Finding a soft turf course last time out at Keenland for the Gr. II Appalachian, Smokey Stover’s three year old Na Pali had to put a stop to her five in a row win streak that day, but is hoping the turf her at Churchill dries nicely for Saturday’s event.
- Regret Grade III – Purse $150.000
- Churchill Downs – For Three year old Fillies
- Mile and One Eighth- Turf Course
- June 15th, 2019
In the past sixteen years of this event, not ONE trainer has been able to win the trophy twice. Each season, a new barn has captured the top prize. Last seasons winning trainer has opted out this year, and all of the competitors on Saturday have never added this event to their trophy case. Another interesting fact, jockey Robbie Albarado is a six time winner of this race, yet he has been past over by the six trainers here.
So looking over this field, as previously mentioned Na Pali was tearing up the courses she was competing on, taking home five straight wins. She holds the honor of capturing last seasons BC Juvenile Fillies Turf event, and has gone on this season to capture the Gr.III FL Oaks two starts ago. She is definitely not a fan of the off track and she should avoid that situation this weekend. I feel she will be back in form for this event. She fires from the three hole.
Another who will make this race interesting will be Low Key Desires ( Aer Stables ). Is coming off a runner-up finish in the Gr. II Nassau on the Taylor turf at Woodbine, and the winner ran a sub 1:33 mile for that event. Has back to back place finishes this season, and the maturity seem to have her a bit stronger to finish late. Her 93 SRF is second best amongst this group.
Having won first her maiden, then a Clm32, and finally an Alw42 in her past three races, Gdp Inc’s Magne Bay has found a home on the turf. Her trainer also finding a solution with the add of the shadow roll has paid dividends for sure. She is make a big step for this event, but recent work of 1:09 and four at Parx shows she ready. Place in the mix.
From the two hole will be Heavenly Love ( D J C Racing Stables ) . She closed out last season placing second in the Gr. III Durant Stakes. Trainer has kept her in $100.000 Non Graded events to start off this year, first a dirt event, then back to the turf in her most recent. I may have placed her a little higher for this event if the betting public hadn’t made her such a long shot in both her starts this season. She will definitely come around in the future, just thinking it wont be today.
From the rail we will see Diablo Diablo send out their grey Tightrope Walker.After breaking her maiden three starts ago, then returning for a victory in a minor Alw5.6 race, her trainer tested the waters and the turf in her most recent $100.000 Campanile restricted race. She would stay consistently fourth throughout that event, and her sire does have four stakes victories on the grass. Posted a 1:35 and four at Santa Anita for the mile, but can it translate here.
Finally, and I know some will say that maidens have won some big events this season and I would have to agree, but recent Team 7 Illusions claim of thoroughbred Conviction has come off her maiden victory. It took her seven tries to accomplish this feat, but in those efforts she placed second twice, and third three times, so she was still cashing checks.Her new interests kept her at Woodbine and it seems that his removal of the blinkers may have done the trick. She posted a bullet work of 1:35 over that course, so who knows. It has always been my practice to give her one and wait and see. You decide.
Duffers Picks – ( 3-4- Wheel the field )
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
