Selene Stakes – Grade III
Three Year Old Fillies at WO
One Mile and One Sixteenth (Dirt)
June 26th, 2020 ($150 Purse)
Eight three year old fillies take the stage Saturday at WO for the running of the Selene Stakes. A treat for viewers who will watch a handful of fillies move up in class to take on graded stakes proven horses the likes of Table For One, Dan Patch, as well as Tall And Fast. A trio that will prove tough to beat but let’s meet the field:
Gate 1 – Lady Narloff (TwinTowersRacing): Coming off a 3L win in an optional claimer, TwinTowers looks to launch this filly into a GSW category after a less than stellar career. He’ll hope she loved the added distance and repeats that last performance this Saturday. Odds: 20/1
Gate 2 – Sarcastic (Mb Stables): Dan will attempt to stretch this quality bred filly out even farther after a win at 7F. She’s drawn quite the talented field on the outside of her though, making this a challenge perhaps too tall? Odds: 12/1
Gate 3 – Dan Patch (Waldo): This graded stakes winning filly is looking to get on track in 2021. No wins in four starts so far, Dan Patch comes back to the dirt after a good effort on the grass to face familiar foes. It wouldn’t be a shock to see this one return to form and score a big victory for Waldo. Odds: 8/1
Gate 4 – Brilliant Sod (Nakamura Stables): Another filly looking for her first win of 2021, Nakamura enters her after a solid effort and second in an PIM allowance at this distance. While the effort is encouraging, the level of class she moves up to face raises some doubt. Nakamura is a crafty, elite trainer still and this one could be a live long shot. Odds: 25/1
Gate 5 – Juilliard (Mo Mentum Farms): A filly that flew home in a WO State Bred Stakes, coming up just shy of the win. Perhaps she ran out of ground and the added distance will be welcomed. The conformation would indicate so and I’ll wager this one is live coming around the far turn. Odds: 12/1
Gate 6 – Table For One (Alydar Stables): On a year to start the year, winning 3 of 4 and finish second in her only loss- the last win making her a GSW, going away on the front end of the pace in the Honeymoon Stakes. Switching from turf to dirt maybe be the only question mark but I don’t see any reason she can’t handle it, as she won a high level allowance at WO in 1:41.2 at this distance. Odds: 2/1
Gate 7 – Just Her (Nakamura Stables): Nak must see something in this filly, bringing her back to the dirt against stakes caliber rivals after two attempts on turf. The 1:38.1 mile work and subpar speed figs leave a little to be desired for a handicapper. Odds: 50/1
Gate 8 – Tall And Fast (Arindel): Already racking up $244 in earnings this year, Tall And Fast draws the outside post. Maybe that won’t even stop her, as we saw her last effort fall a quarter length short of a victory out of this same gate and distance in the Summertime Oaks. A real threat, Adrinel looks to score this fillies first Grade Stakes Win of the year after two very close efforts in prior races. Odds: 5/2
Jive’s Prediction:
It’ll be a Table For One as they cross the finish line, the winner of the honeymoon will nose out Tall and Fast to grab the win. Juilliard should set well in the race to grasp a show. Sarcasm comes up short stretching out from her debut, she’ll out bob Dan Patch who shifts back to dirt after a quality showing in the Senorita Turf Stakes.
Jive’s Picks – 6-8-5-2
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
