Hendrie Stakes – Grade III

  WO           Race #3           6 1/2f          Dirt             Graded Stake

Purse $150.00  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1. Assyrian Queen

Form: Lightly raced 3YO with improving dirt sprint figures. Her 2026 form shows she’s competitive at allowance level, hitting 90–93 consistently. She’s been finishing on strongly in her last two starts, suggesting she’s still developing. Hasn’t won this year but has run honest races against older fillies.

Works: Her Woodbine 4f :46.3 (1/1) on July 15 is a sharp move — fastest of the morning and signals readiness. The 5f :59 (1/1) at Belmont earlier in July backs that up. She’s clearly fit and tuned.

Summary: Good works, improving form, but stepping up in class against seasoned mares. She does have some stakes form and whilst not in the same league yet as the likely favorite she is getting the age related allowance, jumps from a good gate and could surprise.

2. Blue Velvet

Form: Better on turf than dirt. Her dirt sprint figures sit around 90–93, but her best recent run was a turf win at Churchill. On dirt she tends to flatten late, and her last two dirt graded tries were non-threatening.

Works: Strong recent activity: 6f 1:10.2 (1/9) on turf at CD and 6f 1:10.2 (2/18) at Woodbine. She’s fit, but the works don’t change her surface preference.

Summary: This is a filly that has promised just a little more than she has delivered. Her running style is pace dependent so the gate is a plus as it will allow her to get a position without expending too much energy. Her works look better than her form but if she runs her best as she did in the Sugar Swirl she could be a chance.

3. Chase The Money

Form: Ultra-consistent mare who always fires. Her last five races: 95, 99, 99, 97, 95 — the best form line in the field outside the favourite. She’s been competitive in G2/G3 company all year and handles 6–7f perfectly. Rarely runs a bad race.

Works: Strong and steady: 5f :57.4 (1/7) at Woodbine on July 18, plus two sharp Saratoga drills earlier in July. She’s holding her form and fitness beautifully.

Summary: An experienced mare at this level she will be arriving late so will need all favors from the race engine. She would probably have got more than the six wins she has achieved so far if her running style suited the current race engine and barring a suicidal pace I see her arriving late for a place.

4. Kill The Lycan

Form: Honest mare with mid‑90 figures in allowance and listed company. Her best recent runs came at 6f and 7f, but she’s been inconsistent at graded level. She’s game but lacks the finishing punch of the top two.

Works: Recent Woodbine 5f :58.1 (2/4) is sharp. Earlier 6f 1:10.1 (1/38) at Aqueduct shows she’s fit and working well.

Summary: Good works, decent form, but not quite graded-sprint quality yet, That isn’t to say this isn’t going to be her day as this is HRP and anything can happen but on bare form alone she may be looking for a lower prize.

5. Dusty Heart

Form: Peaking mare with two strong wins and a 96 last out. She’s versatile and handles 6–7f well. Her 2026 form is upward-trending, and she’s shown she can sit just off the pace and finish.

Works: Very active at Mountaineer: 5f :58.1 (1/20) on July 16 is a standout. Multiple solid drills in June. She’s clearly sharp and thriving.

Summary: Form rising, works excellent. Dangerous outsider who is likely to be a speed influence.

6. Lady Sammyantha

Form: The class of the race. Her last three runs: 96 (G2), 95 (G1), 102 (G1 win) — unmatched. She’s a proven graded sprinter who finishes strongly and handles 6½f perfectly. Even at eight years old, she’s still elite.

Works: Three consecutive 6f 1:10–1:10.3 works at Parx in May/June show she’s maintained her top-end fitness. She doesn’t need flashy works — her race form speaks for itself.

Summary: As a grade one winner this year it seems crazy to say she isn’t as good as she was but at eight years old she has every right to be at the very least on a plateau. There is no doubt she is the best in the race, she should win even on this years form but when they fall here at HRP they can fall quickly. I really hope that isn’t the case today.

7. Pride Cometh

Form: Mixed form. She ran a 95 at Los Alamitos but was never competitive. Her Woodbine allowance win earlier in June was solid (93), but she’s inconsistent on dirt and better on turf.

Works: Recent Woodbine 5f :58.2 (4/7) is good. Los Alamitos 5f :59 (5/56) also solid. She’s fit, but her form doesn’t match the top tier.

Summary: Good works, patchy dirt form. Needs a big jump but could be a bit of a lively outsider depending on how the trainer approaches the race. The wide gate will either see her go forward or back and both could work in different race scenario’s and her consistency will be a benefit if things play her way.

SUMMARY

This shouldn’t be a tough race to call because Lady Sammyantha should win but you always have to be wary of age in this game and at eight she is running out of racing years. I quite like the three year old but she will need some race engine luck and a better proposition if there is a kink in the champs armor may be Dusty Heart at possibly good odds.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES