THE BARBARA BUSH GII STAKES
Barbara Bush Stakes
Grade II
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$250,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
LADY GALADRIEL(IRE) 6yo KALANISI(IRE) Mare trained by Ladyssecre 5/1
This mare has been in fine form in weaker races, but just failing to finish her races well enough to take the winners cheque. Jockey C Clair has a fantastic ITM percentage at 42%, but does have a very average 7% win rate this year. Closer inspection at this mares form and you notice a very astute training move last start taking her to the lead over a sprint course on turf to sharpen her up for a huge ran here. This all goes in favor to this mare coming back to her surface and distance and running the race of her life in her first graded race. Respect in the small field.
OTTO YOU DO IT 5yo WAR CHANT Mare trained by gallorette 7/1
A mare who currently looks to be off form and has taken a liking to the allowance class races of late with a nice win 2 starts back. Thats not to say that she can’t produce against this field if she is right at her best. She has had a few Group placed runs, but will really have to produce to get on the board here, jockey C Winter has an awesome 19% win rate this year and will certainly help her chances to recapture her best form. Again one to watch in the small field.
QUEEN DOMINIQUE(SAF) 4yo HORSE CHESTNUT(SAF) Filly trained by dragon1 24/1
Model of consistancey in easier races. This filly as a 2yo actually ran ITM in 4 stakes races before winning a maiden race as a 3yo. Ripped of a very surprising career best of 106 at 7.5f turf last start after a surface switch the race before. Hard to see her doing that in this race, but you never can tell in sim. Very hard to have here.
TINTORETTA(IRE) 4yo GALILEO(IRE) Filly trained by stormborn 8/1
Great form of late in stakes company. Ran in the money a unbelievable amount in her career and still has never missed some sort of money in her races, finishing no worse than 5th in her life so far. Nearly should have won last start but did run into a graded winner. Looks hard to fault this filly but you like I will have to wait and see if she measures up to this. In with a hope.
EMPIRE REEF 4yo EMPIRE MAKER Filly trained by lenny13 9/5
Great filly here, multiple graded winner that would easily account for this field if it was a dirt race and thats where the certainty ends. Yes she’s very talented. Yes she is in great form, but can she handle the surface switch??? If you go on breeding stats they say not many horses by EMPIRE MAKER can, so again one we are all going to have to wait on before we can pass judgement. I like the trainers guts for having a go. Like they say, you never know if you don’t have a go and let’s face it if she does fail on the surface, boy will it sharpen her up for her next start on dirt. Watching with interest.
COLD STORAGE 4yo VICTORY GALLOP Filly trained by springtime 2/1
Exceptional filly here, one you would pay to see go around. Ranked number 1 in her division and deserves every bit of that ranking. This filly has finish no worse than 4th in her last 12 starts which have all been in graded company. She also won a gold medal in the Equinics. There’s not one horse tried on the surface in this field IMO that comes close to her and the trainer has picked a fantastic race to put her back in the winners circle. Has to be the lock of the day if EMPIRE REEF doesn’t handle the switch.
CRYPTOCRAZY 5yo CRYPTOCLEARANCE Mare trained by vertain 5/1
Mare who handles both surfaces and having a go at graded company on turf for the first time. Has done most of her racing around allowance level, but has at least got a small field here that will only help her cause. Trainer has done a great job bring this mare through starter races up to running a place last start in a stakes race and will be a huge thrill if she can run top 3 here. Has work cut out for her here.