The 18th Running of the Groupie Doll

August 15, 2021 16:10

ELP Race #8 $125.000 1-Mile Dirt

3YO+ F&M 120/124 Lbs (Plus Penalties)

Track Record-1:33.87 (Hollywood Revolution-2021)

Stakes Record-1:34.82 (Night School-2018)

ELP, a.k.a. The Pea Patch, will host an 11-race card on Sunday featuring five stakes races.  The $125.000 Groupie Doll for 3yo+ Fillies and Mares is scheduled to be the 2nd of the five stakes, but could go first if there aren’t enough entries for the Audobon Oaks to run as scheduled.  This will be the 18th installment of this Western KY staple after not being held last year due to the pandemic.  Three trainers have claimed multiple editions, Team 7 Illusions (2006, 2019); Millionaire Stables (2008, 2009); Barcelona Farms (2011, 2013), and while C. Borel (2003, 2013, 2014) and B. Hernandez Jr (2006, 2011, 2015) have each ridden three mounts to victory.  Not many signed-on, but here is the field for the $125.000 Groupie Doll from ELP:

#1 Dem Say (Night Rider Stables/J. Leparoux 120): Sophomore daughter of Dial It In draws the rail while looking for her 2nd career win.  She came home with a small check in each of her two stakes tries, but didn’t really threaten the winner in either.  Could see her getting back to using a little more of her early foot and that could be her best chance in this short field.

#2 Lordess (Our Athletes/F. Geroux 124): Has to give each of her four rivals four pounds as the lone 4yo in the field.  Daughter of Lord High Admiral got her career off to a promising enough start by winning three of her first five starts, including taking down the $150.000 Silverbulletday as a sophomore.  Three of her four wins have come over off-going, so forgive her conditioner for the rain dances being held at the barn. 

#3 Little Surfer Girl (Allinthegate/R. Bejarano 120):Command Tsunami sophomore takes her third crack at stakes level after two failed attempts on the lawn.  Most recent work at LAD is very good and she gets the best pilot she’s ever had today.  Needs to improve off of her last, but believe she has the early foot to be involved from the beginning and definitely in here with a shot.

#4 Real Diva (Gdp Inc/G. Saez 120): Tagged for $35.000 last out in a win at SAR and new connections looking for instant profit in this spot.  Can’t fault the Real Talent sophomore’s form as she’s been in the exacta in seven of her last eight; however, only one of those starts were on dirt.  That last dirt start was a 6f MSW win at CRC and if she picks-up where she left off, she can have a say in here.

#5 Opus Void (Allinthegate/B.J. Hernandez Jr 120): Second entrant from this barn comes back here after a dismal effort in G3 MTH Oaks.  Three previous runs for this outfit were competitive and any improvement from the June 5 CD try could make the Opus Point sophomore dangerous; that being said, has to prove that last try is indeed a throwout to be a player in here. 

Final Analysis: 3-4-1 in a wide-open renewal of the $125.000 Groupie Doll.  Good luck to all of the connections.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES