The Critical Eye ($200.000 Purse)
BEL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward Foaled in NY
One Mile on the Dirt
May 30, 2016

The name of the race is fitting, because there will be a lot of critical eyes in the wake of what became a disappointing race, field wise.  It seemed as though there were two top horses in field, Blarney Bee and Stellar, so when Blarney Bee scratched out, this race lost a lot.   Let’s be clear here, neither Stellar nor trainer M.b.o. Racing Stable need to apologize for this, it isn’t their fault this was such a short field.  Makes you wonder, how many NY-bred fillies were out there in other races today or recently, when they could have been here?  This race barely filled before the deadline to begin with, and the end result providing a clear example that even in New York, the statebred experience is lacking within our game.  Any critical eyes on this result should be towards the horses that could have been here, but weren’t; instead of on our stellar filly that won. Congrats to M.b.o. Racing Stable and jockey J L Ortiz.  The time of the win was 1:39.68.

1st- 3- Stellar (2/1)- Today’s eventual winner from M.b.o. Racing Stable got it done while coming from behind. During the backstretch run, she was third of three, and about three lengths from the not so fast pace being set by Noble Majesty.   By keeping Stellar in close proximity to the leaders, J L Ortiz never really seemed to have to force the issue and made the two necessary passes look pretty easy.  In the turn, she pulled up beside Isabeli, and actually it probably took her longer to pass that one then it did Noble Majesty.   Once in second, and her eyes set on the leader, Noble Majesty must have been so in awe of the winner’s talent that she immediately packed it in.  With no one charging from behind, there was nothing more to do then for her to cruise to the finish line to get the win!  She did what she needed to do, congrats to the winner! Stellar is a three year old filly by Charley Farley and out of Stellerless (by Jolly Be Great).  She was bred in New York as a yearling by M.b.o Racing Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congrats again!

2nd- 4- Noble Majesty (1/5)- The surprising overwhelming favorite from Australia Wide, perhaps, because people were only looking at trainer name in the past performances, got off to a good start and had the field cleared by a length and a half, setting the opening quarter in :24.73, and half in :49.37.  Had some stretch fight until a furlong to go when Stellar got by, and when she did, the favorite flicked off the switch.

3rd- 2- Isabeli (304/1)- The Night Mare Racing filly assumed a position right between the pacesetting Noble Majesty and trailing Stellar, early on.  Lost some ground to the leader in the turn, and had no answer for Stellar when she pulled up beside her.  She would never be a factor in this race.

Track: Muddy
Time: :24³  :49¹  1:14   1:39³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Scratched: Blarney Bee

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded