The Matriarch (Grade 1)- $400.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
December 4, 2022

A strong field has assembled at DMR for the Grade 1 Matriarch, a race that it almost a rematch of the BC Fillies and Mares Turf from last month. Seven horses in this field ran in that race, and while we won’t have the winner, Perfect Class, here, we will such greats like La Terrifiant, Maggie Greene, Proud Eights, and much more. This is the largest purse offered by any unrestricted race for females during the month of December (the Fifth Avenue for NY-breds later this month offers more). Last year’s race was won by Ewa Beach, for The American, and she is one of the top horses that returns to the field here. La Terrifiant was the 2020 winner. Both of them have the opportunity to do something which has been done by three horses in the past as each of Darling Harbour, Halfbaked and Attraction are two-time winners of the race. Let us now take a look around this full field of twelve!

#1- Coconut Milk (Wood Duck Stables, ridden by A Cedillo)- Two starts back, Coconut Milk impressively came from well off the pace to get the win in the Grade 1 QE II Challenge Cup. Three weeks later, it was off to the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, where she finished well up the track. Now, we get a chance to see how she can rebound from that race and while this isn’t the BC, the fact that there are seven in here from that race means it is hard to get excited about her chances. She had been running so well up to that point, so if her BC was a product of the turf course only being “good”, then she just may redeem herself here.

#2- Versailles (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- From June until October, this filly had an impressive four race stretch that saw her win three Grade 1’s: the Just A Game, Beverly D, and First Lady. Based on that, she was seen as one of the better horses in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, but she was also a disappoint. Versailles never got going, starting near the back and never making a run, finishing ninth and beaten by seven lengths. That result left many dumbfounded, and she certainly seems to be much better than that. Perhaps she gives us a reminder of that here.

#3- Hallowed Halls (Rock Creek, ridden by E Jaramillo)- She was not able to make it into the BC, and comes into the Matriarch off of a third place effort in the First Lady. Overall, she has two wins in her eight starts this year, with both of the victories coming in open allowances. While she’s had some good runs in ungraded stakes, she’s winless in her eleven graded starts. It will take a career best effort here to keep that from becoming an 0-for-12.

#4- Ace Queen (Ace Racing Stable, ridden by U Rispoli)- Similar to Versailles, Ace Queen had a strong four race stretch during the middle of the year, winning three out of races from May until August. That run began in the claiming ranks, but would end up including the $100.000 Daisycutter Handicap in July. This would bring her into the graded ranks, and her second place performance in the Grade 3 KD Ladies Sprint showed that she was not over her head. Raced just last week in the Grade 2 Mrs Revere, and I think that will be enough for me to turn my head on her.

#5- Ewa Beach (The American, ridden by F T Alvarado)- Looking to go back to back in the Matriarch after winning by a length following a sensible stalking trip. Prior to that, she ran third in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. She returned to that race this year with a much different result, starting at the back and never getting going. Ran well heading into it, including a strong stretch of three straight second place finishes in the Gamely, Diana, and the Ballston. As she returns to a spot where she’s had success previously, it should be anticipated that she will return to that form.

#6- Maggie Greene (The Sidley Stud, ridden by J R Velazquez)- One of those horses that has been around forever, and impressively this will be her 60th career start. She is a former BC Fillies and Mares Turf winner, capturing the 2020 edition at KEE. Maggie Greene did run in the Matriarch last year, but it will not go down as one of her career highlights. Three of her 18 lifetime wins have come in 2022, with the most recent one just two starts ago on this race track for the Grade 3 Noble Damsel. That is the only time in her last four races where she has hit the board, though.

#7- Proud Eights (Mb Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Another one of the great female horses in the game right now, Proud Eights has made over $2,500.000 for her career. Part of that came in her last race, when she ran fourth in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf. It was part of another strong season for her, as she won the Grade 2 Ballston and finished second in the Grade 1 First Lady in the race that came after. She is just another example of why this is such is a terrific race, and she may very well make her trainer proud right here.

#8- Fangs Of The Storm (Arindel, ridden by R M Hernandez)- This filly doesn’t have the name recognition of those closest to her in the starting gate, but she has won over $1,500.000 on her own. She’s won eight times in 28 starts, with three of them coming this year, highlighted by the $750.000 Grade 3 KD Ladies Turf. That didn’t get her in to the BC this year, but she did run earlier on the card the same day at KEE and earned a win in the $350.000 Fall Harvest. She’s proven she can beat horses like this from time to time, but to beat them all at once here, I am not as convinced.

#9- La Terrifiant (Smokey Stover, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- In the final race (presumably) of her seven year old season, La Terrifiant continues to put forth incredible results. She’s won three of nine this year, while being second on four other occasions, and these are in some of the best races that she can possibly be entered into. Last month in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, she had one of those second place results. In this race, she has been good as well, winning in 2020. Whenever this mare is entered into a race, she must be considered a favorite, and I can’t see why she wouldn’t be brought back next year for her eight year old season.

#10- Lassitude (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by M Franco)- This one has been given plenty of chances to run against the best, but she has not made the most of it with just two wins over fifteen career starts. That non-maiden win was impressive, and came at CD in the Grade 2 Eight Belles. She also had a good run in the Grade 1 Ballerina. What do those races have in common? Seven furlongs as a distance. Back in 2021, she also had another good runner up at seven furlongs. This race is not that at that distance. Apparently, the eighth furlong makes a big enough of a difference to her.

#11- Summers Day (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by E Maldonado)- Picked up in private sales for $100.000 in late February, and has two wins over six starts while running for Maxmillion. One of those victories was her last start, coming at SA five weeks ago in the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes against four others. She’s been in Grade 1’s before, but I would be surprised if she has ever faced a field of this strength before. That said, I think she’s earned the shot.

#12- Directors Chair (Nakamura Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- This one was in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf, but you may not have noticed her as she finished at the back of the pack, nine lengths from the win. That was a bit of a surprise, because her 2022 had been strong to that point, including running second in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive in the race right before it. If she can find that version of herself again, she can be a threat here, but against similar company as the BC, that might not even be enough.

Prediction: 9-7-6-8

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES