Natalma Stakes – Grade I [BC]
WO Race #3 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies Two Years Old.

1 Seven Days Alydar Stables Gutierrez Mario 120 —

The clone zone work for these turf-routing two-year-olds seems to be around 1.10 and 3 and this one falls nicely into that category. A throwaway debut was followed up with a game nose win where she raced on the pace fighting off the challengers from the gate. I like the way she battled that day and she gets the same gate here so I would imagine that a similar on-speed plan will be on the cards.

2 Wonderful World Smokey Stover Velazquez J R 120 —

When we talk about the clone zone 1.10 and 3 works then this one stands out amazingly for a two-year-old in July breaking the 1.10 in a workout. She has since worked a 1.35 and 1 which is about as fast as plenty of stakes-winning older horses are working so with a gifted perfect draw she looks almost unbeatable. If she wins this as easily as she broke her maiden she will be a clear favorite for the BC Juvenile Turf.

3 Beat Down TwinTowersRacing Hernandez R M 120 —

Won well on debut but has found it tough since running down the field in both the Astoria and The Adirondack. This switch to turf may be the answer but it’s a question you have to ask considering her efforts on the dirt. The trainer can get them to run so I wouldn’t be writing her off but it is tough to make a case for her beating Wonderful World.

4 Sister Nancy D J C Racing Stables Silvera Ru 120 —

Won her maiden at the third attempt and is in the clone zone as far as works go. She won her maiden on an off track and the rain may give her the best chance of beating Wonderful World. A decent each-way chance for a trainer who pounces when the draw comes up favorably.

5 Light Cochise Mb Stables Lopez P 120 —

Again falls nicely into that clone zone of works on the turf even though she has yet to run on this surface. Two game wins on dirt tell us she has the ability and her works say she is no worse on this surface so she must be another each-way chance.

6 Invasion Usa Arkansas Elite Geroux F 120 —

Comes here a maiden after a good debut third and you get the feeling she has been rushed in here. Her pre-race works were very good so her decent debut run was not a surprise and she has obviously been impressing the trainer at the farm to get an entry here. Could be the dark horse but it really is a throw-in-the-dark.

7 Beer Sharting Maxmillion Farm Lezcano J 120 —

Of all the fillies in this field, I feel this one may be the biggest danger to Wonderful World. Why? well, she will love this mile trip and is probably the next-best worker in the field after a decent maiden win at LS. Maxmillion saw the potential and picked her up for a very reasonable $50 so I suspect the Turf King has had their eye on her for a while.

8 Extremely Hot Arkansas Elite Saez L 120 —

Yet to tackle this sort of trip but has been very good in her last two runs and was an impressive debut winner. Another that on works looks better suited to this trip I think she rounds off my trifecta even with the difficult draw to contend with.

SUMMARY

On her works Wonderful World looks like a freak and I would be willing to say looks a shoe in for this race. So we are only looking for second and third and I think it may be the two wide gates that fight that out.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES