LACK OF SPEED MAY FORCE CHANGE IN STRATEGY
The SOCIABLE EMBLEM Stakes
A mile and three sixteenths Firm Turf $50,000
Fillies and Mares 3 years old
No one wants to host a social of any kind and only a few show up. The same goes for a stakes event and only four runners elect to participate. The management of Carolina Downs expressed disappointment over the lack of appeal that the SOCIABLE EMBLEM Stakes apparently had to the many eligible runners. A turf distance at this distance, at this time of year can serve as a true test. It is unfortunately that only a few elected take the test.
One can look at the morning line odds of the four entries and see that (1) a blanket may cover the field at the wire, and (2) the blanket would not have to be too big in size. When your longshot is at 4-to 1 odds, and the rest of the field is at 2-1 or better, then one could assume that the field is competitive and balanced. A closer look at the four runners may support that assumption:
PP1 | SESAME ICE CREAM(IRE) | Owner- | Toplight | Jockey- | D Esperado | Odds | 2/1 |
Refuse to
With the fame trainer –‘Toplight’ add on to his 274 career wins in this event? This three years old is lightly races (three starts) and will be testing the stakes competition for the second time. His last outing was on a softer surface, so he may benefit from the firmness of this grass course.
PP2 | junk collector(ire) | Owner- | Runshilohb | Jockey- | T Mafit | Odds | 8/5 |
Perfect Soul x Spinning World
A driving win in a nine-furlong restricted allowance win prompts her ownership to move her up to this level. This talented filly is a late runner and would benefit from a brisk and challenging pace.
PP3 | nexis sake | Owner- | Sinohero | Jockey- | N Stalker | Odds | 8/5 |
Sakhee x
She shares the morning line favorite role with JUNK COLLECTOR(IRE), and like her counterpart, she prefers to rally from off the pace. With a small field, one concern may be the lack of pace in the early stages for these late runners to benefit.
PP4 | tsr’s inner child | Owner- | Madeline | Jockey- | K Naber | Odds | 4/1 |
Shagny x Slew the Coup
The only stakes winner out of this lesser known sire- leading jockey Naber may find the positioning up front for the early taking and may try to steal the event. Her previous turf trips have not been overly impressive, and the distance is still a question.
The lack of a pace setter may force some changes in riding strategy. SESAME ICE CREAM(IRE) may find herself on the lead without much effort, and D Esperado may elect to stretch it out early on. JUNK COLLECTOR(IRE) and NEXIS SAKE prefers to rely on strong stretch drives, while the uncertainty of how TSR’s INNER CHILD will handle the distance may force Naber’s hand.
Selections: NEXIS SAKE JUNK COLLECTOR(IRE) SESAME ICE CREAM(IRE)
-deajai