The Matron – Grade III
Race #5 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies Two Years Old.
1 High precious, trained by Eastern Equine
Unbeaten in her first three races taking the Astoria and then the grade three Schuylerville she looked like one of the rising stars of her generation. She lost nothing in her first defeat keeping on gamely for a close fifth in The Pocahontas last time and reverting back to sprinting here with a great draw she looks well placed to get back to winning ways. Her works are bang on and as she has already beaten her closest rival on the form book you have to put her top of your list.
2 Mortality, trained by Heavens Own
A canny buy by her trainer she got into winning ways after a good second on debut taking a MTH maiden by a length. Given time she then took a WO Allowance by an impressive two lengths and with a recorded work time right up there with High precious she could be the one to push her most. At only 15 hands she may have plenty of improvement in her but a decent draw and a small field will help her chances.
3 Devils Future, trained by Allinthegate
Was sent to the free track to break her maiden which was a strange choice as she then came out to run a cracker in the Sorority Stakes just failing to overhaul the winner by a neck. Surprise surprise she has a work time that matches the two inside her so as usual we are given no clues on that front but i liked the way she stuck to her guns in that last start and she must have a fair chance.
4 Purchased, trained by D J C Racing Stables
Has not finished outside the top three in all her four starts but her best two runs have come on the turf so you have to wonder about this return to the dirt. She ran very well in the Happy Ticket last time finishing third from a wide gate but you have to think she would be a better shot in this race with some grass underfoot.
5 Girl With The Red Shoes, trained by John Henry
John Henry bought this one off of Blushing Meadows in a bulk deal with a good few others and she looks to be a real good buy. Dead heating in the CTBA Stakes at long odds she has been kept back by her new owner who has been playing around to find her best discipline. When she reappeared in a high end allowance over this trip it was clear her owner had a handle on her as she sauntered home by two lengths and she could well be a decent long shot against her more accomplished rivals.
6 Arques, trained by Ekli Stable
scrambled home in her maiden and then the KY Juvenile to head to the Astoria unbeaten in two starts. She had to cope with a wide draw that day and ran on nicely at the end to only get beaten two lengths. She gets another tough draw today and with the lack of a run since that race she may need this to get her straight.
7 Hold You Applause, trained by Mb Stables
Won her maiden last time at DMR and hails from a stable that knows how to win these types of races. The wide draw will make it tough and i am not sure she is as good as a few of these but the Mb factor is worth a few lengths so a win wouldnt surprise.
SUMMARY
These two year old races are always tough to call and this is no exception. High precious looks a good thing here though but Girl With Red Shoes, Mortality and Devils Future will push her all the way.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
