Ashland – Grade I [KYO]
KEE Race #6 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $750.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.

1 Affair D J C Racing Stables Centeno D E 120 —

As we get to the latter stages of KYO qualification we find those that are looking for that “one” big hit in order to get into the big dance. That is certainly the case for this filly whose first attempt in the Forward Gal was a little flat. The question here is whether she has been a mile plus filly running in sprints, and that is the gamble with her because she does have to find something better than what she has achieved so far over shorter trips. Her works are solid enough and she gets into an inside alley so if ever there was a time for her it would be now.

2 Creepy Ruler Mb Stables Lopez P 120 —

The FL Oaks winner looks to join her stable mate with stamped ticket for the KYO here, and she is certain to be among the favorites. The winner of her last three, the obvious question for her is whether she can reproduce her three from three turf record on the main track. I have been bashed for saying this in the past but I really don’t think there is much difference between surfaces other than competition for most horses, so I really don’t think it is the stumbling block it would be in real life. She was very good in the FL Oaks coming with a late charge and winning handily in the end and with some good supporting dirt works I would fully expect a big run from the perfect gate today.

3 Heart Of Joy Royalty Stables Corrales G 120 —

Bought from the Fractious fire sale for $500.000, she has worked pretty hard to repay that big asking price with a victory in the Las Virgenes and a solid second in the Davona Dale last time. That sort of form is exactly what you want to see in a race like this and with this being the best draw she has had in a while you could easily pick her as the winner. An on-pace sort, we just won’t know until the day what the race engine has chosen for the track bias but if it is an on-speed day then she has a huge chance of getting into a stalk or a lead and being very tough at the end.

4 Rephrase Mb Stables Hernandez R M 120 —

Just the two runs for this filly, a free track maiden win on the turf and a fair effort when massively upped in grade in the VA Oaks last time. She ran from an outside gate that day and went with the outside speed push to contend the lead but fell away pretty quickly at the end. I feel she is better than that and with this gate she should be able to slot in just off the speed and run her race out better. She is difficult to weigh up, but the trainer doesn’t enter them to finish last.

5 Yankee Object Rock Creek Husbands P 120 —

Bought in the Smokey Stover giveaway for $1.000, she won her maiden straight after and then went to the Busher in a big step up in grade. Going to the lead, she did pretty well in ending up fourth but does have to find something if she is going to break through in this race.

6 Nice Cat BomBay Stables Valdez F S 120 —

When she cruised home in a SUN Maiden in her second start the trainer started looking at the Oaks races and picked the Honeybee as a starting point. Going to the trail and a long way off the fast pace she ended up flying home and managed to get second in a real black book performance. Early pace may be her Achilles heel here as it is tough to get that late run timed right but if she launches at the right time and the early pace is frantic then she has every chance. Lightly raced and full of potential, today is her D Day.

7 Tactical Spin Alydar Stables Geroux F 120 —

The stable has been on fire this year and this one has been a real flagship winning two graded stakes and emerging as a big KYO chance. You don’t get better form leading into a race like this than two fairly easy wins in the Forward Gal and the Davona Dale both from tough draws and she looks the obvious choice here on exposed form. Geroux takes the reins again and it is tough to find a reason she won’t win.

8 Dupixent Night Rider Stables Morales P 120 —

After two wide margin free track wins, she was bought from Spinetingling for $100.000 and in her first three runs looked a very good investment that was a likely KYO qualifier. Only just beaten in the Letellier Memorial, she followed that up with solid efforts in the Silverbulletday and the Valdale Stakes running right on the pace but just not finding a finish to get a win. It looks to be that the gaming buttons were used in her last start in the Busher where she was ridden with more restraint and never fired a shot. Hopefully she will be back on her previous instructions today and whilst she will be in it for a long way, she does have to find something extra to be considered a winning chance.

9 Chilukki Pan Farms Gallardo A A 120 —

Her gun ho late style came undone in the Marthas Wish last time when her late run only got her into eighth. Prior to that seasonal debut she flew home to be beaten a head in the Golden Rod so we know she can get it right and maybe with that latest effort being her first run of the season we can forgive her. She deserves her shot here but with a wide draw may end up going a long way back again and relying on luck and the race engine as to whether she can get into the race at the right time. She is a long way from a write off and if she has come on from her last run then must be considered a chance.

10 Creepy Runner Party Mb Stables Velazquez J R 120 —

The winner of the grade one Natalma last year on the way to a very narrow defeat in the BC Juvenile turf she has been switched to the dirt, possibly temporarily, to try and get into the KYO picture. The experiment, if it is that, has gone pretty well with two good efforts in the Marthas Wish and the Santa Ysabel Stakes where she chased her stable mate and one of the highest qualifiers for the KYO home. She hasn’t had too many favors from the draw monster this year and again gets a wide draw, but she has the ability to overcome it with the only question being whether the brilliant tactician in charge can find a spot for her in transit.

11 Love Affair TwinTowersRacing Franco M 120 —

Very much a “nearly” filly with all of her best races coming in defeat. In fairness she has never run a bad race and very nearly won the Suncoast with a strong late run, but her form reads like a Bridesmaids tale as she has bounced from one good defeat to another. The car park barrier will test her, go back and fly home, go forward and weaken but there are a few circumstances where the widest runner can find an advantage and if anyone can cajole a win from this draw it is this trainer.

SUMMARY

This looks like it is a race for Tactical Spin who has done little wrong this year and a repeat of her form will see her rise in the rankings and become a big hope for the KYO. Second best maybe one of the Mb pair of Creepy Ruler or Creepy Runner Party and if there is an outsider with a chance, I could go for Nice Cat to spice up the exotic bets.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES