Princess Rooney Handicap is a Conundrum Mixed with a Puzzle

Princess Rooney Handicap – Grade II [BC]
GP Race #5 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Totally Baroque Aer Stables Court J K

This four year old has certainly been around the block with over 1K in winnings and today despite all of her wins and 90% of her races being over longer trips she tries for the HRP hack of dropping a router into a sprint. If it works it tends to just work the first time so this could be an ideal opportunity for this classy daughter of Kavorka off of a nice sprinters draw.
Her six furlong work is the same as the established sprinters in the race which tells us all we need to know and as long as the trainer gets the instructions right i expect this one to be in at the finish.

2 Quest In Madness Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X

A consistent sprinter she is yet to set the world alight but with over half of her career races being second place finishes she may prove a good bet for exotics. Her works of course are as fast as anything else and she has the perfect draw to work with so its very possible she could get a well deserved win.

3 Babele Hawaiian Shirt Guy Juarez N

She looks a little outclassed here but her trainer has found a little bit more in her and after her last impressive win albeit at allowance level she is entitled to run well.

4 Oneida Night Rider Stables Wilson E J

Another consistent filly she too hasn’t proved she can win at this level but has run this distance fast enough to be involved in the finish.

5 Unprecedented South Beach Racing Centeno D

She was building a nice record this year winning a couple of overnights before a strong fourth in the Humana Distaff and a win in the Bed O Roses Handicap. She was tried again at grade one level last time in the Ballerina but found the race too hot and finished a fairly indistinct tenth. She is a nice sort who is on the cusp but one feels she needs to find a little extra to win this.

6 Glistening Smokey Stover Bejarano R

She had a huge season as a three year old winning six from eight but like most four year olds has struggled a little this year with just the one win in a TAM allowance. Working the same if not faster than most in the field she could easily win this if finding her three year old form.

7 Dream Whisperer Mb Stables Hernandez R M

Whilst Totally Baroque is going for just the one HRP hack this one is going for two as she switches not only from routing but also from a run of 8 consecutive races on the turf. She is a grade one winner over 10 furlongs on the turf so it stands to reason she should have a chance in a dirt sprint………..

8 Grand Cyclone Maxmillion Farm Cedillo A

If the form for this race was already confusing then this one is yet another cog in a very square wheel. Fourth in a grade two over ten furlongs last time she had previously finished second in a grade three sprint after winning an ungraded stakes on the turf. She clearly has ability which is all you really need, well that and a bit of luck from this sticky draw.

9 Class Status Fractious Velazquez J R

Finally we get a stakes winning sprinter but she is getting lumbered with top weight and a wide draw so will have to be at the top of her game to win this. Bought for $550 in June she has run once for the new owner finishing fourth in the Ballerina last time. That was a very good effort in a strong race so she is entitled to get in this finish today.

10 Puddle Jumper Mb Stables Davis D

Last but not least is the third runner from Mb Stables. The trainer has a dirt sprinter, a turf router and now a dirt router in the field so has just about every base covered. Third beaten a neck in the grade one Personal Ensign last time out over nine furlongs she of course is working just as quick as most sprinters over six furlongs so your guess is as good as mine as to how she will run. Drawn wide i suspect she will go to the front.

SUMMARY

I have no idea how to talk about this race. There is so little form that relates to a race over this trip on this surface and the form that does has been punished with weight or bad draws that i just don’t know where to turn. For the sake of a bet i will go for Totally Baroque to win from any of the Mb Stables runners.



Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES