5/6/2023
4 BEL The Ruffian (GII) 
$200.000 F&M 4yo&Up 1m Dirt Hcp Weights
We stay in the Big Apple and look at the field for The Ruffian (GII), a flat mile stakes, here at BEL. I’m going to refrain from my handicapping since I have one in the gate, but with Scotty here to help, he’s going to use the Green Card and give us some ideas. Pink Attack is the high weight and there’s a reason why. If she can run back to her Royal Delta (GIII) win, she should be the horse to beat again today. Toothless is another that certain knows how to flex her muscles, so let’s give her the second spot and try to nail down the exacta. She looked good winning the Heavenly Prize, and ran well last out, even though she was fifth.
Here’s The Field –
|
El Gran Condottieri | First Flight Stable | Richards G G | 117 | 12/1 |
Second in both of her ’23 starts, but it’s a 9% owner and a less than wonderful jock. Add in that she’s not exactly the graded type and you have less than perfect conditions for her. If she gets anything, the barn will be dancing in the street.
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Pink Attack | The Sidley Stud | Carmouche K | 121 | 9/2 |
She rates high weight off of those four wins last season, where she was knockin’ down graded stakes like popcorn at the movies. She’ won her ’23 debut, taking the Royal Delta (GIII) but has been ninth in her last two starts, so she needs to bounce back a bit.
|
Sinful By Nature | D J C Racing Stables | Cancel E | 118 | 5/1 |
Won an Alw race to kick off her season, then just missed in the Royal Delta (GIII) but threw a bad one at SA last out. They took her back to 6f after than second at a mile and a sixteenth, so the distance may be just what she wants. I’d give her a look.
|
Present Tense | Mb Stables | Ortiz J L | 118 | 7/2 |
She put some serous cash in the bank last year with two wins and four runner-up efforts last season. She’s been off the board in both of her seasonal starts, a fifth in the Royal Delta (GIII) and a sixth in the Apple Blossom Hcp (GI) where she had the lead into the lane. This may be what the doctor ordered.
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Toothless | Night Rider Stables | McCarthy T | 117 | 4/1 |
She’s been holding her own at AQU, just missing in the Interborough, then she won the Heavenly Prize, and closed to be fifth beaten a length in the Distaff (GIII). This is another spot where she has a real good shot of getting her picture taken.
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Kalthoff Repeater | Spankys Barn | Gomez J A | 117 | 5/1 |
She was bringing home checks on a regular basis, then was eighth in the Distaff (GIII) in her most recent. She knocked down some decent cash last season, with a 2-3-2 record from ten starts, so she certainly has a chance of bouncing n’ trouncing.
COZMAN N/A Willie’s Green Card 2 / 5
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
