FL Sire Stakes- My Dear ($500.000 Purse)
GP- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in FL
One Mile and One Sixteenth
October 1, 2016
A strong purse of $500.000 was nearly not enough to get this race full. Thankfully, efforts on the forum were able to secure the minimum of four nominations, and we are able to get this fantastic race for FL-breds to go off on Saturday. Looking at the field, you probably have the idea on which were the two original nominations in the field as the top two runners in each of two other FL Sire Stakes races, The Vixen and The Susan, each with one win and one second in those two races, are ready to go at it again here. A third entry struggled in the Susan, but is returning to take a crack at, if nothing else, a third place check out of this race. Then, we have the underdog! The race should be interesting to see if those top two, Unforgiving and Komodo Freestyle can be upset, but also to see which one of those young fillies will have the edge as the distance increases. The last three winners of this race: Short Dog, Eva The Diva, and Regal Portrait, all went on to have fantastic careers, and we shouldn’t expect anything less from our winner here. Let’s meet our field!
#1- Gunpowder and Lead (Aer Stables, ridden by Ed Castro)- Purchased by Aer Stables around the time that prior trainer Downwind Stables was unloading his stock, and has proven to be a strong investment for the $40.000 purchase price. Has only managed one win, but did run second in the similarly named $125.000 My Dear Stakes at WO. This is a little tougher My Dear, but the purse makes it well worth it. It’d be fair to doubt her ability to run with the two favorites here, but I do want to say, do not rule her out entirely. A third place check here is a nice reward.
#2- Unforgiving (Mb Stables, ridden by J A Vargas Jr)– So here is one the races big guns, as Unforgiving is coming off a win in the Susan, topping Komodo Freestyle; and that was one race after Komodo Freestyle edged her out in the Vixen. As these races get longer, the past performances will tell you that Unforgiving would have the edge, but we all know it is still a toss up between these two. Overall, this filly has three wins, and has never failed to finish in the top three in any race. Let’s see which one will make it two out of three against the other!
#3- Komodo Freestyle (Australia Wide, ridden by J C Caraballo)- This filly will not have to look far to see that familiar face as they will be right next to each other in the starting gate. More then likely, these two will be right next to each other all around the race track as well. It is likely that both of them will be on the lead early, and the key will be running sensible fractions, especially for Komodo Freestyle. I don’t think the other two in this field will impact the early pace here. So, let’s just enjoy the battle between these two, and let the best filly win!
#4- Altered Cowboy (Chili King Stables, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Our favorite horse in this field. No, not because she will be the post time favorite, but because without her, we don’t have a race. Chili King did admit she’ll be a sacrificial lamb in here, but let’s not act as if this is a bad racehorse. Doesn’t look like she can get a top three spot, but props to Chili King on making this commitment.
Prediction: 2-3-1-4
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
