The Exorcist Stakes
The rush for an early not-to-be Christmas present in New York this week has led to the scary Exorcist Stakes for two-year-old fillies over seven furlongs on the turf, with a purse of $75,000. Twelve go to post, several of which make their debut here, and they are reviewed in race card order.
On the inside is the unraced Rock Courts(IRE), who is bred and trained by pedroza4. Very nicely bred, would probably like more distance. T. Johnson is in the saddle.
Next off the rail is Sun N Stars, a filly who has run six times, winning two. Last time out, she improved to post a speed figure of 72 when winning a Stakes race over seven furlongs on good turf. Bred by juju and trained in the topicount5 stable, she has S. Schauer aboard.
Possessed(IRE) is the sponsor’s horse. The winner of three of her six races to date, including last time out in a Stakes race over seven furlongs, in which she made all and put up her best speed figure of 81, this one has some solid turf stamina in the distaff side of her pedigree, while her sire is a freshman who came to racing late and ran his best over a mile. The track’s top jockey N. Lawton is up.
Keep It Private is bred and trained by 4stardave. Last time out, she recorded her best speed figure to date of 77, finishing third in a Stakes race over seven furlongs at her first attempt at that level. Previously, she had won an Allowance race for non-winners of two over six furlongs. B. Child, one of the better jockeys at the track, has the ride.
Drawn five out is Nuclear Free, who makes her turf debut here. A bargain-bred filly, she ran well in the series sponsored by knightmare, and would have been well favoured in the betting had this race been on dirt. However, trainer brigantes reports that she hadn’t been aimed at this race and was only entered on the off chance. The instructions to the jockey are very much on the lines of “if she hates it, ease her down”, so this one could either run very well, or very badly. She has a very decent jockey in the form of R. Foster.
On her outside is Smart Missile, a first-timer by Golden Missile out of a mare by Smarten Up. This one was bred by gsrprize and is trained by saltire3, the winner of the GSR contest. C. Tool will be the jockey.
Battle Rages On(GB) has run six times, winning once. Last time out, she improved to put up a speed figure of 80 to finish second in a Stakes race over a mile. Previously , she had finished sixth of fourteen in a Grade One race over a mile. P. Davis is aboard.
Let There Be Peace, bred and trained by acrylic, has run four times to date, winning her two most recent starts, which were a Maiden Special Weight over six furlongs and an Allowance over seven, when she recorded a speed figure of 76. An inexperienced filly, she may have something to find against this field. S. Steff is in the saddle.
Forty Mile Town is an unraced filly by Victory Gallop, bred and trained by sarava02. J. Mannion will be aboard this unknown quantity.
Wreath Of Roses, who was bred by bomber93 and runs for twoofus, has run just twice to date, winning a Maiden Special Weight race on her debut, posting a speed figure of 77, then going into a Grade One race, in which she finished down the field. L. Gunn has the ride here.
Eff Bomb(IRE) is unraced, having been bred by jimcougar, and is now trained by chops27. This nicely bred colt has M. Turner in the saddle.
Drawn on the outside is Top Of The Ninth(IRE), who is the winner of one of his six races. This was a Maiden Special Weight at the third time of asking, when he made all the running. Last time out, he finished second in an Allowance race over six and a half furlongs. R. Haffner has the ride.