7/8/23

  2  BEL  The Victory Ride (GIII) 

$175.000     3yoF      6 1/2f  Dirt       122lbs +penalties

Sprinting sophomore fillies will be headed to Big Sandy for The Victory Ride (GIII), a six-and-a-half-furlong dash that has drawn a large field of twelve.  This is a race where I will be surprised in no way… it’s just wide open.  Let’s give Mirepoix the slight edge off of that Skipat win on PRK day down in B’almroe.  She has front end speed, and that could be vital in such a large field.  Smokin Cara also won on PRK day taking the Miss Prk Stakes (GIII) and she seems to be razor sharp right now. It’s always hard for me to watch this type of race and not put Mb Stables in the middle of it all, so give Siouxbiscuit a big look today.  She hasn’t won since Feb but throw that out the window.      

It’s a nice group of horses, so expect a 6 horse dead heat or some way for this place to make a good group of horses a bad race to watch… they will find a way.  

Here’s The Field –

Nice win last out getting the job done in the Jersey Girl off of a couple good Alw on-the-board finishes vs Alw foes.  She seems to just be getting better as time goes on, and with only five starts, this could be the one where she shows her true colors.  If she does, look out. 

Wire to wire vs. FLA bred in the Musical Romance to get her third win from six starts.  The down back-to-back is she seems to fail when she sees horses like these, so I’m going to have to look at some others today. 

Two wins this season including the Leslies Lady at CD on a wet main there in her most recent.  She never runs a bad race and with back-to-back seconds prior to that last out win, you know she’s on her toes. 

Hard to give this one any fault other than the additional poundage.  She won the Star Shots north of the border and followed that with a game win in the Miss Preakness (GIII) and the adds now seem to be clear for this one… she’s like Jenny… I like her, a lot!

Lightly raced, but nothing but wins after that maiden voyage which is mandatory “pay your dues” here at HRP.  A maiden win and two Alw victories, one on a wet track and one on the dry… I think she could win from the parking lot in a hailstorm… she’s a nice horse.

Three wins before a fourth in the Regret (GIII)… but that was a tough lot, so don’t be fooled.  She can win with just about any group.  Back to the main track is the big question for me, but if she can switch surfaces, look out. 

Up-down-up-down sort and this is her down stroke… Won last out taking down Alw horses at CD in front running style.  Her stakes efforts are the question mark, but she was close in the Beaumont (GII) so, maybe.

Won the Skipat on PRK day and she’s REAL nice.  She’s won half of her eight starts and comes back looking to add to her bankroll.  I love that last out win as she was game to the wire and just wouldn’t let horses get past her… look for more of that.

Got the job done vs. MSW types at CD her in third trip to the gate, and this filly could be any type.  She’s never been worse that second and I think the world is her oyster… if she wins this, I will have 0% surprise. 

Love love, love this filly… I was a bit surprised by that ninth in the Acorn, but she was second in both the Eight Belles (GII) at CD and the Fantasy (GIII) at OP.  Shortens up for this, but I think she’s right in the picture when they hit the wire.

No reason to go to all that trouble to name a horse… all joking aside, she can flat out get it… she did tire in the Summertime Oaks (GII) at SA last out.  Two wins and three seconds from seven starts, she’s always around for a check. 

Broke maiden at PRX then beat Alw types at CD so she’s figured this racehorse thing out.  Can she keep the hot hand going and rule this one from the outside post? 

COZMAN  8 / 4 / 10                Willie’s Green Card    10 / 4 / 1  

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES