ET Mint Julep Handicap – Grade III
6/11/2016 CD Race #4
Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
1 1/16 Mile – Turf
Post: 13:45
In spite of a bad showing in the Bewitched last out Moonlight Cloud is my pick for the Mint Julep. But Girl Talk and Rio Tinto won’t make it easy for her.
1 Errand Of Mercy
Owner: M a r Racing
Breeder: Pocket Aces Racing
Never out of the money in just 3 career starts, this filly has also never run on a firm turf course and has only run in state-bred company until now. Looks very promising, but may lack the experience to compete here. This will be the farthest she’s ever run and her first stakes attempt.
2 Fair Quest
Owner/Breeder: Glorify Stables
Fifth in the Grade 1 Wiley last out, a race she won last year when she scored the best SRF figure of her career. Successful at allowance level this year. Question is can she at age 6 can she still compete at this level?
3 Love Runs Deep
Owner: Axeman
Breeder: Mb Stables
Second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes at SA two starts back going 6 ½ furlongs. Most of her wins have come sprinting, but she has won in Optional Claiming company at this distance. Look for her to be a factor here.
4 Mo Ki Missy
Owner: Spankys Barn
Breeder: Class And Gr
Very lightly raced 3-year-old filly. Has won in allowance company, but finished 4th last out in her only attempt at graded stakes level. Should like the distance, but may need more experience to compete at this level.
5 Moonlight Cloud
Owner: Alydar Stables
Breeder: Kopites
Won the $150.000 SSM F/M Turf at GP in state-bred company her first out this year, a race contested at the same distance as this one. She stretched out to 1 3/8 mile to finish second by a head in the Grade 3 Orchid two starts back. Throw out her last effort in the Betwitched. The 1 ½ mile is probably out of her range. Should perform better at 1 1/16 mile.
6 Girl Talk
Owner: Nolespan Racing
Breeder: Brh Stables
This 4-year-old filly is coming off a third place finish at WO with just 19 days rest. The last time she came back with that short a layoff, she finished 14th and last in the BC Fillies & Mares Turf. Of course, if you go back to last May, she was able to pull off a win in the Grade 1 Gamely with a 22 day gap. Still, this is a lot to ask. She’s got the class; she’s got the ability. If she can come back that quickly, she will be tough to beat.
7 Rio Tinto
Owner/Breeder: Diablo Diablo
Beaten by a neck three starts back in the Grade 3 Suwannee at GP, Rio Tinto is knocking on the door of her first graded win. Last out she was second in allowance company at CD, beaten by ½ length. Her only stakes victory came in the $125.000 state-bred Victoriana Stakes last August. Since she broke her maiden in allowance company last June, she seems to have a habit of running well in every other start. If you believe in patterns, this should not be a good effort. Even so, I wouldn’t count her out.
8 Wasted Pippy
Owner: M a r Racing
Breeder: Aer Stables
Another lightly raced 3-year-old, this filly broke her maiden at CD in September to score her only win to date. Taking on too much to step up in class and stretch out to 1 1/16 mile.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
