The Azeri (Grade 2)- $350.000 Purse
OP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 11, 2023
Smokey Stover was not messing around when it came to entering horses for The Azeri. All three of his horses seemed to have a great chance to win the race, including the legendary Z Command and the ultimate post time favorite, Third Gear. His third entry, Matamata, had just as much potential and came into the race on a stretch of three victories in four starts. After a mile and a sixteenth, we can now make that four out of five as Matamata will have bragging rights within the stable at least until they all race again. For Smokey Stover, it is his second win in the Azeri, having also won in 2021 with Z Command. That one did not have a strong race and as an observer I am wondering if we are going to be seeing her head to shed sometime soon. N Juarez was the winning jockey, his first victory here. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:41.71, which is more a median winning time overall. Let’s take a look at it!
(1/4 Mile- :23.15)- Rushing out of the gate, Directors Chair, trained by Nakamura Stables, is able to jump out to the early lead and is quickly able to get over to the rail after starting from one of the outside posts. She initially has a length lead as they begin the run around the opening turn, but Arindel’s Naples is not about to let her have an easy lead. Naples makes an effort to run alongside Directors Chair after a quarter mile. There’s a group of five stalkers right behind them, and the two with a slight edge over the others here are The Sidley Stud’s Pink Attack and Spanky Barn’s Scalp. Within a half-length of them are two of the Smokey Stover entries, and they surround Pink Command. Z Command is to that one’s inside, and in a five wide position early on is our eventual winner, Matamata. Karloffs Monster, from TwinTowersRacing is part of this group as well and runs in the second lane. Derby Connection (Mb Stables) runs right smack in the middle of the pack by herself, with Third Gear (Smokey Stover) and Feliz Cumpleanos (Maxmillion Farm) next in line. Trailing are Shining Moments (RNP Stables) and Minx (D J C Racing Stables).
(1/2 Mile- :46.68)- Naples moves into the lead before the backstretch begins, and as they head down this part of the track, she opens up by a length or so over Directors Chair. That one remains second for now, but Pink Attack was preparing to take over that spot and it appeared as though that would happen before they reached the final turn. The other stalkers still saw Matamata running in a five wide position but has no problem keeping up with those around her. Z Command, Scalp, and Karloffs Monster are content to ride things out for now, and so to does Derby Connection who runs right behind them. Third Gear squeezes through an opening on the rail to try and make a move. Feliz Cumpleanos, Shining Moments, and Minx all continued to run at the back.
(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- The one-time KYO and BC Distaff winner, Naples, is looking exceptionally strong at this point, adding to her lead as the backstretch portion ends and the final turn begins. She’s able to handle the turn well and emerges into the stretch with a length and a half lead. Given her history of success, Arindel had to be confident that she could hold off those behind her. However, they were coming, and the first challenger that she would see appeared to be Pink Attack, but you also had to wonder if that one was gaining quickly enough and would be swallowed up by those behind her. Matamata had no issues while continuing her wide trip along the racetrack, and was closing in on the leader. Karloffs Monster was advancing at a similar rate. Scalp was in a good position, though for at least a short moment, she would need to deal with Pink Attack clogging up the lane she wanted to be in. Z Command was maintaining her stride, but not showing the same spark as those around her, and Directors Chair was backing up now. A length behind them were Derby Connection and Third Gear and while they were not out of it yet, it was time to get moving. Further back, we had not seen much out of Feliz Cumpleanos, Shining Moments, or Minx yet.
(Finish- 1:41.71)- Naples did her best to hold onto the lead in the stretch, but as we got closer to the wire it was clear that this was not going to be her day. Both Matamata and Karloffs Monster were closing quick, though Matamata had the edge on that rival. It must be said again that she was doing this while having a five wide trip around the racetrack, so in covering much more real estate on the track, her stretch effort should be considered all the more impressive. It would be Matamata having the best run of any of them in the stretch, and she picks up a sharp looking victory. She was always on the list of strong Smokey Stover fillies, but perhaps we can move her up a couple spots on that loaded pecking order after this performance. Karloffs Monster, take nothing away from her, she had a good effort here as well and that gets the second-place portion of the purse. We have a dead heat for third between Scalp and the late moving Shining Moments. If only that one had another half furlong! Naples will get a hard luck fifth, topping Third Gear, Derby Connection, Feliz Cumpleanos, Pink Attack, Z Command, Minx, and Directors Chair. Hopefully the flat looking effort by Z Command here does not make Smokey Stover’s victory bittersweet, and that she can bounce back in her next start.
About the Winner- Matamata, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden to victory by N Juarez, is a four-year-old filly by Falling Angel and is out of Arrowtown. She was bred in California as a first quarter two-year-old by Smokey Stover, the only trainer for which she has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her ninth in 19 starts, her sixth stake win and fourth graded win. Her career earnings improve to $1,012.230.
Track: Fast
Time: :23 :463 1:104 1:413
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 9 – 3 Paid 70.60
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 3 – 1 Paid 705.20, 9 – 3 – 2 Paid 705.20
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
