a half-length in the BC Juvenile fillies after a grade one second in the Alcibiades. The form looks very good for this race, and she will probably start favorite, but it really is a gamble on this race engine as to whether these closing types can get to the front in time. You only have to look at her record to see that, still a maiden but twice very close to winning a grade one, she could and probably should win this, but that victory is not up to her or the form book but the race engine.

7 Ontario Pharmacist Williams9 Dominguez Jo 122 —
A very good winner of the Oak Leaf using the wide gate speed push to get an easy lead and make all, the draw effect was never more apparent than in her next start when drawn inside but never able to make the lead on a softer pace. Wide again today she may see some speed push and that could be what she needs.

8 Dreambits Mb Stables Zayas E J 120 —
Tried to make all in the Alcibiades but was found out late and had to settle for fourth just behind Crait. The pace was pretty strong that day and the closers got the front horses in the end and with this wide draw again today it could be more of the same if she cannot cross them early or is challenged by a filly inside. There are a few closers here so a soft lead and she could do what she did in the Golden State Juvenile last time and run away from them off the front.

9 Purify Bigchief Stables Gaffalione T 120 —
Won her debut in April so had to wait until September before her second start and ran an eye catching fourth in the Pocahontas. Her works haven’t looked as impressive as that run since but with works meaning next to nothing on race day these days, I wouldn’t let that put you off. Likely to go back from the wide gate she will be relying on the race engine to give her a chance of winning.

SUMMARY

A nice race here and plenty of chances to get in some early KYO points. Dreambits looks very progressive and could well lead all the way but of she is forced to fight for the lead and the race engine sets the closers up there are plenty that will be trying to run over the top late. Of those Crait and Tranect look my best picks.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES