Happy Alabama Day 

Thorpedo Anna would have been 1/9 if she had run in the Alabama, but her connections have opted to take on the boys in the Travers. This is good news for two reasons. First, we will have a filly with a legit chance in the Travers which will add to already strong field. Second, her absence today leaves us with a competitive and very betable Alabama Stakes. 

Trivia Question: Which trainer has won the last three renditions of the Lake Placid? 

Race 9 – Lake Placid Stakes – Grade II 

One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf for Fillies Three Years Old 

1. Deep Satin: One of two runners for Cherie DeVaux broke her maiden last out with a pace pressing trip (82 Beyer). Takes on winners for the first time. Should be able to establish position on the rail and save ground. Possible piece.
2. Grayosh: Lost a head bob to Proctor Street last out where she made a nice middle move get into contention but was just outkicked (85 Beyer).  Least experienced of the three Chad Browns in the field and the last time probably should have been the time – but it wasn’t. Passing.
3. Gala Brand: Hard to judge as she had troubled trips in both of her starts this year. In both races she ran well enough but didn’t show much in the lane. Won the With Anticipation over the Spa inner turf course last summer. Passing.
4. De Regreso: Most experienced horse in the field with 11 starts and runs here off a disappointing sixth in the Lake George where she was flat late. Three back she easily won the Honey Rider with an off the pace trip where she came with a flourish in the lane to win (85 Beyer). Could get a nice stalking trip today.  Sano is 1/39 in turf stakes races. Don’t think so.
5. Spaliday: Showed a good finishing move as she won the Boiling Spring at Monmouth Park (85 Beyer) for her first stakes win. Has showed consistent improvement in speed figs in each of her five starts. Contender.
6. Les Rays: Came into the Clement barn after running seven times in France. Last out she was impressive in the Prix Volterra at Longchamps where she dwelled at the back of the field but with two furlongs to go she tipped out and under a vigorous hand ride she quickened and passed the whole field. Has had a couple of maintenance works over the Oklahoma turf track leading into this. This will the furthest she has gone but that last win was at a mile so the extra half furlong is no worry. Hits the board.
7. She Feels Pretty: Ran well in the Belmont Oaks but she was no match for the winner who flew by in the last hundred yards (89 Beyer). Easily handled the field two back in the Hilltop Stakes where she won while still in hand (90 Beyer). Johnny V stays up in the irons. Win candidate.
8. Ori: Won a maiden claimer in impressive fashion where she broke alertly, went to the front, and kept finding when challenged in the lane (77 Beyer). She should find more company up front today and that may compromise her. Takes on winners for the first time. Not today.
9. Proctor Street: Two wins in two starts. It’s an easy game! Won over this course last month where she was last down the backside but then circled the ten horse field and outbattled Grayosh to get the W (85 Beyer). Any improvement off that effort puts her right there. Exotics.
10. Dynamic Pricing: Had a troubled trip last out in the Belmont Derby where she broke awkwardly but was in position at the top of the lane but then shied away from a rival and flattened out (82 Beyer). Two back she was better in winning the Edgewood at Churchill over a yielding course. Some cut in the ground may assist this one. She cuts back to her preferred distance today. Gets a piece. 
11. Beautiful Love: Dominate in her last start in Dubai back in February where she ran in mid-pack then moved nicely to then draw off with ease. Two back she finished behind stablemate Cinderella’s Dream who has won six of seven career starts including the Saratoga Oaks. Will need to work a trip from this outside post. You don’t get many Godolphin homebreds at 4-1 and it tends to be in cases like this – the horse has showed promise but is a bit of a unknown. This one looks legit given her two performances earlier this year. If she is ready – look out. The Pick
12. Lemon Muffin: (MTO): Lukas enters this MTO off a one time turf experiment in the Lake George that didn’t yield much. Dirt form is OK – with figs in the in the mid-70s except the Honeybee at Oaklawn last winter where she posted a 84 Beyer. Possible piece of it on dirt.
13. Manama Gold: (MTO): Winner of the UAE Oaks last winter has come to the barn of the Todd Pletcher but hasn’t shown much as she has had gate issues in both of her American starts. If she gets that sorted out she is the clear favorite on dirt. Dirt pick.
14. Camera: (MTO): The Other Pletcher MTO has tried turf in her last two efforts but prior to that she was running Beyers in the low 70s on the dirt. Dirt slice.

Picks 11-7-6-10 Dirt 13-14-12-4 

 

Race 10 – Alabama Stakes – Grade I 

One Mile And One Quarter On The Dirt For Filles Three Years Old 

1. Intricate: In the four horse CCA Oaks she was well off the pace and finished non-threatening third (82 Beyer).  Hasn’t won a race in a while but that closing kick means she will pick up the pieces on the regular. Exotics.
2. Chatalas: Won the Indiana Oaks in her first start as a three year old as she broke on top and tried to wire the field. However she was headed in the stretch but fought back on the inside to get her nose down (85 Beyer). Tough running filly. Two nice works at Churchill off that win. She’ll probably have to take them all ten furlongs to get top prize. Tough assignment.
3. Power Squeeze: Won the Delaware Oaks last out where she was kept in the clear and dug down big time in the lane to outrun her competition (83 Beyer). Two back she no match for Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn, but she did get up for third. Patient, grinder type who can finish off a race. She suits this long distance affair. Gets a piece.
4. Just Basking: Won the Iowa Oaks with an impressive last to first move as she swept by the field and drew off (90 Beyer) in her first stakes attempt.  Won at today’s ten furlong distance when she broke her maiden at Churchill. Minor award.
5. America’s Vow: After a no show in the Florida Oaks she was moved to optional claimers. And won last out going nine furlongs over this track (84 Beyer) with an outside pace pressing trip. She has the right running style to win, but will need to be faster in eleventh career start to compete here. Lasix comes OFF. Looking elsewhere.
6. Miss Justify: Posted an 87 Beyer in Wilton Stakes going one mile from the Wilson Chute to win here on opening weekend. She stayed on the rail the whole way and ground down the leaders. That performance suggested that more ground will suit as she didn’t hit her best stride until late. It also showed she could rate and run inside horses. The Pick.
7. Candied: In the CCA Oaks she came with a run on the far turn and looked for a second like she would challenge Torpedo Anna – but that was an illusion and she was easily beaten (89 Beyer).  However, that running style of laying off if it and making a run on the turn can be successful if you don’t get swung too wide like she was in the Ashland (86 Beyer). It did work in the in Lady Secret at Monmouth versus a small field (99 Beyer). Logical.
8. Neon Icon: Won her first two starts for Rusty Arnold and that earned her a start in the Indiana Oaks. In her stakes debut she didn’t break well and had a tough trip finishing fifth. Won at today’s mile and a quarter distance in an off the turf affair where she got a six pound weight break as a three year old against elders. Passing.

Picks 6-7-4-3 

Trivia Answer: Chad Brown was the winning trainer of the last three Lake Placid Stakes.