July 29, 2016

Shuvee is a champion racehorse and Hall Of Fame entrant who won many of the most important races for fillies and mares over her career, plus two editions of the prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup at BEL in 1970 and 1971, and the race named in her honour will be run on Sunday afternoon at SAR with the hope of adding another big winner to its top-class honour roll. Life’s Magic, Lady’s Secret and Personal Ensign were winners in the 1980’s, Sky Beauty, Inside Information and Hidden Lake proved best in the 1990’s and Beautiful Pleasure and Storm Flag Flying were incredible in the new millennium before the race became overshadowed by other events and now, it is hoping to build back its reputation with new purse injected into the NY racing scene. HRP has also seen its share of good winners with the likes of Blondeinabodystockin, Necessary Evil and Antiquated Idea and this year, we get another impressive field with a multiple Grade I winner from the inside taking on some up-and-coming fillies cutting back in distance for this $200.000 event.

1-The Reaper (Four-year-old bay filly / Owner-Heavens Own)

The Reaper has not had a ton of success at SAR in the past, finishing off the board in both the CCA Oaks and the Alabama last year, but is a winner of two Grade I events and more than $2,000.000 in her career and on class alone, should be a top three contender on Sunday. The time off from January to June seems to have helped this four-year-old and she came back with a wire-to-wire win that was good in both form and time and now, she will look to build on that effort with another effort that is close to the early pace, with the likelihood that she could be the lone speed from the rail.

Analysis-Big on class and that last effort was a good return

Fair Odds-4/1

2-Xanadu Magic Tf (Five-year-old chestnut mare / Owner-D J C Racing Stables)

Xanadu Magic Tf has really dropped down in class this year and shown very little of the talent she possessed last year and now, after fading badly going short at BEL, will be asked to stretch out for only the second time in her career as a distinct longshot. She was purchased for only $30.000 by her current owners and showed good speed in the Bed o Roses before fading and with the extra furlongs, she is clearly speed that could battle the inside runner and cause lots of havoc.

Analysis-Asked to do too much going this distance

Fair Odds-15/1

3-Unsecured (Four-year-old black filly / Owner-Team 7 Illusions)

Unsecured comes back off only two weeks rest to battle another tough field of route fillies and mares and after closing for a minor share in the DEL Handicap, the feeling is that she might be over the top with six big starts already under her belt this year. Her speed rating last time is the best we see in this group but she was last early behind reasonable fractions and if the pace is modest again, she will not have enough to get up for a more than a minor award.

Analysis-Comes back quickly and is a product of pace
Fair Odds-8/1

4-Stellar (Three-year-old bay filly / Owner-M.b.o. Racing Stable)

Stellar was well-regarded going into the Iowa Oaks and was certainly solid enough to finish a closing third, validating form that saw her win three straight races before that while making her a good bet for a solid finish in the Shuvee. She has an excellent record going long but finished up the track at SAR last year against juveniles; this is a different ballgame and one she is better prepared for, so look for another good effort from a three-year-old who takes an early shot at the best with plenty of options going forward.

Analysis-Might not be fast enough but knows how to win

Fair Odds-6/1

5-Memorandum (Four-year-old chestnut filly / Owner-Mb Stables)

Memorandum has taken a backseat to many of the top fillies in the Mb Stables barn but a third in the Grade I Ashland last year and a win in the Rag To Riches going a marathon distance at BEL show that she can get the distance and class, and that might just make her the favourite. She has not been worse than fourth in the last 18 months and already has three wins this year, all of them going a route of ground, and her stalking ability will be perfect given the inside speed.

Analysis-Gets the perfect post for her wait-and-see approach

Fair Odds-2/1

6-Sure Shot Lady (Four-year-old bay filly / Owner-Crocker Ggs)

Going a distance of ground will not be a problem for Sure Shot Lady but the move from the turf to the dirt might pose a minor issue and she will need to handle it effectively to be one of the key contenders in this spot. She raced evenly in the Just A Game against the best fillies and mares on the grass and now, faces easier on the dirt with a smaller group and an outside post and that should allow her to get into the race earlier if she can handle the dirt after such a long time.

Analysis-Changes surfaces with hopes of getting a new lease on racing

Fair Odds-5/1

Overall

Memorandum comes into the Grade II Shuvee Handicap with all the ability in the world, and two straight wins going a route of ground, and that will make her the favourite against a field of mostly four-year-olds who are looking to build on form or changes things altogether. For The Reaper, it is a case of getting back to her previous form while building on a solid foundation as an older mare, while for Sure Shot Lady, it is more the hope of getting a new career going on the main track again after an extended spell against tougher on the turf.

Prediction

Win-Memorandum (2/1)

Place-The Reaper (4/1)

Show-Sure Shot Lady (5/1)

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES