The Inside Information (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
January 25, 2020
The Grade 2 Inside Information will be run for the 17th time at GP. This long sprint for older females saw the great Blonde Dynamite win it twice, coming in 2007 and 2009. Avery Island, another former great of her time, was a winner of this race back in 2012. Two years later, Mb Stables began a streak of four consecutive wins in the stake, but he will not be part of the field this year. Perhaps that is good news for everyone else. There are seven going to the starting gate, and here is a quick look at them.
#1- Major Ballerina (Court Jester Racing, ridden by J Bravo)- Takes on graded company for the second time in her career, and is still looking for that signature win. Right now, that would be the $100.000 Hilltop from PIM last May. Lately, she has spent much of her time on the grass and can be a little hard to figure out. Her last two races have seen her be second by a neck and her SRF’s have gradually improved.
#2- Sweet Catomine (John Henry, ridden by T Gaffalione)- An interesting all or nothing horse, with six wins in her thirteen career starts. She has never been second or third in her career though, so who knows what to expect from this inconsistent filly. Her last race saw her be her good self, taking the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl. That ended a run of three off the board finishes, so the trainer will be hoping she starts getting hot. Tough horse to support as an outsider.
#3- Queen Commander (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by R Bejarano)- Did well in overnights, and seemed to make a good job into the graded ranks when she ran fourth in the Grade 1 Test. However, she did not keep trending in that direction, and her last two starts have seen her place 12th of 12 and 5th of 6. This trainer does a fantastic job of turning a horse around though and getting them back on form, so he may do it here as well.
#4- Snakie Hippie Girl (First Street Stables, ridden J R Leparoux)- The race within the race will be to see which of these two Snakie fillies, starting right beside one another in the gate, beats the other. This one comes off a three year old season that saw two wins, with the highlight being the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes, a seven furlong race. Another effort like that could very get it done here. Won her last two at this distance.
#5- Snakie Pleasure (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by R M Hernandez)- She’s a year older then her half-sister despite two less starts. What they also have in common is that they have been most successful in their career when running this distance of seven furlongs. Her biggest win of 2019 was the Grade 3 Bed O Roses at BEL. Dropped down into an allowance in her last start, and only has one race with September which is a little interesting.
#6- Out And Bad (Night Rider Stables, ridden by Ro Maragh)- The filly closed out her 2019 very successfully, winning three races in a row before a December out of the money finish. During that streak, she won both the Grade 3 RP Oaks, and the Grade 2 Bessarabian, sandwiching a win in the $250.000 Empire Distaff. Not sure what happened in her last race, as she seemed to tire, but works suggest she is ready to bounce back.
#7- Grayte Crack (Estero Farms, ridden by J R Velazquez)- She was last seen in the Bessarabian in November, where she was defeated by half a length by Out And Bad. Her best results of 2019 came during the spring, with an especially strong run in the Miss PS, a Grade 3 at PIM in May. Her works are consistent, and she should enjoy this rematch with Out And Bad.
Prediction: 6-4-5-3
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
