The Megahertz

SA Race 3 1m Turf Stake

Purse $100.000 For Fillies & Mares

Four Years Old & Up

Only 4 horses have shown up for this Martin Luther King Day stakes race at Santa Anita but it does look to be a competitive affair so let’s dive in.

1 Wednesday, trained by Fractious

Claimed for $16.000 two races back she was put right into a grade 3 and ran a very respectable 2^nd over a soft turf course. Has finished in the money 8 of 9 times on the grass and while it was generally at a lower level then this the speed ratings are comparable to the others in here. Seems to do her best running within a few lengths of the lead so the small field and inside draw should work to her advantage. Not my first choice in here but would not be a major surprise.

2 Commanding Faith, trained by Crocker Ggs

This filly has only won 1 race lifetime but has still out earned the rest of the field combined. Her history is littered with 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes in graded races and in fact her only win was a grade 2. She did not show much in her last race but that was the BC Filly & Mare Turf and she will not meet that caliber of competition here. Has been working like a champ and has a hot jock so I think she will be hard to beat.

3 Decimal, trained by Establo Pichon

A lightly raced filly making only her 7^th lifetime start here and coming off a 3 month layoff. She is out of the games hot sire and has finished 1^st or 2^nd in three of four turf starts. Did not show a lot in her most recent effort passing some tired horses late but did pick up a lifetime best 97 SRF rating. Has a string of less then impressive dirt works leading up to this and I am thinking she may need a race before giving her best effort.

4 Must Be Nice, trained by John Henry

Scratched

5 Tyrion Targaryen, trained by Nakamura Stables

Has gone 1 for 2 since making the switch to grass and has improved her speed ratings dramatically. Seemed to hang late in her most recent race which was an overnight stake so I am not sure she is quite as good as the others in here. Her works are strong though so if she continues to improve she could be a factor.

Summary

I look for Commanding Faith to be able to score her 2^nd career win here as she seems to be a bit faster than these. I believe she will sit a little bit off the pace, which will most likely be set by Wednesday, and then reel that one in with about a furlong to go. Wednesday should hold onto second over Decimal with Tyrion Targaryen a close 4^th.

2-1-3-5

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES