La Prevoyante Handicap (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
GP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Inner Turf
January 26, 2019
The La Prevoyante Handicap is part of the leadup to the Pegasus World Cup at GP on Saturday. This is a race that runs for the 14th time, sending older females the full twelve furlongs on the grass. It will be the fifth time that it is held at GP, having previously been run at CRC. During that time, purses have bounced around between $100.000 and $200.000. While this race is a handicap, weight is a non issue, since all but one horse will carry 119 pounds, and the one that does not carries 120. Six will go to the gate for the event, and while it is a quality field, it lacks that one true headliner. Let’s see what happens! Here is our field.
#1- British Chai (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by L Saez)- The jockey is off to a slow start in 2019, with just one win in 25 starts as of press time. He’ll have several good mounts here for Saturday, and British Chai is one of them, if we were sprinting. She has won three of her last five, but she has never raced on the grass. Raced a few times over a mile, and they are not her best races. No recent public turf works to go by. Hard to pick without that information.
#2- Light The Fuse (Diablo Diablo, ridden by C Landeros)- There is no lack of experience in going long on the grass with the Light The Fuse, as other then her debut, it is all that she has done in her career. She is consistent, which I like, and while she does not have a ton of stake experience, she has shown she can step up when needed, even if you have to go back to November of 2017 in the Cardinal Handicap. Her last effort was her second stake win, coming in the ungraded $75.000 Via Borghese, where she defeated Fast Girl Gaviota. I like her chances here.
#3- Backwaters (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Velazquez was recently crowned HRP jockey of the year, because unfortunately for L H Colon, not every race gets held on the grass. This one will be, and Velazquez is, of course, just as good on the turf. Backwaters has won three of nine, with two more in the money finishes, and off of that she starts 2019 by making her debut at the stake level. She has some very impressive works coming into the race, but we’ll find out soon how she fares at twelve furlongs. Certainly a threat in here.
#4- Brunos Secretary (RNP Stables, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- Ever since arriving with RNP Stables, Brunos Secretary has received two promotions. Must be working hard! She was picked up in a $25.000 claimer, and the trainer changed things up and sent her long in an allowance, which was at today’s distance. She proved she could handle that assignment, and like any boss would do, that just means an increased workload for your next assignment. She will need to do better then her 91 SRF to have a chance at winning, but hitting the board may be possible.
#5- Fast Girl Gaviota (Establo Pichon, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- She has made six starts in her career, though the first four of them were on the free track. In October, the trainer had the confidence to move her into a pay race, and she won a TUP allowance. That led to increased confidence, and it was off to the $75.000 Via Borghese, where she was second to Light The Fuse. So now, she moves forward again. She has looked sharp when on the grass, and has earned this chance.
#6- Youthful Presence (Mb Stables, ridden by L H Colon)– The trainer was recently awarded Trainer of the Year honors. Congratulations to him! Sure, it’s like congratulating the Patriots on making the Super Bowl, but it is still an accomplishment. Youthful Presence has six starts in her career, but neither of her two wins are in a stake. The trainer has gone for it with her though, running in both the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive and Grade 1 DMR Oaks, were she finished 4th and 2nd, respectively. Look for a thrilling battle between her and Light The Fuse.
Prediction: 2-6-3-4
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
