NY Stallion Series – Park Avenue
AQU Race #2 6 1/2f Dirt Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies Three Years Old Foaled In NY.

1 Shadow Empire Smokey Stover Hernandez R M 122 —

Only the two runs, but she was an impressive maiden winner on this track and is working under 1.11 for the 6 Furlongs so has all the credentials of another Smokey girly superstar. Drawn the ace she should get a comfortable stalk and could be the one with most potential should she prove up to this level.

2 Grand Vision La Canada Racehorses Davis D 122 —

A consistent sort in overnights, she is certainly in this with a chance. She didn’t get the trip when tested in the Chandelier last year and this distance looks more up her street. What she lacks in the class factor she will make up for with experience and consistency, and I would expect her to be right in it down the stretch.

3 Bronxbabesarebest Big Jd Racing Luzzi L J 122 —

A regular visitor to the State bred scene here at NY, she has been placed several times at this level and like the horse inside her has consistency and the draw on her side. Another that could easily win but without that X Factor that would make her an easy pick.

4 Entanglement D J C Racing Stables Worrie A S 122 —

A bit of a throw at the stumps here and you would have to say on everything we see that she will be hard pressed to better her stable mate. She may be here for tactical reasons, but she has run as a natural closer, so it may be tough for her to help out. I guess if there is a suicidal pace she could be coming on at the end.

5 Lita D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J 122 —

The better of the two stable runners she has only raced 5 times but has placed at this level on three occasions. She hasn’t set the world alight yet, but she is entitled to be improving and I would imagine a top three spot is pretty much on the cards.

6 Mi Diamante Bears Stable Castillo I 124 —

Carries a penalty, drawn widish and gets the tail end of the jockeys so this filly seems up against it. Having said that, if she can use the wide gate speed push like she did in the Lady Finger last year she may give a good sight off the front.

7 Jamaican Coffee Night Rider Stables Franco M 122 —

She has run well in some good races but still only has the one win to her name. She gets in here rather well though on form at least, but this wide gate may work against her. The trainer will have to get funky with the instructions to get her close enough to launch a timely challenge but there are plenty of race scenario’s that see her coming over the top of them late.

SUMMARY

I think the best two horses here are drawn the widest and one has a penalty so it may pay to look elsewhere. Shadow Empire runs from the perfect gate, and I can see her stalking Mia Diamante and pushing past late, so she is my winner.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded