Mabee Stakes – Grade II
DMR Race #10 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Copper Jewels Winning Link Stables Vazquez R A 120 —

Of all the great races on offer over this weekend this may not look like the best, but I actually think there is a couple in here who may just be big BC threats. Starting here with a three-year-old who was second last time in the DMR Oaks and gets not only the ace draw but of course the 4Lbs which pretty much equals rocket fuel for these three-year-olds at this time of year.
Her form had been pretty ordinary until that big effort in the Oaks but there was a switch in tactics that turned her from a closer to an on-pace type and it is that that seems to have helped her turn the corner. It does feel a bit ‘gamey’ when a click can change a horse completely, but it won’t be the first or the last time someone has found the golden ticket. She certainly still has something to prove, and I hope for her sake it wasn’t HL that turned her around because if it was, we could see anything happen today.

2 Loihi Martyparty Conner T 124 —

This five-year-old has been a good servant to the stable and generally is a pretty consistent mare. Of course, this being 2023 she threw a complete clunker last time in the RGD which on the face of it was so bad you wouldn’t even entertain her chances here, but we all know that those sorts of runs are more common on this race engine, and it is best just to ignore them. So on the rest of her form, she is an honest sort and ran a nice fourth in the Gamely the time before. I am not sure she could win this race; she has just tailed off a bit in her works, but the good draw will help her and if she gets away with them, she should be in it at the end.

3 The Great Enabler Wood Duck Stables Bravo J 124 —

Bought at auction for around a $100.000 she has proved a useful buy for the new owner winning both her starts. Her last start was in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap where she really dominated and ran out a comfortable winner, but this is not a handicap, and she needs to step up again at this level. Her works say she can, and she gets a decent draw so I would put her among the better winning chances here.

4 Lorient TwinTowersRacing Van Dyke D 124 —

I feel this four-year-old may be a lot better than her form figures suggest and is just the type that the stable loves to win with. Her form figures are pretty uninspiring and to the naked eye she looks to have very little chance, but I have this little alarm bell going off in my head about her. Her works are very strong for a horse with her form figures, and we all know that the four-year-olds have got their little bump recently so I am thinking that this one may run a far bigger race than many expect.

5 Victory General Invicta Group Llc Alvarado J 124 —

Her last two starts when placed at ungraded level are far better than her previous form so clearly, she has found a little improvement, but I am just not sure she is good enough to take another big step up. Having said that she worked a sub 1.35 turf work which means at home at least she isn’t far off being good enough so who knows, these days she may end up as the odds monkey’s favorite.

6 Charleston Girl Nakamura Stables Beschizza A 124 —

This is an under rated type and being a four-year-old will have got a little development boost so I think she may be a contender here. I am a little surprised to see her on turf after a slick 1.36- and 2-mile work on the dirt but surface means very little to good horses here at HRP so I don’t think it will inconvenience her too much. It is difficult to read her form with 99% of it being on dirt but she has been useful on that surface and sometimes the switch can bring about a big run.

7 Demanding Commander Mb Stables Lezcano J 124 —

Would be my clear favorite to win if it wasn’t for her draw but she may be good enough to overcome it in a race a little lighter than some. She won the grade one Wiley a week after being purchased and has been in top company ever since and whilst she hasn’t won again there have been some very good efforts. She is certainly the best horse in the race on paper and the race engine normally listens to what this trainer says but there is that negative to consider if you are going to lump your Disney Dollars on this one.

SUMMARY

Demanding Commander looks the one on paper here to be chased home by The Great Enabler but I am thinking a little outside the box here and am going for a couple at longer odds in Lorient and Copper jewels.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES