TC of America – Grade 2 – $350.000
KEE – For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
6 Furlongs – Dirt
October 8, 2022
One of these twelve fillies and mares will win a trip to the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint with a victory here. It won’t be easy. This field is packed with talent, and I mean packed. Twelve will go into the gate for this one, including Seaway winner, Always A Virgin, who might be my favorite if not for the short turnaround. If she can overcome that, she could be the one to beat. And Main Flirt just might be the one to do it. Second in the Ballerina, she has been very strong in this division this year. If she can’t get it done, I’d have to look at Hawkes Bay, the Prioress winner and is riding his on a three-race win streak. Oceanus looks strong coming into this race and might just get there first.
Here’s the field:
#1 Hitch A Ride (South Shore Stables) Solid allowance competitor but hasn’t had much luck in stakes company. Tough spot to try graded level for the second time in her career.
#2 Change For A Twenty (Mb Stables) Stakes winner in state-restricted company. Finished fourth in the Prioress (Grade 2) last out. Needs a top effort here.
#3 Sickmoment Laga (Night Rider Stables) Won the Vinery Madison (Grade 1) in April. Hasn’t been able to get back to the winner’s circle since. If she races back to that form, she’ll be tough, but that’s a big IF.
#4 Lassitude (TwinTowersRacing) Second in the Ballerina (Grade 1) last start. Won the Eight Belles (Grade 2) back in May. Tried to stretch out in between. Should like this distance better.
#5 Last Lady (Lindeman Prairie) Hasn’t won since May. Three-week turnaround after finishing 8th in the Seaway (Grade 3).
#6 Oceanus (Wood Duck Stables) Just five career starts for this three-year-old filly, but she’s put them to good use, stringing together a three-race winning streak that included the Hendrie (Grade 3) before finishing off the board in the Ballerina (Grade 1) last out. Should like this spot and I like her chances.
#7 Mendocino Gal (T Boy Racing) Won the $100.000 Salazar Stakes in NM-bred company last out. Has not finished worse than third in nine starts this week including multiple ungraded stakes. Looks ready for that last step up here.
#8 Hawkes Bay (Smokey Stover) Comes in riding on a three-race winning streak, including the Grade 2 Prioress last out. Hard to bet against this one.
#9 Cherokee Ripper (John Henry) Winner of the Stonehedge Sophomore Fillies in March. Didn’t fare well in the Eight Belles, her only attempt at this level. Another one in a tough spot to try and step up.
#10 Storm Of Fire (Mb Stables) Has been bouncing around in graded company since April but hasn’t been able to win at that level. She has been competitive with a second and two thirds. Wouldn’t be a surprise if she got a piece of the purse.
#11 Main Flirt (Mb Stables) Mb’s third entrant might be the strongest. Finished second in the Ballerina (Grade 1) last out. In fact, in her last four starts in graded company she has a first and three second finishes. Another one that should be in the mix.
#12 Always A Virgin (Tinkey) This three-year-old filly has done everything that’s been asked of her since breaking her maiden in May. In fact, she hasn’t lost a race since March, including a three-length win in the Seaway Stakes (Grade 3) last start. Three-week turnaround is a bit short, but I like her chances.
Picks 8-11-12
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
