TC of America – Grade 2 – $350.000

KEE – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward

October 7, 2023

This race has sent some classy ladies to the BC Filly & Mare Sprint, including last year’s winner of both contests, Oceanus. This year’s field is packed with talent and one of them will punch their ticket to the big day. Four of these fillies and mares are not rated on the BC Filly & Mare Sprint points list, while Lady Sammyantha sits at #6 and looks to be the favorite.

Here’s the field:

1 Bay The Lady (Mb Stables) Rank #18

Coming in off a wire-to-wire win in the Grade 2 Prioress where she earned a 100 SRF and beat Parade Leader by a length. The rematch is on. Either could prevail, but they have ten other horses to contend with. When she gets to the lead, she’s hard to catch. In fact, her last three wins have been wire-to-wire. Hoping for a good break.

2 Antares Mission (Mo Mentum Farm)

Winner of the $150.000 Audubon Oaks two back. Could not hit the board in her only graded attempt, the Dogwood (Grade 3) last out. Pretty consistent in ungraded company, but she’ll have to step up her game to win here.

3 Parade Leader (Fractious) Rank #10

Won the Grade 3 Victory Ride back in July, then tried Grade 1 company in the Test and finished sixth, just ¾ length back. Made a late run at Bay The Lady in the Prioress, but just couldn’t quite get there. Looks strong in this field, and a win wouldn’t be a surprise.

4 Adrift At Sea (Threshold)

This five-year-old mare has been everywhere in her career. She is graded placed routing on turf and on dirt. She hasn’t tried that level since August of last year and has picked a tough spot to make her return. Recently, she has hit the board from 6 furlongs to 1 1/16 mile in allowance and ungraded stakes. Looks a bit outclassed here.

5 Not A Big Deal (Mb Stables) Rank #24

Won the Honorable Miss Handicap (Grade 2) two starts back. Didn’t fare as well in the Grade 1 Ballerina last start, finishing fifth that day. She’s been knocking at the door in graded company, but the Honorable Miss is her only win at that level since last year’s Prioress. Could make a comeback here if she brings her A game.

6 Cold Storage (Rock Creek)

Comes in off an optional claiming win at PRX. Has not been able to hit the board in graded company since last year’s Adirondack which got her into the BC Juvenile Fillies. Don’t see anything about this one that says she can compete with these, but I have been wrong before – a lot.

7 Failure To Launch (Wood Duck Stables) Rank #35

Riding high on a four-race win streak that includes the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl and Bernardo Handicap after being claimed for $50.000. Super consistent. Only three finishes off the board in fifteen starts. She should be close to but not on the lead early and could have a say in the outcome. 

8 Fantasy Allure (Allinthegate) Rank #25

Won the Grade 2 Great Lady M Stakes in a dead heat two starts back and earned a 101 SRF. That was her most impressive performance since breaking her maiden at SA in December. Her last start was a surprisingly bad performance after that win. If she springs back, she could be in the mix.

9 Flyingbolt (Mo Mentum Farm) Rank #26

Recent efforts include an optional claiming win and a second in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap behind Not A Big Deal. Since then, she has been sold for $180.000 and finished third by a nose in the Seaway (Grade 3). Her only off-the-board finish this year came in the Grade 1 Ballerina. She should like this spot better.

10 Adolph Sniffer (TwinTowersRacing)

Ungraded stakes winner in state-bred company. Consistent allowance filly, but she finished tenth and last in her only other attempt at this level, the CT Oaks (Grade 3) last out. Looks outclassed in this field.

11 Lady Sammyantha (The Sidley Stud) Rank #6

Consistently hits the board in graded company, including a win in the PID Masters Stakes (Grade 2) last start. But she finished well up the track in the Ballerina like two others in this field. Should be the favorite, but there are several in this field that can give her a run for the money.

12 Mo Temptation (D J C Racing Stables) Rank #43

Won the Grade 3 MTH Oaks two back but couldn’t repeat in the CT Oaks last out. Has been having a good year, finishing first or second in five of seven starts so far, including a second in the Victory Road just a head behind Parade Leader. She’ll get another shot here. If you throw out the CT Oaks, she looks like a real contender.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES