The Stewart Manor ($100.000 Purse)
AQU- For Fillies Two Years Old
Six Furlongs on the Turf
November 10, 2019
Many of us still may be in a period of BC hangover trying to figure out what either went right or what went wrong for our top horses when running up against the best. This weekend, there is not a lot going on in terms of top level races, but we can still find some things to write about! Sunday, a field of nine will go to the starting gate at the big A for second running of The Stewart Manor, which will send two year old fillies six furlongs on the grass. Levi Sneaky won the inaugural edition last year, and she made a name for herself last week running against the boys in the BC Turf Sprint, and running fourth. Let’s meet those who will look to have similar success for their careers, even if they do just run against their own gender.
#1- Dime Piece (Chili King Stables, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Making the fourth start of her career, and they have all been in New York thus far. However, this is the first time that she will run in an unrestricted race. Handled soft turf well in her last start running over a mile to break her maiden, but cuts back in her distance here. In fact, she has never raced shorter then seven furlongs, something that one doesn’t usually say about a two year old.
#2- Tobago (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- On the day that she broke her maiden, coming in her third start, Dime Piece was making her debut in the very same race. Tobago did not have much success in her last two races going a mile, so cutting back in distance is something the trainer hopes will get her that second career win. Needs a momentum shift in her form, even if its not a win.
#3- Notorious Dreamer (Arindel, ridden by J Alvarado)- This is the most experienced runner in the field, doing frequent statebred races nearby in PA, before moving into stakes territory. Her most recent race saw her attempt the Grade 2 Jessamine, but that’s about all there is to say about how it went. This will be a much needed drop in class for her, but probably more important, a cut in distance. At least, for where she is now in her career.
#4- Lotta Heart (Threshold, ridden by J J Castellano)- She is the only horse in this field to have won a stake, and is one of just two horses here that have won more then one race. A couple months ago, Lotta Heart made the trip to the western part of the state and won the Lady Finger at FL. She’s been off since then, and in the meantime the trainer has been preparing her for her turf debut, coming here. I like this horse, but she could need some time to get comfortable on the grass.
#5- No More Tears (T Boy Racing, ridden by J Rosario)- With Stu and T Boy having runners side by side, I am feeling a little left out of this race. Us writers need to all get a horse in the same race sometime. Anyway, No More Tears has been very consistent in her four starts this year, never failing to be a part of the exacta. After a string of seconditis, she broke her maiden in her turf debut out at SA, and is coming back east looking sharp in her works.
#6- Always Alicia (Njvets, ridden by J Lezcano)- It’s good to see Njvets back at the track in a big race like this, and he will be hoping that his $112.010 auction investment last September, from Joshua Stables, pays off. This will be the first time that she has run since late August, when she competed in the Grade 1 DMR Debutante, and ran third. While I like that, she has no public turf works to try and predict how she will fare here on the grass. We shall see.
#7- Five To Get Ready (Greeko Holdem, ridden by M Franco)- This is race that features horses that have run longer cutting back on their distance, or horses making their turf debut. Five To Get Ready is none of that. This has been her type of race from the start, no need to move to it now. She has been successful in it, winning two of her last four starts, and those wins are in her last two starts. Maybe the speed figures could be a little better, but as far as I am concerned as long she shows up and runs how she has proven she can run, this race should be in the bag for her.
#8- De Nada (Sharis Stables, ridden by R Maragh)- She’s made one start, and didn’t win it. That came back in July, at the free track, closing well but finishing second. I’m not one to pick maidens in races like this, but I will tell you this, she had a very nice breeze here at the end of October, and even at the start of the month looked sharp. She is going to become very good in this type of race. Right now, though, I will pass. The layoff is also a concern. Football pre-season hadn’t even started yet when she last ran.
#9- Hash Tag Hash (Estero Farms, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The trainer looks to remain as the only one to ever win this race. Hash Tag Hash has run twice, each time going at least a mile on the grass and putting together a good effort in each of them. She seems poised to be able to cut back in her distance without an issue, but falls back into what has been the wheelhouse distance of her main rival here.
Prediction: 7-4-5-3
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
