The Yev Niner Handicap
New York A field of 7 older fillies and mares is set to do battle in the $80,000 Yev Niner Handicap here on Saturday. It makes for an interesting betting race with vulnerable 5/2 co-favorites, a well-meant stakes newcomer, and some intriguing value plays.
PP1 Maruxa Mallo (5/2) makes her return to New York after a disappointing 9th in a Grade 2 event back in week 2608. 4yo Tiznow filly out of a grade D mare by Nureyev has been in top form of late for trainer fernando2, setting and tying career best SPs of 102 2 and 3 races back. Won a time conditioned allowance 2 back in the slop, wiring a field of 5. Will be hard pressed to get the lead here, but has shown the ability to win from just off the pace. Has not won yet at stakes level, but is stakes placed twice. Good shot to make that 3 times here, but doubt she gets the win.
PP2 Bold Peggy (5/1) is a lightly race 4yo Fusaichi Pegasus filly out of a Halo mare. She’s won 4 of her 9 starts, including an impressive 2 ¾ length score last time out in a nw3x allowance for breeder/trainer conniecpu. Put up a 3 race win streak as a 3yo, with 2 of those wins coming against older competition. She’s 2 for 3 at this distance, failing only in a Grade 3 four races back. Deep closed will have plenty of speed to chase here and could benefit if a speed duel develops. Good value play at these odds and should figure in the exotics at the least.
PP3 War Pegasus (5/1) is easily the most experienced here with 44 starts, 6 of them wins, in her 5 years. Unfortunately for trainer hijackeked you have to go all the way back to her first race as a 4yo for her last win. She did get a place finish 2 back in a short field stakes over in New Jersey. Don’t really look for the War Chant mare to break the drought in against these and with an 8% jock she’s unlikely to light the board.
PP4 Top Goose (10/1) goes to the post as the longshot for breeder/trainer plumridge. 4-year-old Ecton Park filly has a couple of nice allowance wins but those were sprinting. She’s tried routing twice, placing once after getting the lead coming off the turn, but faded badly at this distance last time out against stakes competition. Would probably take her getting on a lonely lead and running a career race to win here, and that doesn’t appear likely.
PP5 Uninhabitable (5/2) is looking to regain her form after a disappointing effort 2 back in the Equinics for breeder/trainer phartlap1. 4-year-old Capote filly has won 5 of her 18 starts, all sprints where she’s managed to wire the field. She’s only tried routing 3 times, hitting the board twice, both in stakes where she’s changed her tactics to closing from off the pace. Wonder if she can light the board this time, especially with a jock who has yet to win this year.
PP6 Granny’s Girl (5/1) returns from a 7 week layoff after being pulled up last time out. 6-year-old Storm Cat mare out of a grade A Rahy mare has been lightly raced by breeder/trainer carolover. 2 of her 8 wins have been stakes victories. She’s tried the NY course twice, both against graded company, without success, but she should be able to sit in right behind the hot pace here. Would like to see a more successful jock on her, but she looks to be a great play at these odds.
PP7 Expulsion (9/2) draws the top jock while making her stakes debut for breeder/trainer australia. Though it is her stakes debut, she’s one of the more successful of the 23 Woodman x Ela-Mana-Mou x ? breedings in the sim, winning 5 of her 11 races and only missing getting a check one time. She teased her rivals in her last 2, giving them false hope before drawing away to convincing wins. Has been brought along carefully by her trainer and appears to be well-meant here.
Picks I’m going to shy away from the co-favorites and take the newcomer Expulsion for the win with 2 5/1 horses, Granny’s Girl and Bold Peggy – in that order- to fill out the trifecta.