The Azeri – Grade II
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $350.000 Filly & Mare 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Z Command Smokey Stover Velazquez J R

If this great mares trainer is to be believed then this fantastic horse that is now sitting pretty back on top of the female pile has regained her prowess with the click of an instruction. Though her running style doesn’t look to have changed too much she apparently has been rejuvenated by using a single instruction. I hope for HRP’s sake that it is horse lead after they tried to sell us that but if it isn’t it looks like BA or Mid to me. Whatever it is it is great to see her back in form and she once again won with the authority she showed through the first half of last year.

2nd Precise Performance Mb Stables Davis D

What seems clear from this BC Champions first two efforts of the year is that Mb Stables doesn’t have the same magic formula that Smokey Stover has found although it has to be said this was certainly a top show from her. Making the running last time it may have been her draw that saw her fall back to near last early on or it may have been the instruction, either way she was up against it and did very well to end up second. I am sure these two great girls will be fighting each other for the rest of the year and with the score and one all i cannot wait for the next meeting.

3rd Drink Me Pretty Estero Farms Bridgmohan S X

Stalked the lead from her favorable draw but may have hit the front too soon as she was run down in the end by her principal rivals. To be fair this looked the order on form so she didn’t run badly and if she can avoid meeting the first two she will certainly be winning more good races.

4th Later Latte Royalty Stables Jaramillo E

I said if this one made the top four then she would have proved a lot and she did just that by ending up fourth to probably the three best fillies and mares in the game at the moment. In only her sixth career start this was a hugely promising effort and one that will see her very competitive at this level in the future.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES