The 18th Running of the G3 Vagrancy Handicap

May 14, 2022

$150.000 6.5 Furlongs

BEL Race #4 Post Time 14:15

F&M 4+ Handicap Weights

Track Record-1:14.50 (Not Trippin Now-2021)

Stakes Record-1:15.08 (Class Status-2020)

The 18th running of the G3 Vagrancy Handicap drew a field of seven older fillies and mares to run 6.5-furlongs over the BEL main track with $150.000 on the line.  Mb Stables (2015, 2016) took back-to-back renewals a few years ago and is the only conditioner in the race’s history with more than one victory while A. Solis (2011, 2014), I. Ortiz Jr (2015, 2021), and R. Bejarano (2018, 2019) have each ridden two horses to victory in the race’s rich history. 

Six of the seven entered are four years of age while one mare will be making the 3rd start of her 5yo campaign.  With the race running under handicap conditions, we get a range of weights from 118 to 121 pounds.  Three pounds doesn’t sound like much, but, at this level, you take every advantage you can get.  Here’s the field for the 2022 G3 Vagrancy Handicap:

#1 Not A Big Deal (Mb Stables/M. Franco 119): Rail filly hails from the barn of the best in the game’s history and will be making her third start in her 4yo campaign.  First two efforts were against allowance foes where she was just a head short in her seasonal bow before winning down at FG in March.  Seems to be rounding back into top form and should have every chance given her talent and this draw.

#2 Ginger Lee (Nakamura Stables/J.J. Castellano 118): Another 4yo from another one of the game’s best barns, this lass is earning her keep as she will be making the fifth start of her season.  Seemed to relish the turnback to this trip last time as she was able to wire a N4X group at PRX.  May need to improve just a bit off of that last effort, but she’s a pace factor for certain, and she showed last time that she can keep going.

#3 Christina G (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez 118): The lone 5yo mare in the field, the rail horse’s stablemate gets in at the 118-pound minimum here and figures to be tough on that fact alone.  Like her stablemate, she has begun her season with two allowances and comes here off of a one-length score at GP.  Probably more versatile than most, this mare figures to sit a good trip, and the distance has been good for her at this level in the past.  A lot of things to like here. 

#4 Flyingbolt (Jokerjoes/D. Davis 119): 4yo filly made a winning seasonal bow at this trip in a $75.000 overnight before trying G2 foes at 7-panels.  Found that group to be too salty and rebounded nicely to be 2nd in the aforementioned GP allowance.  She has to give the mare that beat her a pound in this one, so she’ll need to show improvement, but she’s not in without a chance.

#5 Torrents Of Spring (Wood Duck Stables/E. Jaramillo 119): Filly exits a G1 where she was 5th beaten only a length.  The four that finished in front of her that day returned at CD last weekend in two different G1’s and had a win and a third on KYD-day.  She gets in at 119, so the most she has to give anyone is a sole pound; however, always concerning when 4’s have to give 5’s weight.  Plenty talented to win this and she looms the main threat.

#6 Kreepy Chill (Easy Money Stables/K. Carmouche 121): G3 winner in her latest down at GP, 4yo gets assigned the top weight for this so she will spot her rivals 2-3 pounds.  Lass prefers to wait to make one run so she’ll need some pace to run at here.  Can’t fault the results as she enters with a three-race winning streak in tow.  Always difficult to give away weight, but the filly is in the best form of her career.

#7 Great Mojo (John Henry/A. Cedillo 119): 4yo is another riding a three-race winning streak with all three coming against allowance foes.  Gets stuck outside for this assignment but she’s a winner in four of her last five, and the one time she tried G3 foes, she was only beaten a length.  Will have to work out a trip, but she’s one of the contenders in here based on her current form.

Final Analysis: 3-1-5-4 is how we see it with the mare getting in at 118-pounds getting the best of her filly counterparts.  Good luck to all involved in the G3 Vagrancy Handicap at BEL! 

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