The Phipps (Grade 1) (BC)- $500.000 Purse
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
June 8, 2024
It’s the beginning of June, and we’re racing at SAR! The four-day racing festival at the Spa officially kicks off on Thursday, and the area is completely excited to have this rare opportunity to take in a bunch of great races, not only the BEL itself. As the game absolutely should be doing without fail, these races are being moved from BEL virtually as well. Saturday is about so much more than the BEL, and the running of the Grade 1 Phipps is just one of the many other impactful races taking place. After all, this is a win and you’re in race for the BC Distaff, and there will be twelve heading to the starting gate. One of them is the reigning winner of the race, as Matamata looks to go back-to-back for trainer Smokey Stover. This one of her five wins in 2023, which also included the big one, the BC Distaff itself. That makes her the headliner, but should she be the favorite? There’s plenty of quality in here, as one would only expect. Here’s a look at those taking part. It needs to be mentioned that sadly, rain could be an issue on Saturday:
1- Scalp (Spankys Barn, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This five-year-old mare typically puts in a good showing every time that she is out on the racetrack. With one exception, every race that she has been in since July 2022 has been at the graded level, but the results are mostly “in the money” finishes, rather than wins. Her signature victory to this point is the Grade 3 Fox at GP two back, though nearly did much better last time out before settling for third in the Grade 1 Wiley.
2- American Sky (Iolaus Racing, ridden by F Geroux)- Ever since she ran here back in August, in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, and struggled, American Sky has been red hot. She won four in a row after that race, with the lone graded win of the stretch being the Grade 3 Bayakoa from LA in December. Her win streak was snapped last month, but it may actually be more impressive than any of the wins, as she ran second in the Grade 1 La Troienne from CD. Seven of the eight horses that ran in that, are running here.
3- Shining At Knight (Our Athletes, ridden by O Murphy)- Ran in the La Troienne last month as well, and came from way off the pace to get up for fourth, and within a length of the winner, in that race. This race is a little longer than that, which should be considered. In her prior two races, she wasn’t necessarily poor, but didn’t threaten the winners before settling for fifth in the Bayakoa and the Latonia Stakes. She was consistent before that, but in such a loaded field, that’s a bit of a deterrent when it comes to making picks.
4- Alice Springs (London Racing, ridden by M Franco)- She didn’t race in the La Troienne last month, instead opting to head to AQU for the Grade 2 Ruffian Handicap. It would result in her second straight win, and third out of four races. The one race that was not a win was a ten-length defeat at the Bayakoa Stakes, which is a concern since the winner of that is also here. Perhaps that could be blamed on the mud, but rain is in the forecast for this race, too.
5- Sexy Angelina (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- In a loaded field, this is simply a horse that I cannot get excited about. That doesn’t mean that she can’t win, but it’s been quite a while since she was last in the winner’s circle, and five of her last six races are quite poor. Never say never, and if she did pull it off, more than likely it will be as a big longshot.
6- Matamata (Smokey Stover, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Officially punched her ticket to the BC Distaff in this race last year, with a photo finish victory. She would win multiple races after that, with none of them bigger than the BC Distaff itself. At the present time, Matamata has thirteen wins in 28 starts, and over $3,000.000 in earnings. Her last victory came in February at the Bayakoa in the mud. After that she settled for second in the Azeri, before a bit of a letdown race in the La Troienne, running fifth.
7- Horing Gal (Night Rider Stables, ridden by V Espinoza)- Seems to be a much better option over her stablemate in this race, however even she hasn’t won since July. Fortunately, she’s been competitive, hitting the board five times in her last eight races. The best effort of the stretch came in the Apple Blossom from OP, where she ran third and was only beaten by a half-length. Comes here out of the La Troienne, where she finished just one spot behind Matamata.
8- My Pretty (Fractious, ridden by F Prat)- Fractious picked this one up for $30.000 as an early Christmas present to himself, and at the time, My Pretty really hadn’t done a whole lot. The high hopes of the trainer were shown with his first placement of the horse, running her in the $100.000 Broadway at AQU. It’s one of two ungraded races she has been in, and although she didn’t win either them, she ran well. This is a tough ask, but a work at CD in mid-May shows what she is capable of.
9- Appreciate (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by M E Smith)- In April 2023, Appreciate was sixth in the SA Oaks, and that is the last time that she has not been a part of the exacta in a race. She’s been very impressive since them, scoring six wins and four seconds and the races she won weren’t minor ones. She took home the $500.000 WO Oaks, and the $1,000.000 Queens Plate last year, and if you want something more recent, she won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes last month, beating Ignore Tucker, who just won the Santa Margarita two weeks ago, along the way. Dare I say it but Appreciate seems a little unappreciated in this division based on these accomplishments. I just don’t think she’s in her best element if the track is wet. Not that she can’t handle it, but I’d rather see her on a fast track.
10- Starting Over (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J R Velazquez)- She was part of the show in the La Troienne last month as well, and she looked good, placing third. She’s been consistent horse of late, maybe not with the same level of impressiveness as Appreciate, but Starting Over has cashed a check in every race since her win in the 2023 La Troienne. Had a big win here last summer in the Personal Ensign (as well as the Diana on the grass), then went to HOU and won the HOU Ladies Classic. Was third in the BC Distaff last fall and seems to be well on her way to get back.
11- Untidy (Mb Stables, ridden by R L Moore)- With so many horses here having run in the La Troienne, it was only a matter of time before we got to the one that won that race. That was Untidy, as she started on the lead, was briefly passed, and then went back and front for the win. It was her second win in three starts, as she also took the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes in January. When it comes to the Phipps, at least, Mb Stables will welcome any possible rain, as this filly certainly does like the track untidy, being three for three when it’s wet.
12- One Fine Dame (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- Well, One Fine Dame was at the La Troienne too, but she did not beat anyone in it. That doesn’t mean she should be dismissed, as she won her prior two races, including the Grade 3 Distaff Handicap at AQU. She’s done well in stakes like that, but when taking on the best of the best in the division, she’s come up short a few times. She’ll get another chance to show she can handle them here.
Prediction: 9-2-6-10
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
