The Matriarch – Grade I
DMR Race #14 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Wander Mb Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

A super consistent five-year-old that bypassed the BC and comes here ready to win. She was really impressive over this course and distance in the Goldikova at the BC meet and has a chance of yet another stake win before the end of the year here as she looks to top the $3,000.000 in prize money mark. There is very little about her that isn’t to like, an on-pacer from an inside draw she will get an economical run and will be very hard to beat.

2 Lady Hilltopper Black N Gold Stable Gutierrez Mario 124 —

Went to the BC in the best form of her life after a wide margin win in the Ladies marathon but found a difficult spot in running and though she flashed home late could not manage better than fourth. I think on balance she is the best horse in the race, but she can be a bit in and out although tends to run her best race from inside draws so that may be key today.

3 Double Zee TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 121 —

The three-year-olds are coming into their own at this end of the year so you have to take the two in this race pretty seriously. Having only her second start on turf her works aren’t really saying she is better on this surface, so I would be a little dubious that she will be good enough.

4 Gormley Royalty Stables Buick W T 121 —

A graded stakes winner against her own age group she found the olders a bit tough in both the Mabee and The Rodeo Drive but a month at HRP at this time of year can be worth a couple of lengths to the three-year-olds so she may be ready for a better effort.

5 Mundi Moon High Voltage Lopez P 124 —

Her form looks great but after her prolific winning streak and great win in the Dance Smartly I was a little perplexed with her effort in the Goldikova and Ballston. Certainly, good enough at her best she has been just a bit inconsistent in her last few races and that worries me from this draw as she is best when on speed.

6 Afar D J C Racing Stables Hernandez R M 124 —

She was brilliant in the Rodeo Drive when getting home by a neck from an impossible looking position, but we all know how hard it is to find a consistent finish as a closer and that was never more obvious than in the BC last time. She also flew home from the clouds to run behind Lady Hilltopper in the ladies Marathon and I worry that over the mile and with an outside draw she may be flying home too late again.

SUMMARY

I have always though Lady Hilltopper as one of the best mares in training but she can be a little had to catch and it may pay to go with the more consistent Wander. Which ever order they finish it is worth boxing them up with Afar running on late for third.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES