2/2 The Martha Washington [KYO]
OP Race #1 1m Dirt Stake
Purse $125.000 For Fillies Three Years Old.
1 Viking Birthday Delta Farms Vazquez R A
After easily winning her maiden and then a good allowance she was sent to black type and performed very well, well enough to make her a leading contender in this. Second in the Pocahontas she had to make the running after the wde gate shot her to the front and she did well to hang on for second. Her next start was in the Frizette where she ran her usual race from an inside gate running on late to claim fifth. She filled the same spot and ran a similar race in the Golden Rod flying late to be beaten under a length. That form is about the best in the field and as long as she doesnt get buried in the one box and can find a clear late run she will be hard to beat in this race.
2 Chai Command John Henry Rosario J
She has only run the 4 times and has won two so whilst she isnt as accomplished as some she looks an up and coming sort who draws well into this race. Both her wins have come on turf which is a worry but she worked a 1.37 for the dirt mile so it may turn out that she can act on either surface. An interesting sort who bears watching.
3 Blue Caviar Waldo Lermyte J
A winner of four from six she probably rates a close second on form but the thing that interests me the most about her is her running style which is much handier than Viking Birthday and she may just get an easy trip from the three box. Whilst she has won three ungraded stakes races impressive considering she carried a penalty for two of them, she has also proven herself in graded company running a close third in the grade three Mazarine BC Stakes. She seems a safer bet as she will use the gate to stalk and could be a good choice away from the favorite.
4 Chick A Boo Oquinn Farm Cabrera D
A lightly raced winner of two she falls into a group of fillies in this race who are unproven but look good enough at this level. She handles the wet but is equally effective in the dry and has some string works, the only negative about her is this is her first try beyond seven furlongs which will remain a question mark until after the race.
5 Eutectoid Point Second Chance Farms Stevens G L
Another one in that group of promising but unproven she has won at this trip and is working as well as any giving her as good a chance as any. I was impressed with her starter allowance win last time but of all the promising ones she is racing the biggest gap in grade from her previous races and may just need the experience.
6 Polish Gemini Night Rider Stables Canchari A L
Third on the list of form runners she had a busy season as a juvenile and though she only managed the one win she did run well in some good races. Very close to Blue Caviar when third and second in the Princess Elizabeth and ONT Lassie after running a good fourth in the Adirondack that form is good enough to put her heads and necks behind the best in the field. Her works are strong but i do worry that whilst she has run well many times she hasnt been able to win more than one suggesting a possible desire issue at this level.
7 Grayte Crack Estero Farms Sanchez M J
Won her maiden nicely before a close fifth in the Schuylerville she failed to really build on that form and may turn out to be a little inconsistent. This point is borne out by a range of work times, the best being good enough to win this and the worst putting her midfield at best. A bit of a conundrum she may be best watched at present.
8 Gemischt Von Strauss Drabfantasy Carmouche K
Still a maiden and drawn 8 of 10 so she shouldnt have a great chance but her works are pretty much the same as everything else so she deserves a crack.
9 Maggie McGee D J C Racing Stables Saez L
She was impressive in winning her maiden over this trip but that was just a maiden at TP and she only has the two starts so its hard to weigh her chances up. Her works are pretty much the same as anything else so for us and the trainer its just a matter of watching and seeing how she does, could be first, could be last.
10 Disrespectful Mb Stables Contreras L
Its not often we see a race like this with just one Mb runner and not often that that horse is a maiden, but whilst there is plenty of reasons to put a line through her name there is a 1.37 and 1 work a few days ago and Mb Stables has won races like this with maidens before so you must do so at your own peril. As much as i hate to say it i dont think this one will be good enough today but i can see her placing at long odds.
SUMMARY
On form it would be Viking Birthday followed by Blue Caviar followed by Polish Gemini. If only it was that easy. There are plenty of unproven and unknown quantities in this race so its worth keeping the notebook handy.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
