HOU Ladies Classic – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Filly & Mare 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Scarlet And Gray Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R

We have come to accept that the new race engine will suit some horses more than others but whilst that part of the game seems to be up in the air at the moment the owners that found success in previous seasons seem to continue their success unabated. Nakamura Stables had a great year last year prompting me to label his runners with the Nak Factor tag and it looks like although the horses have changed, the trainers ability to find the winner of these big races has not.
Four year olds have struggled a little through the years at HRP as they lose weight allowances and face older horses on equal terms and this one was no exception. She won the Shuvee last year but struggled a little in her other races but it seems in turning five the tables have turned in her favor. Always traveling well with the leaders in her sights she came through for a fairly comfortable one length win over last years three year old filly of the year.

2nd Precise Performance Mb Stables Velazquez J R

Freshly crowned three year old filly of the year for 2020 she found out the hard way how a four year old season at HRP is very different to a three year old one. Last year she went to the front to win the IND Oaks and the grade one Alabama before that great BC win but as a four year old she found she couldn’t do the same and was brushed aside on the run for home. It would be fair to say she needed this race as she hasn’t run since the BC but whilst that is a very probable and plausible explanation i think it was more down to being a four year old. Only time will tell but i think as the season rolls on she may regain winning form.

3rd Drink Me Pretty Estero Farms Hernandez R M

Runner up to Precise Performance in the BC Distaff as a three year old like the winner she found it a bit harder on level weights with older horses. She got closer to precise Performance this time but was no match for the winner but much of what i said earlier applies to her and i feel as the year rolls on we will see her winning good races.

4th Flawed Justice YME Stable Pennington F

Got a bit lost on the rail and found a lot of horses in front of her early on which may not have helped her chances. She managed to run past a good few and although a fair way off the first three ran a good race to be fourth.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES