The 20th Running of the G2 Mabee Stakes
Saturday, September 10, 2022
DMR Race #8 $250.000
F&M 3+ 120/124 Lbs 11/8 Turf
Track Record-1:44.48 (Sippets-2009)
Stakes Record-1:45.32 (Well Built-2017)
#1 Command All (TwinTowersRacing/Ru. Gonzalez 120): Sophomore filly has taken her lumps in the overnight ranks, but was able to beat winners for the first time three back. Her last two starts as a juvenile were her only graded tries and she finished up the track in both; however, only one of those was a try over the grass. Draws well here and has some early foot, but has to show she has the class and can get the nine panels.
#2 Bagel Bites (Gdp Inc/M. Murrill 124): Been a productive runner on the main track, but hasn’t fared very well in two starts on the lawn. In fact, it’s been more than a year since she has raced on the turf. We don’t have any turf works on the first page of her form so we can only trust that she’s shown some promise on the farm. She catches some tough customers here, and she will need to show improvement from the way she has run on turf in the past.
#3 Coconut Milk (Wood Duck Stables/J.S. Rocco Jr 120): Filly was a stake-winning runner going short on the dirt, but she has taken to the grass even better with a G2 score last time. Only beat four rivals that day, but they don’t give G2’s away around here. Has to get another furlong in this spot, but like the fact that she is plenty quick enough to keep herself involved from the time the gates open.
#4 Charlotte de Shark (Aarons Hosses/U. Rispoli 124): G3 winner just missed last out when she was the runner-up in a four horse field for a G2. She seems to be one that needs to be settled early before producing her run in the latter stages. She’ll need some pace to develop and find clear run, but she should be hitting her best stride late.
#5 Ginger Tiara (The Sidley Stud/P. Husbands 120): Likes to settle into stride before being asked for run, and the sophomore lass was sent off as the favorite last time before coming home 4th. Has shown that she can be a bit closer to the pace and still rally, so that versatility should only help her here. Needs to show better than she has in her last two, but she was very competitive in her three-, four-, and five runs back.
#6 Love Of The People (Mb Stables/G. Corrales 120): G3 winner has two stakes wins from her last three runs. Just a poor effort in G1 flop at BEL, and that appears to be an aberration. Like that she can sit off of the pace without getting too far back and she seems to bring her race with her just about everywhere she is entered. She’s been fairly consistent with her form and only needs to continue that to factor here.
#7 Smiling Lucy (Nakamura Stables/L.J. Luzzi 124): G2 winner on dirt has never raced on turf but she is three out of five when going a route of ground. She’s always liked to sit a few lengths off of the leader but, going this far, there’s a chance she sits a little closer in this one. This feels like a good place to experiment; if she wins, she will probably get another try on grass, but if not, she can always go back to the dirt in an attempt to get in the F&M Sprint.
#8 Sunset Over Tahiti (Angelos Stable/S. Elliott 120): $47.500 claimer made up a ton of ground late in barn debut to run 2nd. Followed that run up with another place effort in a G3 where she was much more involved early. That versatility should serve her well out here in the far gate. Just needs to show continued improvement and, with only eight starts under her belt, that shouldn’t be out of the question.
Final Analysis: This appears to be a competitive bunch, but we landed on the 4-3-8 in the G2 Mabee. Good luck to everyone!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
