HOUSTON LADIES CLASSIC GRADE 3
- Serengeti Empress- Flavien Prat- Thomas Amoss
- From the rail, Serengeti Empress should have to show off her strong early pace presence in order to be apart of the race which shouldn’t be a problem. I think that she might want shorter at this stage of her career but she can definitely still handle this distance. She is dropping out of the Breeders Cup Distaff in which she held on for 3rd. If no one presses her she could go gate to wire. However, I think Out for a Spin or Mylady Curlin will be pressing and possibly making Serengeti Empress earn this lead early on. I’ll be using her on tickets but she is not my top pick.
- Out for a Spin – Brian J Hernandez Jr. – Dallas Stewart
- Out for a Spin should be pressing Serengeti Empress is early. She has some class as a 3yo, and has a Grade 1 win under her which came in the Ashland. If Brian Hernandez Jr can get her comfortable sitting maybe 2nd or 3rd she can make one run at the leader and possibly win. She will have to put her best foot forward and be on her A game in order to win.
- Saracosa- Corey Lanerie – Brendan Walsh
- Saracosa is on the weaker end when it comes to class in this field. She seems like a hanger to me and with the lack of ability to run with these ladies when it comes to class, I will be looking elsewhere. However, in a 6 horse field anything can happen.
- Lady Apple- Ricardo Santana Jr- Steve Asmussen
- The horse that should get the perfect trip is Lady Apple. These connections love to run big in these spots time after time. Multiple stakes winner, and she ran 3rd in the Kentucky Oaks. She also has been training lights out at Sam Houston in preparation for this race. I think personally, she could run down Serengeti Empress the best out of the group. She will be my top pick.
- Mylady Curlin- Tyler Gaffalione- Brad Cox
- Mylady Curlin is another horse I really like in this spot. She is coming into this race in peak form. She should be pressing or sitting 3rd in this race as well. Gaffalione has heen riding huge in these type of races as of late so I expect another nice trip for Mylady Curlin given by Tyler today.
- Street Band – Sophie Doyle- Larry Jones
- Street Band, ran huge at Parx on PA Derby day back in september. She didn’t stand a chance in the Distaff but she is a nice horse. I think she will need more pace for her to run in then she will get today. I think that others have a better shot today but she is in today with an outside shot.
TOP PICKS
#4 Lady Apple
#5 Mylady Curlin
#1 Serengeti Empress