La Troienne – Grade I
CD Race #6 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $1,000.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.
1 Horing Gal Night Rider Stables Saez L 122 —
Lightly raced and with only one win to her name she could easily be overlooked in this nice field, but she has done enough to give her a squeak off this inside draw. I think the main reason she hasn’t won more is her deep closing style which is very hard to get right on this engine and from the inside she will need the AI to work with her to give her a chance.
2 Starting Over TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 122 —
Make no bones, this grade one winner, which was a very close third in the BC Distaff last year, is probably one of the most under rated mares in the game. She has run two super races this year and gets a great draw to work with, making her one of the leading chances. With her Distaff victor drawn wide again she has an ideal chance to turn the tables on the champion mare who beat her again in the Azeri last time out.
3 American Sky Iolaus Racing Dettori L 122 —
She has hit form recently winning her last four races and is one that may be on the up. In all fairness, she will have to improve again to beat the top two here, but as a five-year-old she will be hitting the top of her improvement curve around now.
4 One Fine Dame D J C Racing Stables Centeno D E 122 —
A good performer but may find the rivals a bit sharp for her in this one. Having said that she has won her last two and is in good form and you can never say never at HRP.
5 Queen Mother Smokey Stover Hernandez R M 122 —
Bought for $600.000 from Wood Duck Stables, she has failed to win since in three attempts and may be frustrating the trainer a little. Steps up in trip today and that may be the key because she looked very good in winning the Zenyatta last year when taken over the mile. For me she is third best here but that doesn’t mean she can’t win.
6 Untidy Mb Stables Moore R L 122 —
Switches between turf and dirt like most horses seem to be able to do, she is a class filly who looks to give the champion trainer yet another huge purse. She was finishing like a runaway train in the Beholder to be a close fifth but that seems to be the biggest reason she isn’t winning more because closing on this engine is very hard to get right. She may be a fly in the ointment for the big two.
7 Shining At Knight Our Athletes Murphy O 122 —
A solid filly who worked a massive 1.36 and 1 for the mile, a second quicker than Matamata, however, works don’t work like they used to, so we can’t take too much notice of that. At her best she is useful though and if you are looking for one that is likely to be long odds you could do worse than take a gamble on her.
8 Matamata Smokey Stover Velazquez J R 122 —
The reigning BC Distaff champion she may be the best at times, but she can also look beatable at times so this is no open and shut book. The wide draw will likely see her go on speed and that could make her vulnerable late. She does have the beating of all of these though and it is tough to pick against her.
SUMMARY
Well, a rematch of both the BC Distaff and the Azeri I think that it might be Starting Over’s turn at long last to beat Matamata. All the others may split them but if there is one that may surprise it could be Shining At Knight.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
