The Hillsborough Stakes – Grade II
3:00 TAM Race #11 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $225.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Concordia Nakamura Stables Gallardo A A

This stable has been producing and training horses to compete at this level for many years but last season they started getting noticed as one of those stables that can put a length on anything they own. This mare is not the best in their stable but with a record of six wins from twelve it is pretty clear she is not the worst either. Her second in the Endeavor last time was very nice and capped off some consistent efforts and considering she came from a wider box than Here Z Comes could be given a hope to reverse those placings from this ace draw.
2 Here Z Comes First Street Stables Stein J

Another filly with 6 wins she has been very consistent cashing out in all but two of her fourteen runs. Her seasonal debut win over Concordia in the Endeavor was very nice indeed and whilst she is worse off with the draw today she does have the coveted two gate which certainly wont ruin her chances of a repeat.

3 Envy Mo Mentum Farm Centeno D E

The winner of a grade 3 and grade two last year she really stepped up in the Autumn running a head second in the grade one Rodeo Drive before a brilliant run in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf to be beaten just a length after trying to make all the running. The problem is all those runs were as a three year old getting the weight allowance and the big question is how she has trained on. Her first start was not encouraging but i think she is much better on grass so gets another chance today. According to the form figures i am looking at she scored a 138 speed figure for that last start which clearly must be wrong but if it isn’t then wow get your money on.

4 Bagina Chili King Stables Alvarado J

I smile every time i see this one run, in fact i got my kids to say the name ten times which had us all giggling. I am wondering whether she has a full sister called Brazilian but i am digressing, back to the mares chances. Another that is always competitive she ran a couple of nice races last year at grade one level when fourth in the Just A Game and sixth in the Flower Bowl but hasn’t really translated that form down to consistent wins at lower levels. That suggests to me that she lacks that heart gene but whilst that could be worrying it doesn’t mean she can’t win today. Her works are pretty sharp and she has run pretty well in her two starts this year so if all the stars align she could well be a contender.

5 Admire Beauty Arindel Davis D

This stable has really hit some form recently and this four year old by Aggravation is just the type that has been helping them. Three wins on the trot including the Tropical Park Oaks at the end of last year and the Sugar Swirl at the start of this say she is ready to go and the manner of her wins certainly tell us she has a will to win. Sharp works don’t detract and she could be the value runner.

6 Dawning Ice Age Rock Creek Alvarado R Jr

The winner of the grade one QE II last year she was handed an impossible draw in the BC and ran a terrible race to be last of the 14 runners and that was the last time we saw her. Since then she has found a new owner in Rock Creek and whilst you can never write off a grade one winner her works are telling me she will need this run to bring her up to peak.

7 Shes A Native Mb Stables Gaffalione T

Normally an Mb runner working sub 58 would be a good bet in a race like this but there are a few things that have to happen before this filly wins this race. Her last seven starts have not yielded a win and whilst she hasn’t run too badly the manner of her defeats suggests she is a bit one paced. Now those types can still win these types of races but things not to work out just right for that to happen and this wide draw make that less likely.

8 Pirate Petranella Smokey Stover Ferrer J C

This filly has won over 1.3K but only a tiny fraction of that since being sold tp her current owner for 1K. Having said that this is a grade one winner and BC Juvenile champion so we know she has the class and ability and recent works suggest she isn’t far off her best. The wide draw may be tricky but she has handled this gate number before so that may not be a concern. her best wins this hands down.

SUMMARY

Well with an inside draw i would be happy to put Pirate Petranella on top but this draw may just be enough to push her back and go for Admire Beauty. It will all be very close at the end i am sure so to spice things up i will put in Concordia for the value.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES