The 17th Running of the G2 TC of America
October 9, 2021 15:05
KEE Race #7 $250.000 6 Furlongs Dirt
3YO+ Fillies & Mares 121/124 Lbs
Track Record-1:07.79 (Carthagian-2004)
Stakes Record-1:09.07 (Distant Cousin-2015)
For the 17th time here at HRP some of the best 3yo and up filly and mare sprinters will decend on KEE for the G2 TC of America. An automatic qualifer for the G1 BC F&M Sprint, the six furlong race is worth $250.000. Mb Stables (2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020) has won six of the previous eight editions to hold the lead for HRP trainers while jockeys G. Gomez (2011, 2012, 2013) and J.R. Velazquez (2014, 2015, 2019) have each claimed three.
For this year’s edition of the G2 TC of America, we have nine horses (with four inside the main body if the race were Saturday) sitting anywhere from 3rd to 47th on the G1 BC F&M Sprint leaderboard as well as three horses who will need a win if they have any hopes for making it to DMR. Here’s the field of 12 fillies and mares looking to take down the G2 TC of America at KEE:
#1 Roo (Our Athletes/V. Espinoza 124): BEL win in September was her first picture this season, but she has ran well enough to currently be 37th on the BC big board. The bad news is all of those points came from the near miss in February’s G2 Santa Monica at SA. Not going to be very hard to find as she should be right amongst the leaders, but still feels like she needs to prove it before endorsing her.
#2 Truly Deeply Madly (Jive Inc./D. Moran 124): 6yo was a BC participant last year, but, sitting in 44th, winning may be her only option for getting back this year. She hasn’t been terrible this season, by any means, but it just seems that her fastball may not be what it used to be. Hard to root against her, but going to let her show she still has it before backing her.
#3 Princess Jasmine (Mo Mentum Farm/Ru. Gonzalez 121): No other way to say it, $750.000 purchase has been a disappointment for the current barn. Last two runs have at least been efforts to build off of, but she’s being asked to do something in this one that she hasn’t done nearly a year. She may win this, but is yet another that we’ll stand against.
#4 Viral Breakdown (Aer Stables/F. Pennington 121): Former stablemate to the horse drawn inside of her spent the season racing against the boys before G1 Cotillion try. She found Naples to be too much so she tries to go a different BC path. Only chance to make it to DMR is to win this and that is a big ask of a filly that has had a long season and hasn’t sprinted since December. Big-race trainer knows what he is doing, but going to make her prove it.
#5 Niagra Sunset (Fractious/D.E. Centeno 124): Claimed for $30.000 out of a win at SAR, she immediately paid dividends with a win in G3 Seaway at WO. Tries to make it three-in-a-row here, but the water is a bit deep at this end of the pool. Definitely think she’s involved from the start, but question if she’s still around when the money’s on the line.
#6 Hot Summer (D J C Racing Stables/A. Cedillo 121): Another filly turning-back, this one hasn’t raced in a sprint since a near-miss in last August’s G2 Adirondack at SAR. Hasn’t had as good of a sophomore campaign as she did as a juvenile; however, taking September off could be key as her conditioner has had ample time to hone her speed. Call it a hunch, but think she runs big on Saturday.
#7 Christina G (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez 124): 6yo has two stablemates drawn outside of her, giving her conditioner three of the final six slots. This lass appears to be a tad pace-dependent; however, she can get home if they go fast early and she gets a clear path late. She is one of only a few in here that can feel pretty secure about where she will be next month, but still think she is in here to win.
#8 Dialing (Angelos Stable/D. Van Dyke 121): Claimed for $35.000 in June and has been given three consecutive stakes tries. Can’t really argue with the results as she was beaten a half-length and a neck in two G3’s that sandwiched a win in the $75.000 Azalea down at GP. She has plenty of early foot to clear some traffic and give herself a chance turning for home and those types are always dangerous.
#9 Copper Mama (John Henry/T. Gaffalione 124): Filly has all but sewn-up her spot in the gate next month at DMR on the strength of her wins in the G3 Distaff Handicap and G1 Derby City back in the spring. Changed hands via private purchase following the latter and has yet to hit the board in three starts. Have to think the filly we see Saturday will be closer to the one we saw this spring and, if that is the case, she would be very live.
#10 First Impression (Mb Stables/S.X. Bridgmohan 124): 5yo mare is the second of three entrants from her barn and she is truly on the fringe for next month’s big one. Any kind of points grab here and she should be safe, but if she walks away empty-handed, she could find herself watching the races from DMR. Complimenting her stablemate a few slots to her inside, this gal is all gas all the time. Don’t be surprised to see Bridgmohan hustle her from the gate and try to keep her together late.
#11 Grazin At Sunrise (Smokey Stover/D. Davis 121): Is this 3yo getting good at the right time or has she been fed a steady diet of cupcakes in her last three? Leaning towards the former as there really are no “soft” spots at HRP. Another filly that looks to get to the front and improve her position, she’ll have to prove it against a strong group here. Not sure she wins, but she could make things interesting for a while.
#12 Not A Big Deal (Mb Stables/E. Jaramillo 121): 3yo filly got back on track a month ago in the G2 Prioress as she had struggled throughout the summer. Currently sits 3rd on the big board so she is safely in the G1 BC F&M Sprint no matter what happens Saturday. That being said, there is a reason the three-pound weight allowance for the sophomore fillies hasn’t been mentioned so far and the reason is this filly. Seems like she strings good performances together once she gets started and is the one to beat.
Final Analysis: 9-12-6 in a high-quality edition of the G2 TC of America at KEE. Good luck to all of the connections involved in this race and in all of your races on Saturday.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
