Grade 2 for Fillies & Mares Three-Year-Old & Up
1 1/16 Mile Turf
Post: 7/16/2016 19:40 at DMR
In Z Balance has been very consistent over her short career, with a record of 9-3-1-3 $1,176.120. She has been knocking on the door at graded with 3rds in the Wiley (G1) and the Endeavour BC (G3), both at this distance. And then there’s Girl Talk with a record of 15-5-2-2 $857.520. This one has competed at the highest levels of the game and has won at Grade 1 level. But that was last year. This year she is still looking for her first win and coming off her strongest performance of 2016, beaten by a neck in the ET Mint Julep Handicap (G3) and scoring a 100 SRF. I’m not saying it’s a two horse race but these two do look strongest.
Here’s the field:
1 True Religion
Owner: Spankys Barn
Breeder: Night Mare Racing
Only out of the money once this year. Never out of the money in 4 starts for Spankys Barn. Then again, she has never gone beyond a mile for Spanky either – until now. Her only loss this year came at this distance in N1X company, but before that, she won against tough NY-bred company at the same distance. Was 3rd last out in the $100.000 Wild Applause at BEL. This will be the first graded attempt by this 3yo filly.
2 In Z Balance
Owner: Diablo Diablo
Breeder: Balancing Act
This very lightly raced 4yo filly has been racking up some impressive SRF figures since scoring a 100 SRF in the $60.000 Krantz Memorial at FG, a race run at the same distance as this one. Didn’t fare well in her last start as she tried to stretch out to 1 1/8 mile in Grade 1 company and finished 5th and last. But prior to that she finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Wiley. Looks primed to take her first graded win.
3 Bombay Productions
Owner: Yahudi Stables
Breeder: Spongebob
Not much to recommend this 4yo filly, except her trainer, Yahudi Stables, whose win percentage is at 26%. Hard to argue with that. But this filly has done her best work lately in CA-bred Optional Claiming company and has never won beyond a mile and has never won at stakes level. Seems a bit outclassed here.
4 Earthly Gran
Owner/Breeder: Drabfantasy
Another very lightly raced 4yo filly. After breaking her maiden in June 2014, it was 21 months before she stepped into a starting gate again – and she won the $85.000 NM-bred La Coneja Stakes at SUN for the 2nd of 2 career wins, both sprinting on dirt. She switched to turf and stretched out to 1 1/16 mile last out in the Penny Memorial Handicap (G3) at PRX and finished 2nd by 2 lengths on a track listed as good and that with just 9 days off! This time she gets a 12-day rest and I would say no way except that this filly seems to perform well when least expected.
5 Girl Talk
Owner: Nolespan Racing
Breeder: Brh Stables
Winner of the Diana (G1) last year at SAR, a race in which she earned a 100 SRF and a berth in the BC Fillies & Mares Turf (G1). She finished a disappointing 14th of 14 that day. Her best performance since came in her last start, the ET Mint Julep Handicap (G3) at CD which was contested at the same distance as this race. This one looks due for a big win.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
