Pucker Up Stakes – Grade III
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $100.000 Filly 3 Year Olds.

The day at AP kicked off with the Pucker Up Stakes and a 3000/1 winner in a 5 horse field. Only at HRP ay LOL !
So here is how the grade three started off a day which culminated in the old Million, now called the Mister D Stakes, a name that will need to grow on me as it juts doesn’t have the ring to it of the old title.

1st       Youcantcatchme        Fractious       Cedillo A

When this filly won her debut and then ran second in the Sweetest Chant in her second start she looked like a filly that would be winning at the highest level. Since then however she has been disappointing being beaten in a couple of optional claimers in her last two starts. Today however she bounced the gate, led all the way and won in a cater by an unchallenged three lengths. Could it be that a simple instruction made the difference today? could it be some other variable?
Whatever it was she finally looked like the filly that she looked back in January.

2nd        Build Battle       Mb Stables         Saez L

A big price tag and a change of stable didn’t improve this fillies ability to quicken at the end of a race and whilst she did well enough to run second she had no chance with the winner. She will go back to the stable for more head scratching now.

3rd        Rosehunt         Arindel           Jaramillo E

Stalked the leader but just whacked away at the one pace to be third. She really hasn’t progressed since her win in the Appalachian but if you compare her form it is similar to the direction of the winner so she may just come out next time and win easily.

4th            Point Of Honor     High Voltage         Franco M

Got a long way back and came home with a wet sail. Hard to sum this effort up without knowing what instructions she was on but in the end she at least took home part of her entry fee.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES