The Long Island – Grade III
AQU Race #2 1 3/8m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
Though we only have the six runners here this has a couple that wouldn’t have looked out of place contesting the BC Fillies and Mares. So, an interesting race, let’s take a look at the field:
1 November Storm Mb Stables Velazquez J R 121 —
When Mb dips into the vault and spends $300.000 on a horse everyone sits up and takes notice and sure enough this one went from optional claimer to grade one winner within three starts. In her first start for the new owner, she very nearly won the SAR Oaks failing by just a neck and after another good run in grade two company she then went to SAR a real chance in the QE II. Getting back, she produced a smart turn of foot and ran away to win by a length. She has some massive plus’s here, the draw, the trainer, grade one winning form and what looks like a trip she will eat up. If there is any chick in her armor, it may be that she needs some cut in the ground to run her best so if it rains, she wins by streets but if it stays dry, she may be found out.
2 Ponzi Scheme TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 124 —
This one, like many these days runs equally well over sprints or routes so it is hard to get a line on her chances against a very good field. Her recent work says she is as good as ever and just maybe her age may give her a bit more ring craft over this marathon trip. I never write off one from this stable and she could be a decent outsider.
3 Corsica Glorify Stables Husbands P 121 —
Not a bad filly she is a good advert for how tough it is these days to work out race form against work times. Her work times with the three-year-old weight allowance bring her into the reckoning but her race form isn’t as attractive as some. Having said that she has toughed out two nose wins in her last two so clearly has the heart to win and she has always looked like a filly that would excel over these longer trips.
4 Niagra Keys Alydar Stables Espinoza V 121 —
Beaten a length in the KYO and second last time in the Rodeo Drive there is plenty to like about this three-year-olds form. As usual dirt or turf, sprint or route she looks able to perform on anything so lining her up here isn’t easy, but she certainly looks like she has been crying out for a longer trip and she gets that today. Again, grade one form or not her works are pretty much the same as everything else so we will have to rely on that race form which is certainly good enough. If there is a worry it is her closing style which isn’t easy on this race engine, but the small field may help, and she must go into calculations.
5 Common Misconception Nakamura Stables Centeno D E 124 —
Third in the Pegasus Fillies and Mares Turf at the start of the year she looked set for a big year after being a little disappointing since winning the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf as a two-year-old, but she once again hasn’t kicked on from that. The trip suits and she oozes class and although she has won ten races she is often caught out in a finish at this level. A win chance if things work out for her.
6 Power Royale D J C Racing Stables Gutierrez Mario 124 —
The winner of ten from eighteen she was bought for $50.000 after a successful run in State bred stakes, she duly paid the new owner back in her only start with a brave nose win in the Waya. Her running style may be OK here from the outside as there are a few that like to finish late so she may be able to cross the field pretty easily early on. A winning chance.
SUMMARY
This is a tough race as there are 6 winning chances, I wish I had a dollar for every time I said this year but that’s how it is these days at HRP, and the winner may be the one that gets the best trip.
You can’t get away from grade one winning form, so November Storm looks a great chance from the inside, but I rather like Power Royale to give her a run for her money.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
