11/13/21
3 WO Bessarabian Stakes (GII)
$175.000 3yo&Up F&M 7f Dirt 3yo 120lbs Older 123lbs +penalties
The stakes races at WO keep coming for this weekend and we look at the field of seven ladies set to go seven panels on the WO main track in the Bessarabian Stakes (GII). I don’t see a real stand-out in this one, but will go with the outside post and Free Farley Party as my top selection. She looked good taking down LA-bred stakes company in her most recent where she pulled away to win by three. Another that deserves a second look is One Awesome Night. She won over this track taking the Duchess before that runner-up race at KEE, and I do believe in a horse for a course. She never seems to run bad, and no reason to start thinking it now.
Here’s The Field –
|
Roo | Our Athletes | Stein J | 123 | 10/1 |
She has struggled vs. graded foes of late including a tiring seventh last out at KEE in the TC of America (GII). Her win came at the Opt Alw level, prior to that KEE race and she was second prior to that, also at the Alw level. Can she find enough to compete at this level?
|
Five Star Queen | Angelos Stable | Bahen S R | 123 | 10/1 |
A win and a second in her last two starts, both that the Alw level, but she’s another that has had a tough time facing graded horses. Now she has six wins from eleven starts this year, so she’s found her way to the winner’s circle plenty of times. She needs to step it up here.
|
Dialing | Angelos Stable | Contreras L | 120 | 9/1 |
A mixed bag since being tagged at the $37.500 level. She won the Azelea at GP and just missed in the CT Oaks (GIII) where she was a neck back runner-up. But she was also sixth in the Victory Ride (GIII) at BEL and tenth of twelve last out in the TC of America (GII). Her best would put her in it, but she has to bounce back from that last out debacle.
|
One Awesome Night | High Voltage | Gallardo A A | 120 | 6/1 |
A pair of wins this year including the Duchess over this track where she went wire to wire to get the job done that afternoon. Came back to be second in a high-end Alw race at KEE so she’s certainly in good form right now. Other than that ninth in the Pine Stakes (GIII) she’s been solid. I wouldn’t leave her off of your tickets.
|
Foregone Conclusion | D J C Racing Stables | Hernandez R M | 120 | 8/1 |
She has a pair of wins and a pair of runner-up finishes this year and she’s had a mixed bag of results in graded company. She was second in the IA Oaks (GIII) and she won vs NY-bred stakes Alw company in her most recent, being dismissed at 21/1 odds. When she runs her best, she can be a handful.
|
Take On Me | Iolaus Racing | Ryan S | 120 | 10/1 |
Changed hands at the Mar Auction and she’s been tough since… three wins in four starts, all at the Alw level, so she’s going back into black-type company for the first time since the barn swap. She won a stakes for the previous barn and was close in a number of others, but this is her first graded start, so let’s see how this goes.
|
Free Farley Party | Night Rider Stables | Wilson E J | 123 | 7/2 |
Three wins and a runner-up effort in five starts, but the only off the board start was her only graded effort. She did win a LA-bred stakes last out, and aired in that race, so maybe she keeps building on that and makes another big splash here in this one.
COZMAN 7 / 4 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 5 / 1
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
