8/27/21

   6    CT     CT Oaks (GIII)

$400.000      3yo F     7f    Dirt             119lbs

Up to the eastern panhandle of WV and where I cut my teeth on the horse racing thing, and we look at the field for the CT Oaks (GIII), a seven furlong Friday Night stakes for the sophomore fillies.  This is a six furlong oval, so we make a full lap plus a furlong, and that may play into the way this race unfolds as many of these are used to one turn events… could that play a factor?  Either way, I landed on Notorious Return as my top selection in this one.  She just missed when second in the Test (GI) at SAR and she won a big race while in the area, taking the Black Eyed Susan (GII) at PIM.  So this may not be home cookin’ but it’s certainly in the neighborhood… she’s classy and I’ll give her the edge.  Let’s go to the outside and put Sundress in the mix as well.  She’s struggled a bit since switching hands, but I think the trainer will have this one ready to roll today, and if she’s at her best, she may be tough to get past.

It’s a real nice field, so grab a wobble-pop and let’s get down to the rail for what adds up to be a real nice one!

Here’s The Field –

Only a single win from this one, but she has been close in a number of graded races.  Changed hands two races back, and she was sixth in the Mother Goose (GII) and third vs Cal-bred stakes horses since that swap in trainers.  If she can find some of that old form, she could be tough, but she will need to find it or it will be another long day at the racetrack.

The hostile takeover was performed three races back when nabbed for $37.500 at WO.  She was sixth in the Victory Ride (GIII) only beaten a half length, then won the Azalea at GP in her most recent.  That last out win was at today’s distance, so they may be on to something and she could come with some odds.

She’s won her last two while facing softer than what she sees here today, and has struggled vs. graded horses of late, showing a seventh in the Ashland (GI) at KEE and a fourth in the Eight Belles (GII) at CD.  Still, she has some class and has five wins and five seconds from fifteen starts… she knows hot to get a check.

Game run when second beaten a length in the Test (GI) at SAR in her most recent.  She’s been on the board in five of seven seasonal starts, including a big win in the Black Eyed Susan (GII).  A repeat of that last out win should make her tough in this one as well.  I think she may be the one to get past. 

Second part of the Mb Stables trio and she’s been a handful this season, not missing a check while winning four of six starts.  She’s races against softer than this, but if they don’t tell her, will she know the difference?  She loves the distance and may come with some odds… I’d use her on my exotics, that’s for sure. 

Another from the Mb barn and she broke maiden three races back and got the job done last out vs OptAlw types at DMR.  The bulk of her recent efforts have been vs. Cal-bred types, so this is a step up, so let’s see if she is this kind of a horse. 

I really have like this filly from early on in her career.  She changed hands after that win in the Acorn (GI) but hasn’t been the same in the new barn.  Now, that’s not an insult, as this is one sharp outfit… She was fifth in the DEL Oaks (GIII) and fourth in the CCA Oaks (GI), so can she get back to her earlier form and be a huge factor today?  I think so. 

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

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES