GI – Natalma Stakes (BC)
$250.000 Graded Stake 1 Mile on Turf for Filly Two Year Olds
2016 Champ: Cinis
Twelve talented fillies will be hitting the WO turf course all looking to stamp their ticket to the BC Juvenile Filly race in November at DMR in this win and your in race. The field features many of the top working fillies on the turf so far this year and is a wide open race with eight to ten horses with a realistic chance at winning.
1- Dalitierri Girl (Trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy, Ridden by Husbands P)
Likely to be the early pace setter in the race from the rail is Dalitierri Girl. She likes to get out of the gate quick and try and hold on late which resulted in her maiden breaking win last time out. Her works are a bit off the top group in here so likely wont be able to hold on late here but if they give her soft fractions early you never know.
2- Easy Express (Trained by EasyMoney Stables, Ridden by Garcia Alan)
Attempting a route race for the first time in her career will be Easy Express. She put in a wire to wire win last time out here at WO in a ON bred allowance but this will be her first try against stake runners. Her works are only a step off the top ones in the race, with some racing luck and her good post position she could find a way to hit the board.
3- The Squaw (Trained by Team 7 Illusions, Ridden by Moran D)
The first of two from the stable of Team 7 Illusions. She broke her maiden last time out at SAR and will look to stretch it out to a mile for the first time. Her works are a touch slower then the top group in the race so will need to improve off of those to have a chance here.
4- Star Catcher (Trained by Crocker Ggs, Ridden by Ortiz I Jr)
Another of the top few fastest workers at a mile so far this year with the fifth fastest work of the year. In her previous three starts she has never run further then five and a half furlongs but the sprint-route angle can be a profitable one sometimes.
5- Millinneal (Trained by Mb Stables, Ridden by Velazquez J R)
After a disappointing attempt in the GII Adirondack she will switch over to the turf for the first time in hopes of better success. With no races on the turf to go off we take a look at the works which are a bit slower then the top group of fillies in here and their are question marks around if she will like the distance or not.
6- Coldpack (Trained by John Henry, Ridden by Stevens G L)
Coldpack finds herself in the top ten for filly mile works on the turf and like the filly to her inside is looking for better success on the turf for the first time after a disappointing race in the Adirondack. Her most recent work was a quick one, suggesting her connections may have found something she likes so keep an eye on this one.
7- Skeleton Abra (Trained by Chili King Stables, Ridden by Leparoux J R)
She was able to break her maiden last time out at a mile on the turf in DMR but her race time that day is a bit slower then the rest in here so she will need a big jump to keep up with these. But her works do show a slow, steady improvement which should give her connections the hope she can progress another step here.
8- Broomsticks Concerto (Trained by Drabfantasy, Ridden by Bejarano R)
A top five work and two straight second place finishes in turf stakes will make Broomsticks Concerto one of the favorites in here. She has missed out on the winners circle twice in a row by less then a head each time so jockey Bejarano will look to make that move a fraction of a second earlier here and come out ahead.
9- Apricot (Trained by Team 7 Illusions, Ridden by Hernandez R M)
A win last time out in the $60.000 Colleen Stake will see Apricot stretch out for the first time hoping to do the same at a mile. Her recent works suggest she may struggle with the longer distance as her mile works are some of the worst in the field.
10- Hold On Moma (Trained by D J C Racing Stables, Ridden by Court J K)
This will be a big step up in company for Hold On Moma who has been running in mid level allowance races. She is a tough one to read but looks like she is a step or two slower then the top horses in this race and will have to work hard to make her post position ten work for her.
11- Quakerce (Trained by Sir Daniel Martin, Ridden by Talamo J)
An impressive win last time out at ELP coming off of some quick works leads Quakerce into the Natalma. The time that day was a good one and makes her a top contender in here but will have to overcome the outside post and avoid being stuck on the outside early on. If she can get a good trip she will be right there at the end.
12- Quiver Pond (Trained by Estero Farms, Ridden by Albarado R J)
Rounding out the field with the twelve post is Quiver Pond. Only stablemate Crown Of Light has quicker one mile turf works this year for fillies. She will have her work cut out for her early in the race finding the right spot with her post position but she has shown she has the talent to run a big race.
My Selections: 8/6/11
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
