The Mount Vernon Stakes, Purse $125.000, Ungraded, 1 mile, Turf for F&M 3+
There is a small field of four fillies and mares signed up this year for this Memorial Day race. This race features one horse who has won a graded stakes race and a recent $7.500 claim, so the spectrum is covered. There are two 3 year olds signed on here taking on two older older horses. Will the youth prevail? We will find out on this holiday Monday….Lets meet the field.
1-The Generals Out(Hambeltonian Stable)- Is a four year old mare that as a two you old was a starter in the BC Juvenile Fillies race where she finished a respectable fourth. Since that race The Generals Out has only raced in stakes races, and has raced in many in the graded level but has failed to win in any races at the graded level. The Generals out however does have four wins in ungraded stakes including her most recent start in The Plenty Of Grace Stakes at AQU on April 12th 2015 going 1 mile on the turf like the trip in this race. The Generals Out also boasts a nice record on the turf starting two times with a win and a second. This has to be one you look at in this race.
2-Speculate Charismatic Mojo (Hambeltonian Stable)- Is the oldest horse in this field at the at the age of 6. She has one stakes win in her career and it was of the Grade 2 variety in The Bloom Handicap in September of 2014. However that win is hard to determine if it will translate to this race because that win was sprinting on the dirt. That was also the last win that Speculate Charismatic has had, but she has hit the board in three of her last five races. Speculate Charismatic also boasts a perfect record on the turf winning the only turf start she has ever had, a $25.000 claiming race in June of 2014. Will the change of surface back to the turf get this horse back to the winner circle…I guess we will find out on Monday.
3-Raquette Lake (Night Mare Racing)- This three year old filly has won two out of her eight career starts with one of the wins coming on the turf. That win was in a state bred N1X race in October of 2014. Raquette Lake has since that point started four times, three of which were on turf, and she has hit the board two times. This is her second chance at a turf stakes with her first try going one mile on turf in the Wait A While Stakes at CRC in October of 2014 where she finished a closing fourth. Her works coming into the race are nice as well so this one can’t be overlooked on Monday.
4-How Funny (Australia Wide)- A recent claim buy owner Australia Wide from a $7.500 claimer at How Funny comes into the race on a two race win streak…….the question mark is that these were in a $7.000 MCL race and a $7.500 claiming race. Australia Wide saw enough in the MCL winning to take a shot and appears to have been rewarded. How Funny worked a nice 135 and 1 over the turf course in the only published work since the claim and this shows that she is ready for the step up from the claiming level. How Funny is making a quick return to this race after being off only 15 days. Can she take a step up the class ladder and return quickly to get her first win……it will be tough but I feel she has a shot at it.
This race has a little bit of everything in it for everyone. You have a former BC racer with several stakes win, a graded stakes winner going back to a different surface, and cheap claim stepping up the class ladder. There are several ways that this race could turn out but here is my prediction, 1-3-4-2. Until next time, may all your photo finishes be winning ones.
Warbucks
Categories: Ungraded
