The Pitcher Stakes – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $250.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.
1st Miss Steel Mazula Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
After a run of 6 defeats it seems Nakamura found the ideal way to get this horse interested in winning again and that came in the LAD Optional claimer last time. He walked home on a tight rein that day by five lengths and today ran similar tactics coming away for a one length win. So it may have been an instructional change in the LAD race or it may have just been something to do with enthusiasm but either way this four year old came back to the sort of form that saw her take the Trillium Stakes last year. Bred by LionKing Stables and bought at auction for just $3.69 she proves that you don’t have to spend hundreds to get a stakes winner.
2nd Drink Me Pretty Mb Stables Jaramillo E
Her last five races really do tell a tale about where this filly is at the moment. Sub 1.42 races and she seems to find one or two too good, in the Santa Maria last time she managed to win in 1.42.03. She clearly is a very high class filly who, with the right circumstances, can win good races, but she is a bit of a bridesmaid and seems tough to win with. She will continue to win good races and her trainer is good enough to find another big win with her.
3rd Orange Beach Mb Stables Gonzalez Ru
Put her very poor Phipps run behind her and came back to her best here with a game third. There is no really good reason why she ran so badly in the Phipps but we have seen these good horses throw a duffer now and again and it seems that run is now best forgotten.
4th Tall And Fast Arindel Garcia Mar
The three year old crop is clearly pretty average this year and once again we saw an example here as a three year old with this sort of form would’ve won as she liked in previous seasons. As it was she whacked away at the one pace, running well, but not really getting on terms with the first three.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
