The Shuvee – Grade II
SAR Race #6 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Chance In Graceland Night Rider Stables Carmouche K 123 —

Took a couple of easy wins in overnight company before moving to graded stakes in the Santa Maria and running a cracker to be a one length third. She was running on really nicely at the end of that race so was a bit disappointing in the Santa Margarita last time when stepped up to this trip and just whacking away for fifth. I wasn’t too keen on that last effort, but I think she is capable of better than that and today she gets the gate to prove herself.

2 Afar D J C Racing Stables Gaffalione T 123 —

A really consistent filly who deserves a win like this. After good thirds in the Whimsical and the Bed O Roses Handicap, both dirt sprints she then switched to turf for an impressive win in the mud but was only against three rivals in the Perfect String. As I have said before, I am not sure the surface really matters that much at HRP or certainly not as much as in real life so that performance on grass shouldn’t be a factor. Overall she will have to run her best race to win but she does have the draw to do it.

3 Happy Native TwinTowersRacing Ortiz I Jr 123 —

Went from second in a five-furlong allowance to first in a mile and sixteenth allowance so it is clear she is good because good horses at HRP run well over any trip, I guess the question is how good? So far, she hasn’t looked like a stakes quality filly but the stable can get their horses to run above themselves and it really wouldn’t surprise me to see her run well.

4 Poison Candy Glorify Stables Lezcano J 123 —

Stepped up on recent efforts with an impressive win over this trip last time out and in just looking at her works there is clearly some movement up her improvement curve. That is very often a key element at HRP, so I do feel her chances need to be taken seriously despite a fairly average looking record so far.

5 Ask Forfree Delivery Arindel Davis D 123 —

If you are looking for the form choice for this race, look no further than this filly who was only beaten a neck in the grade one Phipps last time after winning the Doubledogdare before that. Her works are very solid, and it doesn’t take a scientist to work out that this is the one to beat.

6 Retrospect Mb Stables Prat F 123 —

All the top dogs in this race are drawn wider so a lot will come down to what the race engine does. She has been beaten by Ask Forfree Delivery in both their recent meetings so will have to step up to get her revenge, but if any stable can find a few lengths it is this one.

7 Jinxed Artist Smokey Stover Castellano J J 123 —

The draw really does make this race interesting with the four class fillies and mares all drawn in the widest gates, and this one certainly falls into that category. An easy winner of the Shawnee last time making it three wins in a row it really will come down to which of these four gets the favors from the race engine.

8 Secret Eyes Arindel Santana R Jr 123 —

Rounding us out is the mare with the biggest purse winning total. She hasn’t ever kicked on from her great two- and three-year-old days but still retains enough ability to be a winning chance of things go her way.

SUMMARY

This is a really interesting race where the draw almost looks like a handicap with the best horses getting the biggest impost of the wider gates. I would have to say on recent form this looks a race for Ask Forfree Delivery who maybe beats Jinxed Artist and Retrospect with Secret Eyes right on their tails.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES