Spinster (Grade 1) (BC)- $500.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
October 10, 2021
A field of twelve will be filling the starting gate for the 17th running of the Spinster, a Grade 1 race that will send its winner to the BC Distaff out west next month. The race will be full of three year olds, and eight of them will be here. They get a three pound weight allowance over their elders though that might not mean a lot since there are so many of them. Last year, Tenrikyo picked up the win for Smokey Stover and would go on to finish fourth in the BC Distaff. She raced two weeks ago, and doesn’t need this race, so we won’t be seeing her again here. You can’t talk about the Spinster without mentioning Halfbaked, since she impressively won this race three times in a row, from 2006 to 2008. Now, here’s the field!
#1- Out Of The Park (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by G Saez)- After two trips to the turf, this Creepy Palace filly is heading back to the dirt. She does not have the same resume as many in the field do, and this will be the first time she takes on this kind of company on the main track. Has some good works, and is a consistent runner.
#2- Drink Me Pretty (Mb Stables, ridden by E Jaramillo)- Purchased by the trainer in April for $500.000, and she has made four starts in the Mb silks. Their first race together was a third place in the Apple Blossom, and she has since gone on to win twice, including a great performance in the Personal Ensign at SAR six weeks ago.
#3- Mag Ol (Greyfriars Stable, ridden by H A Karamanos)- Purchased for $100.000 less dollars than Drink Me Pretty would be about two weeks after that one was sold. She’s also made four starts for her new trainer, but has not visited the winners circle with them. Her best effort with Greyfriars was running second in the Alabama in August.
#4- Wbf No Regrets (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J Lezcano)- After running in many sprints, this six year old mare returned to routing in a big way, by winning the Grade 1 Apple Blossom. Looked good in the Phipps a month later, placing third but has since only been apple to finish in the middle of the pack in her last two, including the Personal Ensign. She can bounce back.
#5- Bay Of Indy (Broken Spoke Stables, ridden by M Franco)- The trainer did not have to spend as much on this one as Mb and Greyfriars did for their entries, getting her from Serenity Stables for $110.000 at the start of August. She was put out there very quickly after the sale in an optional claimer, where she was second, and then was impressive two weeks ago, winning the RP Oaks just two week ago.
#6- E Road (Fractious, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- She came really close to a KYO win, but settled for second. So, how has life been for her since then? It wasn’t all that great in the Grade 1 Acorn and was worse in the Grade 1 CCA Oaks. Dropped down into an allowance, but of the $103.000 SAR variety last month, and ended up third. Would’ve liked to have seen a better speed figure from that.
#7- Aligned (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Smokey Stover has two chances to defend his Spinster crown, and they are aligned into the starting gate right next to one another. This State Police filly has been very successful staying in her NY jurisdiction, and won the $200.000 Fleet Indian in her last start. Now, she’s going to try graded for the first time and she certainly has earned the opportunity.
#8- Brooklyn Bride (Smokey Stover, ridden by R J Albarado)- This one will make her debut for Smokey Stover as the trainer picked her up in private sales about two weeks ago for $375.000. She’s won three times for her career, but does not have the one standout victory to be excited about. For now, that’s the $100.000 Sandpiper from TAM last December. Placed second in the Grade 3 Lake George on SAR turf.
#9- Laffy Crack (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J Rosario)- Her biggest win came in late April, winning the Grade 1 La Troienne at CD. Since then, she has failed to hit the board and has not been within two lengths of the winner. You may remember her running in the Spinster last year, and placing second in a photo to Tenrikyo. Might be hard pressed to improve on that here, but not impossible at all.
#10- Dream Woman (Fractious, ridden by A Cedillo)- Another horse in the field that has had a big price tag associated with her this year, as she was sold by Mb Stables for $550.000 in late July, two weeks after finished second in the DEL Handicap. Fractious, so far, has not gotten much out of her, as she has not beaten a horse in either of her two races with him, losing by a combined 11 lengths. Hard to be optimistic about her here.
#11- Shining Moments (RNP Stables, ridden by D E Centeno) The second horse in the race that was sired by the underrated Creepy Time. Shining Moments has had a great year with four wins in ten starts, including the Grade 2 Mother Goose and then, more recently, the $700.000 JC Oaks on the turf. And she always seems to go off at ridiculous odds. Let’s start giving her respect at the betting window!
#12- Last Lady (Lindeman Prairie, ridden by D Davis)- Last Lady is indeed the last lady to talk about her, but like her sire, she’ll hope to just be last on the list and not least in the race. She’s won her last two, including the Grade 3 Pine Stakes on two weeks rest at DMR. Seems to be doing well when being near the lead, so from this post, her start is quite important.
Prediction: 2-11-4-7
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
