The Ballston – Grade II
1 1/16 Mile Inner Turf Stake Purse $300.000 Filly & Mare 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Wander Mb Stables Velazquez J R

Well, the rain came, and this race cut up leaving just four runners but with three multiple grade one winners left it seemed almost nailed on that the one that wasn’t would win. With good wet track form and plenty of good form in the top grade as a three-year-old it was almost ridiculous that this one would start at nearly 200/1. If there is anything that makes HRP look silly at times it is the odds monkeys and they did it again here. The trainer knows full well that four-year-day, can struggle in the first half of the year and then get a nice push from August onward s and they judged this perfectly to take three big scalps just as this filly hit the upward motion in her improvement curve. She went on speed and then was soon in front setting up the correct break on them to hold on at the end, it is a scenario we have seen many times on a wet track.

2nd Perfect Class Sccj Stables Gutierrez Mario

She won the BC Fillies and Mares Turf last year on an off track so the off track wasn’t a problem and with just the four runners the trainer must have been hopeful of a return to winning form. Running in third for the trip she may have just found this trip a little short as she kept on but couldn’t quicken past the leader. At the end of the day, she is still a very good filly, but it is so frustrating to see her continue to find previously inferior rivals out finish her. I have a feeling we will see her winning again but as each race goes by you begin to wonder if it will ever happen.

3rd Fangs Of The Storm Arindel Saez L

Another run that left us scratching our heads, she started last and ended second last and never looked like bothering the first two. She has won 4 on off tracks so I don’t think that is a problem, but this race had a familiar look to it and once they had found their order, I think the race engine just went through the motions.

4th Painville Mo Mentum Farm Dettori L

This was the only one of the three with no wet track form so there was a question to be answered and I think we can say now that she is no wet tracker. She went on-pace as usual out of the gate but never looked comfortable and trailed in last. She is better than this.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES