KD Ladies Sprint (Grade 3)- $500.000 Purse
KD- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
September 12, 2020

It is a big weekend of racing on the grass at KD, with big purses on the line. Full fields are aplenty for these races, and that includes the KD Ladies Sprint, which is a Grade 3 that runs for the fifth time. It is the second time that the purse is at the $500.000 level. Last year, Mb Stables picked up the win with Four Left Feet, a three year old filly that has become a steady contributor in Grade 3’s or ungraded races in her career. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that she will be here again in search of her second win in the stake. Jockey J R Velazquez could potentially win the race for three years in a row. The gate is loaded for one of the more entertaining races that this division will have. Here is the field!

#1- Trippi Sprinkle (Gdp Inc, ridden by J Lezcano)- Made her debut three starts ago, at PRX in June, and won the $100.000 Power By Far Stakes. This was the start of her going two out of three on the turf. Overall, she has been successful on both surfaces, too, with five wins in nine starts. She will be hoping for her first graded win here, and based on current form she can be a contender.

#2- Copper Return (Estero Farms, ridden by R Bejarano)- A bit of a roller coaster in placement lately for this otherwise consistent filly, being dropped from allowances to a $50.000 claimer in June, then back to an allowance that she did win, and now it’s this race. Now it is time for the horse to reward her trainer for his newfound confidence. Her last two starts on the grass have been wins, but if you are looking at the SRF figures, she might need to find a little more speed.

#3- Crystal Secret (Mb Stables, ridden by E M Hernandez)- She was one of two horses that participated in the KD Preview Ladies Turf Sprint, and she picked up the win. It would be the second stake win of her career, as she also won the FL-bred Musical Romance earlier in the year. Those two wins show that she is fine with both the surface, and this distance.

#4- Dodge Challenger (John Henry, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The jockey will look for his third straight win in this race, and hopes his mount will have the same kind of speed as does its namesake. The four year old has run well since being picked up by John Henry for $150.000, but this would be the biggest win of her career if she could pull it off. Versatile in her running style.

#5- Hollywood Greek (Chili King Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- She had a strong two year old season that allowed her to run in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf Sprint, but it is arguable as to whether she has built on that this year. There are a couple bright spots, such as the win in the $150.000 Sidney, but the expectations were likely higher. A win here would erase any debate of that.

#6- Slightly Flawed (Mb Stables, ridden by M Tunon)- Comes into this race red hot, winning her last five, and six of seven. The streak began at the allowance level, and as is often seen from this trainer, she is moved up gradually and keeps getting results. Most recently, she won the Grade 2 Royal North Stakes, and while this is not as high in grade, the purse is almost triple. Trippi Sprinkle was a horse that she was able to beat there. It will be tough for her to be beat here.

#7- Call Sarah (First Street Stables, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- This is a lightly raced filly that is just making her seventh career start. She’s won two of them, but always seems to find herself close at the finish, although she is a little more experienced with running a mile. Looked sharp in a second place effort at the Grade 3 ONT Colleen in her last start, in July.

#8- Chai Mission (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- The five year old mare makes the 31st start of her career and hopes that it results in her sixth win. Those wins have been sporadic in her career, so while it shows she has never been dominant, it speaks well of her durability. Has not run under a mile since August 2017. Hopefully she knows when the finish line will come.

#9- Four Left Feet (Mb Stables, ridden by J Bisono)- Last year’s winner is looking to pull off the win again, but will have to do it with another jockey. That is not a problem, as she has not had a regular jockey during her career. She has won four races since this one last year, and the most exciting one of those was the Grade 3 Intercontinental at BEL in early June. Overall, she has two wins in three starts, so all is still going well and she might be the biggest threat to her stablemate.

#10- Stamford Bridge (Dynark Stables, ridden by S R Bahen)- In something you do not see everyday on HRP, this mare made her debut at the age of seven last year. It was a long time coming for her, as she has gone on to win four times. All of those wins are overnights, but the trainer has entered her into a handful of graded races, highlighted by a second place finish in the Grade 3 Chilukki. Working very well coming into the race.

#11- Sierra Madre (Arindel, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Half as old as Stamford Bridge, but has made twice as many starts. Actually, that just makes her normal. She does an outstanding hitting job hitting the board for her career, doing so in 17 times (seven wins) in 23 starts. She has done so in each of her last eight starts, with four seconds and four thirds. This will be the toughest test she has had in a while, and the post draw did not help.

#12- Diva Delite (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by D Davis)- On the outside, this three year old will make the eighth start of her career, in a much deserved chance to win a big race. Diva Delite has managed four wins in those races, and has always been in the money. Comes out of the $100.000 Coronation Cup at SAR, that she was able to win. She has earned this chance, but the trainer would have liked a better post.

Prediction: 6-9-8-11

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES