The Orchid – GIII
3/28/20
GP Race 4 1 3/8M – InTurf
Purse $100.000
Four Year Olds and Up Fillies and Mares

Almost a full field of eleven has been entered for this years running of the grade three Orchid over the inside turf course here at Gulfstream Park including the defending champ of this race. Let’s go ahead and take a look at the field.

1. Monets Garden (18-4-2-3 $138.770), trained by Invicta Group Llc

First filly up in the field here and she is a stakes winner in her career but her last race was definitely not one to remember. She opened up by eight lengths in the early parts of the race and ended up fading to last. She likes to show early speed so maybe she needs to stalk or something in here.

2. Ishtar Viking (15-6-1-3 $182.100), trained by Nakamura Stables

Not only a stakes winner but a graded stakes winner right here and she won the grade three Ontario Matron which was on the dirt. She won an optional claimer at Tampa last time wire to wire and now she will take a shot here. I think she could have a chance to win in here.

3. Built For Speed (18-5-2-3 $153.390), trained by First Flight Stable

Next up right here and this filly is coming into the race off of a win in the same race that the inside runner in the field Monets Garden. She came from dead last in there and that is her usual running style. There seems to be a lot of speed in here so it could set up good for her.

4. Fill The Void (10-4-4-1 $169.960), trained by Mb Stables

Now on to the Mb Stables runner and she is also as stakes winner in her career and she is very dependable to at least run in the top three. She has only been out of the money once but this distance is something she has never faced. She has early speed and this is way farther than she has ever been.

5. Lady Cowgirl (21-5-5-4 $213.490), trained by TwinTowers Racing

One of the non stakes winners in this field but she has gotten close a few times so far. She is coming into this race off of a tenth place finish in the grade three Very One so she will need to improve a whole lot to even have a shot at winning here.

6. Ghost Dance (13-1-1-4 $104.030), trained by Team 7 Illusions

Next one we take a look at here and she is coming into this race off of a third place finish in the Astra at Santa Anita going even farther than this. She ran well at a mile and a half so now she drops in distance but this is a tougher spot. She still needs to improve some to win here.

7. Pirates Puff (18-8-5-2 $295.940), trained by Allinthegate

A multiple stakes winner and also a graded stakes winner here and this mare just loves to win races. She is also one that excels at these long distance turf races and she looks like one of the main contenders in the field. She is definitely one of the ones to beat.

8. Tinas Flag (15-4-1-3 $68.030), trained by Rock Creek

Scratched

9. Maggie Greene (30-9-6-4 $1397.160), trained by The Sidley Stud

The defending champ of the race right here and she also won the grade one Rodeo Drive and was fifth in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf last year. She has been on a cold streak as of late but she gets a good draw and she should be tough to beat.

10. Suicide Blonde (14-2-1-1 $115.990), trained by Paradise Stable

Now on to this filly right here who is coming into this race off of about a two month break since she ran fourth in the Lilly Stakes at Sam Houston. She did not love the off track that day it seemed. She looks outclassed here, but you never know what could happen.

11. Proud Eights (12-3-2-2 $495.400), trained by Estero Farms

Once again another graded stakes winner in the field here and this filly was also a participant in the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf last year where she ended up finishing sixth. She has the ability to win this race but she got a very tough post to overcome.

12. Emmy (13-3-1-2 $93.040), trained by Our Athletes

Final runner in this field and she is going to have a lot of work to do to overcome this post and this tough of a field. She was third in an optional claimer last time and she likes to close from far back so maybe a pace meltdown gets her to the winners circle.

Summary

A very solid field here with the winner of this race last year and some other very talented runners in here. Maggie Greene is my top choice but she is not a heavy favorite and I think there is a good possibility she could be upset. Good luck to all in the field.

9-7-4-11

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES