10 sophomore fillies battle in Grade 1 $500,000 French 1000 Guineas
Paris-FR (PAR)
Sunday, May 11, 2014 — 3PM EST
The French 1000 Guineas
Grade I / Group 1 – Purse : $500,000
Restricted to 3 Year Old Fillies
8 Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile Firm Turf
Lucky’s Brides seeks her fifth straight win and a second consecutive Grade 1 victory in today’s $500,000 French 1000 Guineas in the famed City of Light. Nine other three year old fillies will try to deny Lucky’s Brides on a glorious spring afternoon from Longchamp Racecourse, where the mile turf oval with be listed as firm. This will be the first appearance at this venue for the entire field. Lucky’s Brides will be a solid favorite in the betting pools off her recent graded stakes triumphs, but which possible upsetter is lurking amongst the challengers ? Let’s take a closer look at the contenders in the field in post position order, and how the race may play out today.
GOUMADA KY 21/1 strikerich
Bay Giants Causeway filly from the Grade 1 winning, millionaire mare Blakely, returned to the races in a hot race allowance tune up win at 7.5 furlongs. Prior was a disastrous last place distancing in the Grade 1 Equinics Workplace Diversity at 9 panels. Won the Grade 3 Miss Brillo in October before a fine 3rd place finish in the Grade 1 BB Filly Juvy at today’s distance. She closed out her 2013 season with a 2nd in the Young Lady listed stakes at 7.5 furlongs. Owner strikerich is looking for a late running effort and a return to her two year old form in his filly’s return to stakes racing.
FERNANDO NINE KY 8/1 fernando
Trainer fernando sends out this bay Bernardini gal out of the allowance winning mare Zoom. Was no match last out for Grade 3 runners when 7th in the mile We Get Signal, and one prior was a close 3rd in the Bling Turf listed stakes at today’s trip, earning a 101 SP#. Has tried Grade 1 company once before when a retreating 6th in the Darley at 8.5 panels back in October. Should be part of the early pace struggle, but can she hang on to the wire ?
ELUSIVE PASS IRE 12/1 chloedawg6
Raven’s Pass bay filly by sim-mare Anjumara tries graded stakes company again after winning a NW4L allowance at today’s distance last out. Only graded try was a back-pedaling 10th in the Grade 3 Natalie last October. Owner chloedawg6 will be looking for further improvement from this front-runner. Will be part of the pace story, but can she stick around until the very end ?
SUBTLE NOTES KY 9/2 despie
Winner of five of her seven starts, this light grey Medaglia D’Oro filly out of the grade 1 winning mare Subtle exits a front-running victory in the Grade 3 Irish 1000 Guineas at today’s trip, posting a solid 107 SP#. One prior was a win in the Worldly Wisdom listed stakes, also in front-running fashion with a 104 SP#. Despie trainee seeks fourth straight win; will be part of what looks to be a hotly contested pace, can hang on for at least a share.
SUCK FOR PSY KY 15/1 psyduck215
Bay Distorted Humor lady from the stakes winning mare Sighs Matters, steps way up into graded company off a NW3L allowance win at today’s distance. Stalking style may be effective in a speed laden field, but will need to improve further to catch the better ones in today’s heat. Owner psyduck215 takes a shot off big improvement in last out win, but others look too tough.
ROYALLY YOURS IRE 6/1 juventus1
Was a closing 3rd to today’s favorite Lucky’s Brides in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas last out, earning a 105 SP# at today’s distance. In prior effort, Bay Sea The Stars filly from the juventus1 stable was an excellent 2nd in the Grade 1 Equinics – Simply The Best at 6 panels to start the 2014 season off. Late running style could be effective here, but will need to improve to close the gap with Lucky’s Brides. Could be along for a minor award.
MISSION SPECS AUS 6/1 weller2
Lonhro brown filly from the graded placed mare Mission Done, makes graded stakes debut today. Comes off an easy win in a NW4L allowance, at todays’s trip, but scored only a 96 SP# in a four horse field. One prior was a fast closing 3rd in the Rebel Yell N listed stakes at a mile. Owner weller2 will be looking for further improvement from this stretch runner; expected contested pace helps this one out a bit, but others look too tough to handle.
JUST A BIT OUTSIDE KY 6/1 checkmate3
Backed up to 7th to Lucky’s Brides last out in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas, snapping a four race winning streak. One prior was a nice win in the Silver Service listed stakes at 8.5 panels, earning a 103 SP# in 2014 opener. Closed out 2013 with a win in the Leprechaun Hunt listed stakes at today’s trip. Checkmate3 trainee will definitely be an early pace factor, can she turn the tables on Lucky’s Brides today ?
BETTY LOU KY 21/1 vienna
Took another leap forward last out when a fast closing 3rd in the Grade 3 Nell Gwyn, posting a career best 98 SP# in her stakes debut. Broke her maiden prior out in a 6.5 furlong sprint race. Stretch runner from the vienna stable will need further improvement off last to catch the better runners in today’s event.
LUCKY’S BRIDES KY 2/1 marilyn847
Winner of six of her 8 lifetime starts, this Unbridled’s Song roan filly comes off a wire to wire triumph in the Grade 1 Japanese 1000 Guineas with Royally Yours and Just A Bit Outside in her dust. She posted a second consecutive 111 SP# in that win, which is what she earned in her Grade 3 Kewney victory in her initial graded stakes attempt. Has won her last four races at today’s mile distance. Looks to be the fastest of the front-runners, deserving favorite will be tough to catch and tough to beat today. Owner marilyn847 is hopeful for another Grade 1 victory party.
SELECTIONS:
This race comes down to the question of whether anyone can run early with Lucky’s Brides to soften her up for the stretch runners. Second choice Subtle Notes may be best equipped in this field for that task. These two just may circle the track in front without looking back. If the two frontrunners eat each other up, a surprise winner may be in the cards.
LUCKY’S BRIDES
SUBTLE NOTES
ROYALLY YOURS
Longshot: GOUMADA
