First Lady (Grade 1) (BC)- $350.000 Purse
KEE- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
October 3, 2020

It is another big weekend of racing with plenty on the line for the BC, which is now just a month away. Among the races worth watching is the 16th running of the First Lady, a race with major implications for the Fillies and Mares Turf, and we’ll be looking to see if we can have a repeat winner. La Terrifiant was the winner here in the FIrst Lady in 2019, and she took that win and carried that momentum into the BC and ended up winning the Fillies and Mares Turf. In looking at how she was fared as a five year old, you can almost say that she has still never given away that momentum. 2015 winner Broomsticks Copy was another that followed up her First Lady victory with a BC win, and for her, it was her second BC victory. It will certainly not be easy for La Terrifiant as a strong field has assembled for this race, so let’s take a look at them!

#1- Zee Model (Gdp Inc, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- On the rail, this filly by Z Jinxed One has won half of her eight starts, and one of them is a graded triumph. That was the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes, so her resume is still growing in comparison to others. She took on La Terrifiant and Angel Shark in her last start, the KD Ladies Turf, on yielding ground, and was third, beaten by those two.

#2- Win Silly (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by J Lezcano)- Has spent most of her young career running with the NY-bred condition, but that was primarily in maiden races. Eventually, she was moved to the grass, and won her turf debut. Two starts later, she ran at SAR in the NY Stallion Series- Liberty, and got the win there. On short rest, she did not fare as well as hoped for in an open allowance, but with better rest here, she gets the chance to make a statement in her career.

#3- Unsuspecting (Mb Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Out of Whats Going On, and the trainer may be wondering that as this filly still has not won this year after a promising two year old season, and has only two in the money finishes in seven starts. Despite this, she continues to be entered at or near this level, which is a little unusual out of this trainer. One of those better finishes was her last start, missing by a nose in the Mabee Stakes, a Grade 2.

#4- Rules Are Madness (Angelos Stable, ridden by J K Court)- Filly has been alternating wins and non wins all year, so while that rule might be madness, if that holds up here, she’ll get the win, but I suppose that pattern would not bode well for the BC. Top wins this year are the Grade 1 Gamely at SA in May, and the Grade 2 Ballston at SAR in July.

#5- Charming Beauty (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- Next up, we get a couple of beauties and we’ll start with the charming one. This three year old is two for seven in her young career, but has been able to hit the board a total of five times. The story on her, however, is that this is her turf debut, and what a tough way to make it. She had a great work here last week, but as good as that was, she’s running against some elite grass runners in that first grass race.

#6- Autumn Beauty (Smokey Stover, ridden by J Bisono)- It should be that time of the year now for our other beauty, and she is making a debut of her own as well. She’s plenty experienced on the grass, having only run on this surface, and has never failed to be a part of the exacta in seven starts (four wins). This will be her first graded race, and stake-wise, she only has a $75.000 ungraded race on her resume. She’s earned a chance but a Grade 1 on first ask is tough. Puts up good race times, though.

#7- Hash Tag Hash (Estero Farms, ridden by M Tunon)- Earlier this year, the filly won three in a row, a streak that culminated at WO in the Grade 2 Nassau Stakes. After not liking the BEL Oaks on soft turf, she bounced back well by finishing fourth in the DMR Oaks. She really has not done anything wrong this year on firm turf, which we expect to see here. A few others in here have done more than she has done, but it would not surprise me at all to see her in the winners circle at the end of the race.

#8- Angel Shark (John Henry, ridden by D E Centeno)- She was seen here last year, and it was the last time she ran a race for Maxmillion Farm, placing ninth for him, and was sold fifteen days later. Angel Shark still ran in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf that year, and ended up running fourth. Her 2020 began with a win, in the Grade 3 Marshuas River Stakes, but has not won since. She has still run well, and it probably has not helped that she has seen three off tracks in her last four starts.

#9- Freaking Me Out (Mb Stables, ridden by D Davis)- This Niner Forty Niner filly will be making her return to the graded ranks after winning the VA Oaks at CNL at the start of September. She showed promise for the trainer as a two year old that saw a nomination in the Grade 1 Frizette. Was dropped into an N1X allowance, and ran well, but did not get a win. With the VA Oaks win, the trainer is hoping she has turned the corner.

#10- Diva Delite (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- In eight starts, she has hit the board seven times, and four of those are wins. However, all of those races are sprints, so this will be the first time that she goes long. A Grade 1 is a tough way to do that, but I do like that she seems to have a nose for the wire. Has no public works longer than six furlongs, so it’s hard for an outsider to get a feel on how this will go.

#11- La Terrifiant (Our Athletes, ridden by A Beschizza)- This incredible filly has become one of the great horses of the game, but there still may be plenty to write in her story. Last year, having already achieved great things, she was the winner right here in the Grade 1 First Lady. In that race, she came off a fourth place run in the KD Ladies Turf. As we know, she won the BC Fillies and Mares Turf last year, and this year she comes into the race off a win in the KD Ladies Turf. This is a tough race, and her style could make this post harder on her, but she is the one to beat wherever she shows up.

#12- Luxury Class (Allinthegate, ridden by B J Hernandez)- Finally, this filly by Asset Class runs in the graded ranks for just the second time, but may be more prepared to do so this then she was the last time. After a couple of allowance wins, she ran in a pair of NY-bred stakes and ran decently, though not winning. She’ll have to improve, but don’t rule her out.

Prediction: 11-7-8-4

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES