6/3/23
6 WO Royal North Stakes (GII) 
$175.000 3yo&Up F&M 6 1/2f Turf 122lbs
We stay in the great-white-north and look at a field of lady turf sprinters, set to go six and a half furlongs on the beautiful WO lawn in the Royal North Stakes (GIII). I’m taking Terra Command as the top pick, and I don’t think I have to explain why. She’s won two stakes this year, set the pace in the other… a GI… and certainly knows how to get the job done. I head towards the inside and put Hollywood Babe in the second spot. I like the way she is working, and she’s won half of her fourteen lifetime starts. Let’s ride that exacta and see how we do.
Here’s The Field –
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Point Of Honor | High Voltage | Boulanger G | 122 | 6/1 |
Was on a 1/2 streak for quite a while before that last-of-six finish on the BEL turf in the License Fee where she just never seemed to get going. She just missed in a graded race on the downhill at SA prior to that, so maybe she just threw a bad one and comes back big today.
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Hollywood Babe | Maxmillion Farm | Salles L | 122 | 9/2 |
Hasn’t won since taking the Buffalo Trace (GIII) at KEE last fall but was second in a high-end Alw race at SA and was fourth in the fore-mentioned License Fee. She has some glass and loves the distance, and I think she could be over-looked and bring home the bacon.
|
Tropical Mama | Maxmillion Farm | Moran D | 122 | 5/1 |
Second half of the Max-duo and she’s been in the picture in every start since this outfit bought her from John Henry, five starts back. Since then, she has two fourths, two thirds and a win vs. OptAlw types on the downhill at SA. She could be tough.
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My Girl Makita | Smokey Stover | Hernandez R M | 122 | 4/1 |
Classy mare has won nearly $2,000.000 and looked good taking the Wishing Well at SA (DH) before that fifth in the Royal Heroine (GII), also at SA. That was a mile, and I think she likes these extended sprints a bit more, so … if she fires her best, look out.
|
Ace Queen | Ace Racing Stable | Husbands P | 122 | 7/1 |
Had an extended string where she was close but no wins, then she won over this track last out, and at today’s distance, taking down a high-end Alw group in her most recent. That was a quick race… and she just missed at SA prior to that. She loves these races.
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Stacysmomgotitgoinon | Big Jd Racing | Wilson E J | 122 | 8/1 |
She’s one of my favs but it’s been a while since she’s had her picture taken. She’s been close in a number of races, including a pair of seconds and a third this season, but she needs to step her game up to run with these.
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Terra Command | Threshold | Crawford J | 122 | 9/5 |
Won three in a row and four of five prior to that fifth in the Derby City (GI), where she set the early pace in that one, as well. She has an 11-9-4 record from thirty-two lifetime wins. She looks the part to me.
COZMAN 7 / 2 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 1
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
