Taylor Stakes – Grade I
WO Race #4 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.
1 Mo Ki Missy, trained by Spankys Barn
Last season this filly won the grade one Rodeo Drive by four lengths and the grade one Beverly D on the way to favouritism for the BC Fillies and Mares Turf and whilst she was only beaten a length she could only manage 6th in the big one. That run of big races seem to have an adverse effect on her though as she struggled for a long time to get back into winning form eventually taking out the grade three Modesty Handicap in July. That win seem to rekindle something in her as she then came out in the Canadian Stakes to nose out Commanding Faith and as a filly that can string them together in the Autumn she may just be a good pick from the ace draw today.
2 Volare, trained by Axeman
This brilliant veteran is a real crowd favourite. Now seven she just keeps on winning and recorded win number 18 in the Glen Falls Handicap last time out. She was given a favourable handicap mark that day and beat recent winner Pip Kadabra pretty convincingly so it is pretty clear that she is a long way from finished just yet. My big concern is the trip today as even this mile and a quarter is on the short side for her but she will be flying at the end as always and the crowds will be roaring if she can manage yet another win.
3 Miss Darna, trained by Maxmillion Farm
The stable that seems to have no end of Turf routers has another nice one here although on the face of it she looks a little out classed. A good winner of The Hettinger last time her works are right in the ball park and with the whole stables improvement recently and the three year old weight allowance she could be the dark horse in the field.
4 Plucky Elmo, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
A tough filly the only recent run that could be compared to this race was a never dangerous eighth in the Whittingham back in May. I am not sure she has improved enough since then to win but she is a tough sort who will give her best.
5 Sunset Black, trained by Team 7 Illusions
The winner of the RGD back in July she hasnt looked quite so strong in better company in her last two starts. Her last start saw her sixth in the KD Ladies Turf and she was in the race for a long way before being beaten just a length. I imagine she could well lead today with the stables other runner drawn wide and with works pretty much the same as everything else would have a fair chance of getting something.
6 Must Be Nice, trained by John Henry
Another regular in top races she has been experiencing the four year old problem after a promising three year old career. With no wins this year you could write her off but a third in the Gamely and a nose second in the Matchmaker tell me she has the ability and some fast recent works suggest she, like most of the four year olds, is catching up.
7 Congratulations, trained by Chili King Stables
This filly has promised so much more than she delivers this year but i thought that was going to change in the grade one Rodeo last time as she cantered behind the leaders on the home turn but couldnt quicken once again and ended up fourth. She clearly has been given speed and ability but the heart gene seems to have stayed with the three year old Congratulations and it will need plenty to go her way today if she is going to finally start to live up to her reputation. If she repeats her neck second in last years BC Fillies and Mares Turf then she is right in this .
8 Commanding faith, trained by Crocker Cgs
It always pays to carefully check out the three year olds and this one has plenty of upside. The winner of the grade two Honeymoon and a close third in the DMR Oaks i had her as the winner of the Canadian last time but she couldnt get past a very game Mi Ko Missy. She will be close again.
9 Sanny Senorita, trained by Alberta Rose Stables
Claimed for $35.000 but working the same as the best fillies in the game, thats pretty much the story of HRP and she takes her chance today with as good a chance as any despite just good form at overnight level. A difficult draw wont help her chances but the way she won her only turf start last time suggests her canny trainer has found teh golden ticket with her and i wouldnt be as surprised as some to see her run big.
10 Drop Her Off, trained by Mb Stables
This three year old filly by Commanding was winning a cheap TUP maiden in May and only just lasted home in an optional claimer after that but as is HRP at the moment she took that form and ran a close fifth in the DMR oaks last time out. She is working quicker than most in this field which as normal tells us very little but with a weight allowance and the trainer with the golden touch there is no reason other than common sense that says she cant win.
11 Better Ge Grateful, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Drawn in the car park she takes her chance on turf after only one start on the surface. That came in an ungraded stakes race where she ran on nicely for a share of second and whilst that wasnt a bad run its a fair way off the best of these. Of course her works are just the same as everything else and she does have some decent dirt form so you cant write her off but the wide draw may be enough to draw a line.
SUMMARY
Well they are all working the same and all have some snippet of form that says they can win this so its pretty much a stick your pin in and hope sort of race. I actually like Mo Ki Missy for this which goes against all my usual ‘three year olds’ cant lose stories but the four’s have been catching up recently and i wonder whether some timely switch has been thrown in their favour.
Good luck to all in what looks a very open race.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
