A very nice card, with five graded stakes has been put together by NYRA for this Saturday. The Four Grade 1s are on tap, with Breeders Cup implications in each and every one of them. Lets go to the analysis:
1- 1 Mile. ™‘Alw 55000n1x Purse $55,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Courageous Girl (5)
Ellarella (1)
Let Me Have It (6)
Courageous Girl has been running against better company, and the slight cutback should help her have more in the tank at the end. Ellarella with a good second start, in which she established a soft pace. She will need to replicate that effort with more speed in place. Let Me Have It will run first off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez, who scores at 26% doing this.
2 – 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™‘Alw 55000n1x Purse $55,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Robin Sparkles (6)
Jen’s Battle (10
Gotta Go Mo (2)
That last start for Robin Sparkles was very impressive, and the fact that she shows up again on short rest is indicative that it didn’t take a lot out of her. She is the quickest out of the gate. Jen’s Battle returns to sprinting, and Irad should be a very nice fit for her. She is not that slow so we should see her stalking the leaders. Gotta Go Mo has been running versus open company, now gets a relief against statebreds. Saez will gun her right in that first flight.
3 – 7 Furlongs. (Turf) ™Mdn 63k Purse $63,000 (UP TO $10,962 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
Pinch of Grace (2)
Counterparty Risk (10)
The Girl Herself (11)
Extremely difficult race to handicap. When you see a Chad Brown at 10-1 in the morning line, you need to pay attention. Pinch of Grace failed miserably as the favorite in his only start, but the fact that when to the sidelines makes me think something went amiss. Let’s see how she comes back. Brown hasn’t give up on her. Counterparty Risk debuts for Brown with very nice works, so in a race in which the ones that have run hasn’t shown that much, first time starters will take play. The same can be said about The Girl Herself, an American Pharoah daughter trained by Todd Pletcher.
4 – 1 Mile. Champagn-G1 Champagne S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 FOR TWO YEAR OLDS
Reinvestment Risk (5)
Jackie’s Warrior (4)
Midnight Bourbon (6)
Great rematch between probably the two best two year olds in the East. As the distance increases, I think is better for Reinvestment Risk, and I give him a slight advantage over undefeated Jackie’s Warrior, who has been sensational in his three starts. Midnight Bourbon completes the selection, but the top two should decide.
5 – 1 Mile. ™Frizette-G1 Frizette S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD
Cantata (2)
Vequist (1)
Dayoutoftheoffice (5)
| Cantata’s debut was one of those races that leave you breathless. Asmussen elects to rest her and bring her into this Grade I without a prep. Sky is the limit here. Vequist’s win in the Spinaway was as impressive as anything we have seem from a two year old filly. Should be another great match up facing my top pick. Dayoutoftheoffice won the Schuylerville, now the stakes are higher but she is very talented. These three should decide here. |
6 – 6 Furlongs. Mdn 63k Purse $63,000 (UP TO $10,962 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Newbomb (3)
Overtook (6)
Kid Cash (4)
Newbomb dictated the pace against two very good colts, and the experience will serve him well versus seven newcomers. Overtook was a million dollar buy, with a pedigree to die for and works good enough to make a successful debut. The upset special here is Kid Cash, hammered at 12.5 times the stud fee and with nice breezes for his vow run.
7 – 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) Mdn 63k Purse $63,000 (UP TO $8,874 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Big Everest (5)
Hardison (4)
Connagh’s Quay (7)
I like what I see from Big Everest, debuting for Christophe Clement in a distance that seems to be perfect for his breeding. Good debut from Hardison running against a very soft pace. He should have more pace to run at on Saturday. Connagh’s Quay debuts for Chad Brown with Irad up. In a race in which players should spread, can not be left out.
8 1 1/4 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™FlwrBlIv-G1 Flower Bowl S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 INNER TURF FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
La Signare (4)
Nay Lady Nay (6)
Cambier Parc (1)
Strategy will be key in this race, in which we don’t have a confirmed front runner. La Signare has been knocking at the door lately and the ten panels should be right up her alley. Nay Lady Nay is one that should be part of the early flight, and slowly has been climbing up the ladder. Irad rides her for the first time. Cambier Parc should be much better that her very flat return to the races. Johnny V. returns to her saddle.
9 – 1 1/4 Mile. JkyClbGC-G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup S. Grade I. Purse $250,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Tacitus (4)
Happy Saver (1)
Prioritize (2)
In a very “average to say the least” Grade I, Tacitus gets the advantage over the talented Happy Saver, who will need to step up to beat a very deserving favorite. Prioritize gets Saez today, a considerable improvement in jockey. Watch out.
10 – 1 Mile. (Turf) ™SandsPnt-G2 Sands Point S. Grade II. Purse $150,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD.
Miss J Mc Kay (5)
Speaktomeofsummer (2)
Tamahere (1)
The speedy Miss J Mc Kay gets the nod in this Grade II. Coming from sprints, she should be at or near the lead and has the pace advantage in a race in which we don’t see much speed signed in. Speaktomeofsummer has had some problems in her last two races. I think Rosario will have her closer to the leaders in this race. Tamahere is coming from France and now she is under the tutelage of Chad Brown. Irad takes the call, so she should be live.
11 – 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™‘Mdn 52k Purse $52,000 INNER TURF FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Violentiam (11)
Herald Angel (2)
Cinderella’s Cause (5)
Violentiam finally will be on the grass, which was what connections wanted to do on her debut. She is quick out of the gate and can be her wire to wire. Herald Angel had a bad break at Kentucky Downs, if she repeats her debut, she will be very dangerous. The big upset here is Cinderella’s Cause, working out of Finger Lakes and coming here to a much better circuit.