The Very One – Grade III
GP Race #9 1 3/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $125.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.
1 Limited Risk Fractious Jaramillo E
With a very limited penalty system this cheap grade three see’s a plethora of top grade one winning fillies including the BC F&M Turf winner. That means that genuine grade three type fillies and mares are a little out of their depth and that seems to apply to this one on bare form. Probably her best most recent effort was when she finished a close third in the Noble Damsel last year but that seems to be about her level and that may not be good enough against this strong field. The draw brings her into a chance of place money.
2 Maggie Greene The Sidley Stud Velazquez J R
This mare is one of the HRP greats having amassed over 3.5K in winnings and being a multiple grade one winner and reigning BC champion. She gets the perfect draw so the only question is whether she is fit after over 4 months off the track. The recent works suggests she is ready to go but she was working the same before she was beaten into fourth in this race last year so nothing is written in stone.
3 Ascot Dream TwinTowersRacing Lopez P
If there is anything at HRP that can be called ‘outclassed’ then this is it. She has won $41 in 8 races, was well beaten in an ungraded stakes last time and is working a second slower than Maggie Greene. No chance? Well there is no such thing as no chance and if anyone can grab a bit of purse money with an outsider then it’s TwinTowers.
4 Angel Shark John Henry Saez L
Second in the KD Ladies Turf and then a close third in the grade one First Lady from pretty ropy draws this looks like one of the main dangers to Maggie Greene. With 8 wins for 1.2K she is a top mare and with works right in the Maggie Greene ballpark there is no reason why she wont be right in the finish.
6 Unmistakable Smokey Stover Gaffalione T
The winner of the grade one Taylor and beaten just a quarter length by Maggie Greene in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf she is clearly right in this. The problem i have with her is that she ran that close to Maggie Greene with the infamous three year old weight allowance and today of course as a four year old she is racing on levels. Common sense tells me she has a length to find but you can off set that with the fact that she is race fit after a good second in the Marshua River so maybe there wont be much in it again today.
7 Shake The Stick Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
Another that would look at home in your average grade three but this is not your average grade three so it is hard to see her winning. She has a few tings going for her, she loves the trip and Nakamura can pull some miracles out of the bag so just maybe she will out run her form.
8 Ete Creek Gdp Inc Beschizza A
Last years DMR Oaks winner she has run very well against the best of these and must be entitled to respect. There is one anomaly that is worth taking a good look at and that is the fact that she recently worked a 1.36 and 1 on the dirt which is by far her fastest mile work on the dirt and the sort of time that would put her in contention in the top races on that surface. Now if that work shows that she is improving steeply then back on turf today she may just be ready for a huge run.
9 Big Fajita Rheingold Stables Alvarado J
Another that fits in this sort of race but may just find this one a bit hot. She was a game second in the Astra Stakes last time in front of both Shake The stick and Army Flag so has the beating of a couple of these and must be in contention for some minor money. One of the things against her will be the draw but sometimes being an on pacer from a wider draw in these long distance races can turn out to be OK.
10 Army Flag Paradise Stable Lanerie C J
She would’ve struggled to make her mark in this race from an inside draw but now having been given the ten gate she will have to find a good few lengths to have a chance of a top five finish.
11 Absolutely Creepy Black N Gold Stable Bravo J
A very consistent five year old she wouldn’t look out of place in an ordinary grade three but gets a tough field and a wide draw to boot so must be considered an outsider. A contender for minor money but then most of the field is.
12 Sancerre Mo Mentum Farm Ortiz J L
A very lightly raced four year old she has been consistent in her eleven races but faces a tough task in this race from a terrible draw. Comes into reckoning for minor money but that the best she can hope for i think.
SUMMARY
There are three horses here that are head and shoulder above this field in almost every aspect. Maggie Greene, Unmistakable and Angels Shark should be the most obvious trifecta in HRP history, box em up and count your winnings.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
