Likely Exchange Stakes ($125.000 Purse)
TP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
January 11, 2025

For a while, it looked like the Likely Exchange Stakes was not going to fill, but in the end, we would get our field of five. That means that this race will run for just the fifth time in its history. Interestingly, it first appeared on the schedule in 2010, but after running in 2013, we would not see it again until last year. That is when it would run for $125.000, and Riggins Racing would take advantage of that as he scored the win with Nine Laffs. It would be the last stake win of her career, and she would be retired after running a race in June. Who’ll be the next name to be added to that list? Let’s meet the possibilities now:

1- Eye Patch (The Sidley Stud, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Picked up by the trainer in the September auction for $22.000, and ran for The Sidley Stud for the first time just two weeks ago in the $100.000 Broussard Memorial Stakes at FG. He had plenty of stake experience for Fractious, so the competition level was nothing new to him, and Eye Patch would run second in the Broussard. He had a long layoff prior to that race, too, so I am not worried about the short turnaround here.

2- Chariots Of Angels (Hunterman Stable, ridden by I Moncada)- After a good looking three-year-old season, she was shut out from winner’s circle in 2024, but did run second three times over seven starts last year. Her best runs came in high level open allowances, which are usually as competitive as any ungraded stake. Ran on the grass last time out, a surface that she had not run well on before, and did not run well in again, so we can safely throw that one out.

3- Flint Off (Asgar, ridden by G Corrales)- The trainer brings two here to the Likely Exchange Stakes, and Flint Off has had the stronger career up to this point. In her last six races, she has hit the board every time, with two of them being victories. Neither of the wins came in the stakes she attempted, but she always turns in a good effort. Three weeks ago, she had some tough luck, being involved in a three-way photo at the wire in the $125.000 Sugar Swirl, but placing third. Has a great shot here.

4- Line Of Flight (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- When this filly is on, she can be very competitive, but unfortunately, she can also be inconsistent. She’s bounced back and forth between stakes and overnights recently, and while early in her career she handled stakes well, her best performances since March of last year have been in the overnights. While this field may be small, it is definitely stake quality though the smaller size gives Line Of Flight a good chance to change that narrative of recent stake struggles.

5- Flammkuchen (Asgar, ridden by A Jimenez)- This mare was lightly raced last year, making just four starts but picking up wins in two of them, each in overnights. Later in the year, she got a chance to run in the $100.000 CC Glass Slipper, as after all, she was a cheap $8.000 claim back in March 2023, but did not run well in that race. Bounced back with an optional claiming win three weeks ago and will have a chance to redeem herself for the Glass Slipper here.

Prediction: 3-1-2-4

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded