6/9/23
5 BEL The Acorn (GI) 
$500.000 3yo F 1 1/16m Dirt 122lbs
It doesn’t matter real life or here at HRP, The Acorn (GI) lends to a who’s-who of great fillies, and the 2023 rendition is sure to keep that history going, because we have a fantastic full field, plus one on the AE list, set to go a mile and a sixteenth here at BEL. I’m picking Bay The Lady as the top selection today… yeah, I know, but she was third in the KY Oaks… this just looks like a spot where she can flip the script and get the win. Yow won the Oaks and we will still give her a big chance today and put her in the second spot. She’s tough every time out, no different here. I’ve liked Untidy since her first race, and I think she finds her way through traffic and is a factor late in this one.
There’s a ton of nice fillies here, so grab a cold-snack and let’s get a good spot to take this one in.
Here’s The Field –
She’s still looking for her first win of the ’23 season, and only has a third from four starts. She had two wins last year, but will have to shake off a few mediocre races if she wants to beat this group. That third in the Honeybee (GIII) at OP was on a wet track and they may be hoping for rain.
Lightly raced but has been running her eyeballs out vs the best of the best. Even that last out sixth in the KY Oaks (GI) she was only beat three-quarters of a length. Three wins in five starts including the GP Oaks (GII)… the big bar comes loaded and no difference here.
Solid producer that bounced back in a big way after that tenth in the Fantasy (GIII) at OP… again, that track can be brutal on horses that don’t like it, and for her to close like she did in that Eight Belles (GII) win at CD… well, I rest my case. Watch her… watch her.
That’s hard to explain… She won two in a row, including the SA Oaks (GII) then the bottom fell out in the KY Oaks (GI) where she tired to be twelfth that afternoon. Nice am gallop over this track getting ready for today, and she is certainly a candidate to shake that race off.
No secret here… this filly can run. Three wins and a second from six starts, so she’s no stranger to Kodak. Tired to be fifth in the Eight Belles (GII) at CD, but that was her first shot against graded types and I’m sure she will learn from that… beat less than a length. She could surprise.
Three wins and three seconds from eight lifetime trips to the gate and she’s been the runner-up in her last two… the Eight Belles (GII) at KEE and the Fantasy (GIII) at OP. There’s no doubt that she’s a talented type and it’s just a matter of time… is it today?
What a nice filly… got the biggest win of her career last out taking the KY Oaks (GI) at 18/1 odds, but she also won the Busher at AQU vs nice horses, and she seems to just get better at every start. If that continues today, look out… she’s going to be a handful.
Was rolling along with three consecutive wins including the Alexandra (GII) at FG… then… fifth in the FG Oaks (GII) and ninth in the KY Oaks (GI). Now, she closed well to be close in both of those, but her off-the-pace style makes it tough with the traffic in these full fields. Can she find a clear path today?
Very sharp claim, as the big barn nabbed this one for $50.000 four starts back. Since, it’s been big purses and banking cash as she was second in the Ruthless, won the Cicada, both at AQU, then won the Ashland (GI) at KEE before a solid third in the KY Oaks (GI). Expect more of that today.
Salty fill that is still looking for her first win as a sophomore but today could be that day. She was fifth in the Withers vs the boys, just missed in the FG Oaks (GII) and closed well to be fourth beaten a half-length in the KY Oaks (GI). Can she turn the tables on them here?
Three wins and a third from five starts, and she was the beaten favorite in the KY Oaks (GI) where she ended up eighth, but only a length back. She won the FG Oaks (GII) so she certainly fits with this group. She could be overlooked today and that may cost folks that do.
Kaboom, kabang… she won the BES (GII) on PRK weekend at 57/1 odds after a pair of bad starts. She was perfect before that duo of duds and bounced back to make ’em pay in Bal’more. Who shows up for this one?
Also Eligible
Will need some help to draw into the field, but if she does, she could be trouble for a horse that doesn’t have a win as a 3yo. She’s was Davona Dale (GII) and Ginger Brew, both at GP, and was third in the Ashland (GI) at KEE. She did fall apart in the Eight Belles (GII) but could bounce back from that poor outing.
COZMAN 9 / 7 / 2 Willie’s Green Card 12 / 2 / 10
Categories: FEATURED STORIES, Grade I
