Starbucks May Name a Drink for this Filly!
The Unusual Circumstances Juvenile Stakes
Grade III
Four and one half furlongs on Fast Dirt
$150,000
Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Standing along the rail at Monmouth Park in New Jersey we are getting set to run down the JUNIOR CHEVRON Memorial Stakes Race named 9 times turf winner Junior Chevron. This mile and three sixteenths $150,000 turf Stakes race for all horses three years and up may be running through the raindrops as light rain is forecast for this weekend. We’ve got a nicely matched field though there are only four horses entered. Let’s take a look:
1 – EXALTED CAT ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 7/1 1917Sox 7.7% K.Anderson 3% 67.5 67.5 N/A
(VISION AND VERSE x RAHY x SEATTLE SLEW) After tickling her hooves on the grass the first time out, this filly took a big liking to the dirt. She improved from a 44 to 67 SPF and that is quite a jump no matter what. Trainer 1917Sox believes that she has found her niche and will certainly compete here. If she can continue to improve like that, the sky is the limit.
| 2 – FACING OPPORTUNITY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | IsItTrue | 24.0% | L. Buchholtz | 16% | 68.6 | 68.6 | N/A |
(SAINT LIAM x FIVE STAR DAY x MEADOWLAKE) One for one although she is moving back a bit in distance. This pretty cream colored filly came from way back and nosed herself to victory in that first race with a nice 68 SPF. Trainer IsItTrue has jockey Bucholtz in the irons and he is known for being able to guide young fillies to victory. They will make a formidable pair and might be worth a few shekels on the nose.
| 3 – WOETTE’S SONG | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | Woette2 | 9.1% | I.Warren | 7% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(E DUBAI x HENNESSY x HABITAT) As is usually the case, this young lady made a huge jump from her first race to her second where she won easily even when easing up at the finish. She improved her SPF by 11 points and looked much more comfortable that time. I don’t know what trainer Woette2 is feeding her but I would do more of the same for this race. She is dropping back from six furlongs so the distance may actually be better for her.
| 4 – GREY ICE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | CrandyIII | 1.7% | W.Collins | 5% | 64.3 | 62.7 | N/A |
(JOHANNESBURG x GREY DAWN II x ICECAPADE) This charcoal filly with the flowing mane, actually went a bit slower in her second race but with better results as she won in a small field. She will have to bring her best game to compete here although she seems to like this distance. Trainer CrandyIII sent her to the front last time and may have jockey Collins do the same here. There will be more speed up front this time though and it remains to be seen if that strategy will work again.
| 5 – STROLL ALONG | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | HighFive | 7.1% | B.Habib | 2% | 58.1 | 58.1 | N/A |
(STROLL x MR. PROSPECTOR x KING OF SPAIN) Starting with a small field win at this distance can really give a young filly some confidence and that is exactly what HighFive did with this young lady. If she has that normal jump in SPF she will do fine here. A bit surprising that he chose jockey Habib for this one as he has been ice cold so far this young season. This young filly might be just what he needs to jumpstart his year.
| 6 – SUPER SWEET | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1 | Super13 | 20.0% | M.Arnold | 9% | 66.4 | 66.4 | N/A |
(AWESOME AGAIN x EMPIRE MAKER x SADLER’S WELLS) This little filly out of broodmare Sweet Nectar II is really as sweet as her name. She has an amazing disposition until she gets on the track and then don’t get in her way. She won her first time out going away in a five and a half furlong race when she easily caught the fading leader in the stretch. Trainer Super13 has really had some nice workouts with her since that race and feels that she is ready to improve on her already impressive 68 SPF.
| 7 – MOCHACHINO’S QUEST | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | PrincessMe | 9.1% | B.Coates | 27% | 70.9 | 69.6 | N/A |
(TALE OF THE CAT x CORONADO’S QUEST x EASTERN ECHO) Already a two time winner, this nice looking chestnut filly keeps getting better every race. You are always looking for continued improvement with these youngsters but this one has gone above and beyond. Trainer PrincessMe has to be thrilled with her prized filly and has the hottest jockey at the track holding the reins in Coates. He already knows from PrincessMe that this filly loves the lead and will probably be in front around the first turn.
| 8 – ALLTHEBEST | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | DerbyDowns | 21.6% | BJ.Cusack | 15% | 70.3 | 63.9 | N/A |
(ALLTHEGOLD x DANZIG x HOUSEBUSTER) A huge jump in improvement from her first to second race really excited trainer DerbyDowns about the potential of this filly out of Bustig Beamer. The second was a bit longer than the first and is the only wonder here. She has a great jockey up who is having one of his best years in his nine years of racing. I fully expect this group to be there at the end of the race.
Morning Line = 6-3-4-7
Yoss Tipsheet = 7-2-3-8
Paz Picks = 1-7-6-2
I would like to put EXALTED CAT on my board but would like to see one more race on dirt before committing her to greatness. I choose her to finish fourth. It is pretty much a tossup for the top three but I’m going to take FACING OPPORTUNITY to just come up short in third. I really want to put SUPER SWEET in here somewhere but I’ve run out of room. I like ALLTHEBEST to upset a few in this field for second and MOCHACHINO’S QUEST to grab the early lead and hold on for all she is worth on this short track.
Good luck to all runners!
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