Seaway Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
WO- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 8, 2015
After traditionally only drawing five or six entries year after year, the 2014 edition saw the amount of runners increase to ten, the largest in its history. Those who were hoping that might start a new trend are disappointed to see that this year’s running, the tenth overall, has only four in the starting gate. Forty Carrots, the 2012 winner, is the highest earner on the past winners list, having made $1,293.700 in a career relatively evenly split between Night Mare Racing and Mwm Racing, the latter of whom experienced the Seaway Stakes victory. She has since produced four foals, that have accumulated one fair track win in eight starts. 2013 winner Canadas Girl used the Seaway Stakes to springboard a four race winning streak that ended with her winning the BC Fillies and Mares Sprint that season. She has produced six foals, none of which have seen the race track to date. The best foal story from a Seaway Stakes winner is multiple graded stake winner Mr Utah, who is out of 2009 winner Cataclysmic. Cataclysmic currently resides in the Maverick Racing barn, which two of our four runners this year also do. Let’s meet them, and the two others with our run through the field.
#1- Protection (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by D Moran)- The trainer looks for his first Seaway Stakes victory with this Charley Farley filly. It will be her graded stakes debut, but she has followed a natural progression to get to this point, finding success in a pair of ungraded stakes for similar purses. In May, she won the Ballade Stakes here at WO which is restricted to ON breds, then about three weeks ago, she was victorious in the Duchess Stakes at this very track as well. She is very familiar with this course, with five of her eight career starts here, and two of her three wins. That should be an advantage, but probably but not enough of one within our game. Still, I like where her career is heading. Problem is, she’s got an awfully good one next to her.
#2- Mondo Grosso (Maverick Racing, ridden by E J Wilson)- Without question, this eight year old mare is the most accomplished of the foursome, and this might be the right spot for her to get to the winners circle for the first time in 2015. She has won 13 of her 48 career starts, and been in the top 3 for 34 of them, but her current eight race winless streak is the longest of her career. It’s been a glamourous career which has seen three Grade 1 wins, but those glory days are getting further and further in the past. This seems to be a well-placed drop down, and you have to like her in this field. Her recent race times, and SRF figures are plenty good enough to get the job done in this field, and she is well versed at going seven over the course of her career. There’s only one work since late May to look at publicly, but it is in line with how she has worked throughout her racing life. Mondo Grosso should be able to snap that winless streak here as I do believe her carrying four more pounds then the rest of the field will be something she can overcome.
#3- Mischief Made (Mb Stables, ridden by Alan Garcia)- While Mondo Grosso has a ton of experience, Mischief Made is just starting to write the beginning chapters of her story. So far, it looks promising, winning her first four career starts. That started modestly, with a MSW at TUP and even a N2L at PM, but on Valentine’s Day, Mb Stables knew he had another horse in his stable to love as she impressively won an optional claimer at SA. That was followed up with a win $100.000 Cicada at sloppy AQU in March. She was unable to follow that up in the Grade 2 Beaumont at KEE, but looked good in a third place run in the $150.000 Jersey Girl in June. She has not raced since then, and her works in the meantime still look to be in good shape. This filly can definitely contend for a win here.
#4- Miss Debate (Maverick Racing, ridden by E L Olguin)- The second Maverick Racing entry does not seem as good as the first one. She has managed just one win over her ten career states, coming in her sixth attempt to break her maiden. She was thrust in to Graded Stakes immediately after that, and finished well up the track in the muddy Grade 3 Alexandra Stakes at FG in February. That didn’t break the trainer’s confidence as a month later she was in the $200.000 SUN Oaks, and again finished up the track, losing by seven. Since then she has been fourth in a pair of four horse fields in a N1X at MTH, and OCL at FE. A recent work at FG does not instill confidence that things are about to change. She seems over her head, and possibly may only be here so Maverick Racing could ensure the race would draw for Mondo Grosso.
Prediction: 2-1-3-4
— NS
Categories: Grade III
