The Test – Grade I
SAR Race #9 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.
1 Coldpack John Henry Saez L
A promising two year old she has taken her time this year but finally broke through when taking the grade one Acorn last time at longish odds. That was a very good win but a clear improvement on anything she had done before so a repeat of that effort has to be taken a bit on trust. She had a couple of todays runners well behind that day so she is fully entitled to start among the favourites especially running from this nice draw.
2 Fortune Tune Aml Racing Garcia Alan
She has been close up in some very good races over further than this and she showed enough speed in the Summertime Oaks last time to suggest this trip wont be an issue. A strong work over this trip in mid July and a decent draw will put her right in the mix.
3 Symphonic Team 7 Illusions Bravo J
Won her maiden at the start of the year and has progressed pretty well since then breaking into black types with a win in the ungraded but competitive Regret last time. She hasnt raced beyond six furlongs yet but her racing style suggests this extra furlong wont be a problem. She could well turn out to be a good outsider bet if you fancy a gamble.
4 Five Million TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R
She hasnt really settled on a best trip or surface yet so it is hard to weigh up her chances for this race. Well beaten in the Acorn she made up ground late that day so this trip may not suit her.
5 Diplomatic Chaos Winning Link Stables Geroux F
She won four from four as a two year old including a couple of ungraded stakes races and after needing her seasonal debut got back to winning ways with wins in the Beaumont and Eight belles at graded level. She dead heated with Helping People in the grade two Eight Belles but both that filly and Diplomatic Chaos went on to run poor races in the Acorn. She is a seven furlong specialist which certainly helps her chances and if you can forget that Acorn run will be among the top fancies for this.
6 Covert Operation Team 7 Illusions Velazquez J R
With just 5 starts this is a filly with plenty of upside especially when you consider she took the Victory Road last time. That was a game win and she is clearly open to further improvement which she will have to do to take a part in the finish today.
7 Helping People Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr
A very similar record to Diplomatic Chaos she too was putting together a great record before flopping in the Acorn. She raced from a difficult draw that day so there may have been excuses but she again faces a wide gate today. She will be strongly fancied being from the powerful Mb Stables yard but i am not sure she is quite good enough to win this.
9 Sweetgrass D J C Racing Stables Pennington F
Gets the wide gate but runs well on the pace so that may not be such a disadvantage. She ran well in the IND Oaks last time but failed to get the trip so a return to sprinting will suit her today. A nice sort but may have to grow an extra legs to trouble the best of these.
SUMMARY
An open grade one this one poses a few questions that are difficult to answer. Coldpack ran great to win the Acorn last time and that win came after a good effort in the Eight belles so she may well start favourite from the inside draw. With not much between these runners though i am keen on Symphonic who is improving and unexposed at this level.
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