November 9, 2016
Aptly named stakes abound at WO this weekend and first up is the Princess Elizabeth Stakes for two-year-old fillies, named for the future and reigning Queen of England since it was first run as a sprint race in 1946. Now, it is run at the 1 1/16 mile distance and usually defines the Canadian champion in that category, with $250.000 in the line for any of the five entrants this year who cross the line first. Past real-life winners have included Canadiana, Fanfreluche, La Prevoyante and Dancethruthedawn while at HRP, Donegal Maid and Distinguished stand out as fillies who went on to future stakes success.
1-Social Zero (Two-year-old bay filly / Owner-Australia Wide)
Sire Zero Return has had a great start to his career with two huge winners in his first crop including BC Dirt Mile winner Moment Of Madness and now, his daughter Social Zero will try to become a stakes winner herself after finishing second going shorter in the Muskoka. She closed well into the pace and should handle this distance very well and with the inside post, will be able to save ground under a very capable jockey.
Analysis-Should like the distance and the trip
Fair Odds-5/2
2-Talent Quest (Two-year-old bay filly / Owner-Mb Stables)
Talent Quest set the pace in the Spinaway before coming up just short then closed from well off the pace in the Frizette over a good track to grab a minor share so the tactics are all over the place and which one shows up will determine her effectiveness on Saturday. Speed ratings are quite good but distance could be a factor and if she goes out to the lead, she will have to prove that she can move forward late to have any chance of hanging on for a top placing.
Analysis-Might sprint forward in hopes of a wire-to-wire win
Fair Odds-6/1
3-Attitude Adjustment (Two-year-old bay filly / Owner-Emerald Racing Inc)
Attitude Adjustment stretched out to a route of ground at RP against open company and handled it extremely well so this move back into state-bred company might be a good thing for her as she looks to build on a steady career thus far. There is a lot to like about her closing ability and she will definitely be coming from off the pace so a speed duel up front will benefit her and make things a little easier if others struggle around two-turns.
Analysis-Closer would love a speed duel up front
Fair Odds-4/1
4-Burbs (Two-year-old gray filly / Owner-Team 7 Illusions)
Sons and daughters of the great Charley Farley are slowly starting to make their way to the track and Burbs is just the latest to become a stakes winner for her sire line with a resounding off-the-pace score in the Fanfreluche over this track. The question of distance should not be a problem and workouts seem to indicate stamina, giving rise to the fact that this filly might be able to charge home if the fractions up front are kind to her.
Analysis-Outside stall should benefit her charge home
Fair Odds-3/1
5-Darling Smile (Two-year-old bay filly / Owner-Mb Stables)
After winning the Muskoka like a good filly with a huge 92-speed rating, Darling Smile was sent to BEL for the Frizette and clearly did not handle the good going as well as she did in her maiden win when a dismal 10th. How she comes out of that race and how she handles the move back to WO will determine how you back her but this handicapper is staying away until she handles the two-turns with the late momentum we have seen in the past.
Analysis-If you can throw out her BEL start, she is a contender
Fair Odds-8/1
Overall
History dictates that, more likely than not, an Mb Stables runner will win the Princess Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday afternoon but I am banking against it and taking a trio of runners from other stables who have the form or the pedigree to get the trip. Social Zero was second in the Muskoka and should like the inside track to sit and pounce, Burbs improved greatly in winning the Fanfreluche and should continue to move forward while Attitude Adjustment was excellent shipping out to RP for an allowance win but now comes back to WO and might find this state-bred company even more difficult.
Prediction
Win-Social Zero (5/2)
Place-Burbs (3/1)
Show-Attitude Adjustment (4/1)
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
