The 19th Running of the G1 Starlet
December 4, 2021 21:20
LA Race #2 $300.000 11/16 Dirt
2YO Fillies 120 Lbs
Track Record-1:41.28 (Outward Bound-2014)
Stakes Record-1:41.49 (Snow Peak-2016)
The G1 Starlet is scheduled for Saturday evening at LA where juvenile fillies will go 11/16 with $300.000 and 10 KYO qualifying points on the line. Mb Stables (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) has had a tight grip on this race in recent years and his four victories in the event lead all HRP trainers. Jockey R. Bejarano (2011, 2014, 2017) has spread his winning mounts out over the last ten years, but he’s won enough of these to be tops on the pilot leaderboard.
This year’s G1 Starlet has drawn an excellent field of 10 fillies including last month’s BC Juvie Filly winner Lailoni as well as KEE G1 winner, Present Tense and DMR G1 winner, Moment To Dream. The three G1 winners would make this an ultra-tough field; however, throw in two more stakes winners and it looks to be an excellent renewal. Here’s the skinny on the ten fillies who will line-up in the LA starting gate for the G1 Starlet:
#1 Laughing Poet (Maxmillion Farm/J. Talamo): Maiden win at WO remains her lone tally, but the rail horse shouldn’t be intimidated in this, her third stakes try. The two stakes tries showed that she has the ability to compete as she was beaten a total of three lengths, so throw-out the last try where she was 4th in an ALW. Latest work says all you need to know and she should be ready to fire from this draw.
#2 Wicked Ways (TwinTowersRacing/Ru. Gonzalez): Had a two-race winning streak snapped when she was 5th at CD on Halloween. She was closing late that day and was only beaten by a length for all of the money. Water gets deeper here and she will need to time her run just right if she stays with the off-the-pace tactics. Feel like she’ll be passing horses late, just not sure she can get by them all.
#3 Present Tense (Mb Stables/ S.X. Bridgmohan): G1 winner got stuck out in stall 13 for the BC and ran a credible 6th when beaten only two lengths. Filly is obviously talented (she’s just a head away from being a 4x stakes winner) and she gets a favorable draw for the rematch with the BC winner. Barn has won four of the last six of these, so expect her to be primed for a good effort here.
#4 Molecule (D J C Racing Stables/J.R. Velazquez): Filly comes off of the grass after a G2 win and a 3rd in the G1 BC Juvie Fillies Turf and is well drawn for this assignment. Not much to go on in terms of the public works, but have to assume this gal has shown her conditioner something on the farm for her to show up here. That being said, going to make her prove it once against these types, but if the form translates, could be right there.
#5 Lailoni (Arindel/E. Jaramillo): BC winner returns here and looks to add another G1 to her resume. She was a big number the last time we saw her, so hopefully you got well because her odds won’t be that high again for a while. The BC was her first route try which would suggest she may be better this go around. She’s yet to run a bad race in six carrer starts and would be shocked if the seventh was anything less than her best. The selection.
#6 Tell Milady (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco): Speedy filly looks to be the presumptive pace-setter as she has led the first two calls of every race except the free track debut. 1-mile work at DMR says she is ready to roll in this one. If she can ration a bit of that early foot, she could be extremely tough to get by coming down the lane. Others may be more proven, but have to respect her speed.
#7 Crackz (Fractious/D.E. Centeno): Maiden ran well enough to be a competitor in the BC so don’t let the lack of wins fool you. Looks like a stone-closer so you may not see her for a while, but she always makes her run; it’s just a matter of getting it timed-up just right. Poor gal has yet to draw on the inner half of any field she’s faced, so this stall shouldn’t trouble her too much. She’ll be passing horses for sure, but probably not all of them.
#8 Greta (Royalty Stables/T. Gaffalione): Maiden-breaker at SA against CA-bred company remains her best race as she regressed a tad on the watch and speed figs in latest win. Hasn’t really worked as sharply as the trainer would like, but she’ll get a little down time after this one and freshen-up. Has been able to stay within striking distance from inner draws, so it will be interesting to see how she handles being past the center of the gate. Talented, but still questions linger.
#9 Moment To Dream (Fractious/A. Cedillo): The third G1 winner in the field is a talented lass for sure. KEE effort back in October looks to be a complete throw-out as she just missed at the wire in BC. Fast enough to stay close to the leaders and finishes her races with plenty of energy. If she was better-drawn, she’d be the pick but feel like she will round-out the exacta.
#10 Flower Of Scotland (Iolaus Racing/D. Davis): Maiden-winner in her latest effort has worked very well since and takes her shot here. Doubt the competition she defeated if you want, but this barn knows a good horse when they get their hands on one. The latest two works rank her right up with the best of this bunch and think she will have a major say in Saturday’s outcome.
Final Analysis: 5-9-3-10 in an exciting renewal of the G1 Starlet from LA. Good luck to all of the connections.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
