The Matriarch – Grade I
DMR Race #7 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 La Terrifiant Smokey Stover Tunon M

The one thing Smokey Stover has never been shy about is spending the sort of money that most of us can only dream about. They bought this five year old for a massive $1751.000 and whilst she is no doubt worth every cent it is not often we see that sort of money spent for a mare of her advanced years. A dual grade one winner this year she very nearly repeated her 2009 BC win with a game third in this years BC Fillies and mares turf. To me she has always looked happiest over this trip and with the perfect draw and the turf jockey of the year you would have to think that the trainer will be rewarded with a little bit of their money back.

2 Hash Tag Hash Estero Farms Gutierrez Mario

Won three in a row before she was beaten 21 lengths in the BEL Oaks but has shown that to be one of those HRP type results by running fourth in the DMR Oaks and the First Lady since. That Bel Oaks was her only run on and off track so i think we can safely say she is afraid of the water and as long as there isn’t a heavy dew at DMR she should run up to her form OK. It is hard to see her turning the First Lady form around with La Terrifiant as she has a couple of lengths to make up but a perfect draw today and being asked to a lot from off the pace in that race she may get closer.

3 Zee Model Gdp Inc Fuentes Ru

Two lengths behind La Terrifiant in the KD Ladies Turf but then got within a head in the First Lady when she finished second to the same mare with Hash Tag Hash behind. A good winner in the Goldikova last time i rather think this is the one that may just topple the probable favorite as she seems to be improving on a steep curve.

4 High Ended John Henry Franco G

A consistent sort but she tends to find a few too good at this level and faces a tough field today. A change of trainer may bring about a fresh approach and whilst she is certainly up to a grade one win i am not sure she can beat a couple of these.

5 Apache Snow Wood Duck Stables Bisono J

This three year old is certainly improving but this is a huge step up to take on the likes of La Terrifiant. She broke 1.33 when winning a GG Allowance last time and as we know at HRP sometimes form means little when a horse is on an steep improvement curve so i can see why the trainer has taken the plunge. Certainly not out of her depth as far as HRP the game is concerned but from a real life perspective she would be a shock winner.

6 Concordia Nakamura Stables Ryan S

A lightly raced four year old that has certainly looked improved in her last couple but like the three year old inside her hasn’t got the form on the board to beat the best of these. This race may come a bit soon and she faces a very tough field to try and make her step up.

7 Pirate Petranella Smokey Stover Bejarano R

Another big purchase for Smokey Stover this three year old ran much better than the 7th place finish suggested in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf and had won the grade one Flower Bowl before that. Difficult to know what she will do from this wide draw as she usually comes from the back but has been spat to the front by the wide gate speed push before. Her chances lie more with the race engine than her form but she certainly has the ability to win this.

8 Investment Return Grimley Gaffalione T

She has some strong works in her record but has so far struggled at this level and this wide draw will certainly make it hard to change that. A closer by nature i guess it all depends what the race engine decides to do with her.

SUMMARY

Well Smokey Stover spent the best part of 3K to have two runners in this race so you have to take both of them pretty seriously. La Terrifiant must start favorite on her form and draw but i rather like Zee Model in this who may just be improving the quickest.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES