7   SA    Autumn Miss Stakes (GIII)
$100.000     1m      Turf      122lbs

A nice field of nine ladies will be headed to the gate for the 2019 Autumn Miss Stakes (GII), going a flat mile on the SA sod, and I am looking on the hedge for today’s winner.  Anahola controlled the pace in the Pebbles at BEL and she looks ready to do the same here today.  She’s been working well off of the WO turf and seems like a horse that still has her best races in front of her.  If anyone can take it away from my top pick, I’d have to lean on Smart Witch to get it done.  She’s about as consistent as you could ever want a filly to be, and I just don’t think she ran her best on that soft sod at SAR.  She’s gotten a bit of a break between starts but the am works say she’s ready to get back after it.  I’ll give Dream Whisperer a big shot today as well, off of that close-up fourth in the Rodeo Drive (GI) here in her most recent.  That was a salty bunch, as have been most/all of her races.  You know the barn always comes with plenty of ammo, and she could be the one to beat.

Here’s The Field –

 1   Anahola – she’s been a handful this season and got the job done last out at today’s distance taking the Pebbles at BEL, in wire-to-wire fashion.  She love the mile and has been in the hunt in all six of her 2019 starts.  I’d expect another bang-up effort here today.

 2   Tanzania – purchsed via the Sep Auction and they go big game hunting right off the bat.  Was third in her only start at MNR while facing MSW horses and now the new connections take on graded types here.  Best of luck.

 3   Rules Are Madness – looked like the claim of the year after being snagged for $20.000 back in Apr, then taking a state-bred stakes and wining the Lake George (GIII) at SAR.  Her subsequent pair of races off of that win have been disasters, stopping abruptly in both.  I’ll watch from afar.

 4   Smart Watch – last two have been on soft going and she shows a win and a third vs. graded foes in those races, and that certainly makes her one to watch today.  She’s not missed a check this year with three wins and three thirds from six outings, so you have to put her on your tickets.

 5   Thunder Doll – broke maiden over this track and has been in the hunt in a few of her efforts since that lone win.  Was last of seven in her only other graded start so she will need her best to be in the mix here.

 6   Steal The Heart – beat Cal-breds in the South Beach at DMR for her only 2019 win, but was only a length back in the fore-mentioned Pebbles and if she can build off of that race, perhaps she has a shot at a piece of this one.  She was third over this trip facing GIII types in the Honeymoon, so don’t sleep on her.

 7   Dream Whisperer – hasn’t had her picture taken since winning at FG back in Mar, but she has been facing some very stiff competition throughout her 2019 campaign.  Tired a bit late last out in the Rodeo Drive (GI) at a mile and a quarter, so the shorter distance could set her up for a win.

 8   Silly Sue – back-to-back wins but that was vs. much less than what she faces today.  She is undefeated on the grass, so if you don’t tell her this is a big step up in class, maybe she won’t notice.  Still, I can’t see much more than a minor share with her best effort.

 9   Canadiana – comes to SoCal off of a string of successful starts north of the border.  She just missed vs. graded foes in the ONT Colleen Stakes (GIII) so you know she has some class.  The post does her no favors, but she has early speed and that may help her overcome that.

COZMAN Picks   1  /  4  /  7      Willie’s Green Card   7        Scotty    7  /  6  /  1

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES