Dowager – Grade III
1 1/2 mile Turf Stake Purse $350.000 Fillies and Mares Three-Years-Old And Upward. At KEE

Dowager is an older marathon that was first run in 2007 as an ungraded stakes race for $150.000 won by Alydar Stables’ Shut Up. In 2015, it was upgraded to a grade three, but by then it was only $125.000, and it stayed that purse until 2021 when it began increasing. This year is the first time at $350.000. Of the stables in today’s edition, Team 7 Illusions is the only looking for a second win, having won back in 2019 with Revved Injen, and it looks like the stable has a good chance as they send out the heavy favourite. Here’s the field:

Horse                                  Owner                               Odds  SRF

Nijinsky                              Team 7 Illusions                *6-5        99

Techfluence High              The Sidley Stud                  3-1        97

Baby Katherine                  Santan Stables                   3-1        97

Wyldewood                         Mo Mentum Farm               5-1        96

Trumpino                            TwinTowersRacing            20-1        90

1  Nijinsky                    Team 7 Illusions                   99

Nijinsky has been a marathon bridesmaid four races in a row. That ends with this race. With a SRF rating of 99 in her last race and a second in the grade three Waya, grade three Ladies Marathon, grade two Glens Falls and the $350.000 Keertana, all marathon races, she stands out in this field and should end the string of runners-up.

2  Baby Katherine                    Santan Stables                 97

Lightly raced Baby Katherine had her first stakes try only two races ago and closed for a fourth-place check in the $135.000 De La Rose, sparking the idea to try the grade two Flower Bowl at 1 3/8 miles in which she finished second showing a real talent for marathons and ability at this level. Expect a challenge from her.

3   Wyldewood                  Mo Mentum Farm                96

Claimed from Spb Racing for $40.000, Wyldewood won the grade two Canadian Stakes at WO two races later, coming from deep off the pace, but like most deep closers at HRP, she has had trouble timing her closings at the high levels she has been trying, so her connections are for the first time giving her marathon distance to help her late close.

4   Techfluence High                                The Sidley Stud                 97

After a couple of grade three wins last year, Techfluence High stepped up to higher company and struggled so tried going longer and showed some interest, culminating in a third in the grade three Waya behind Nijinsky in her most recent. Gaining in confidence at the marathon level, she represents the greatest threat to that one here.

5   Trumpino                 TwinTowersRacing                  90

17 races, 12 of them as a maiden, Trumpino is now entered in her second stakes race, the first didn’t go well, as TwinTowersRacing tests her ability as a marathon runner. It’s a big step up, but you never know, especially with a trainer who is notorious for bringing up unknowns to surprise.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES