The LATE BAG Handicap

The LATE BAG Handicap
Stakes
A mile and one sixteenth
Fast Dirt
$35,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old

After taking two weeks off to cover the Bluegrass Derby and a slew of Graded races last week, Maverick is back with his regular coverage of Mexico’s beautiful track.  A very short but wide open field of five fillies are prepared to give it their best in today’s running of The Late Bag Handicap _Stk.  When looking at this race, you don’t see a lot of speed so expect a slow opening ¼ and ½ with most of the drama coming around the second turn.  Most of our runners are looking for their first stakes win and it may be hard to find a bet that will net you a nice return.  I’ll do my best to give you a little inside help.  Weather again doesn’t pose a problem and the main track is rated as fast. 

PP1  4/1   PULPITS TOLONO

(PULPIT x FORTY NINER x RAINBOW QUEST)

K Auzenne ( 49 – 3 – 3 – 12 – 6% )

Trainer:  marilyn847

No amateur to stakes competition, Pulpits Tolono is starting in her 11^th stakes race.  However, her record in those 11 races is 0-2-1.  This may be her best shot ever though at getting that elusive win.  Her last race showed signs of significant improvement as she rated a career best 92 speed rating though she gave up the lead down the chute.  That race was a restricted allowance race but it may what she needs to get that level of confidence back up after so many losses.  With the odds so low on most of the other horses, this may be the best return for you and I’ll lay my money down on her with an “Across the Board” bet. 

PP2  5/2   DESPERADO WISH

(GONE WEST x DIXIELAND BAND x KEY TO THE MINT)

M Olsen ( 255 – 46 – 31 – 32 – 18% )

Trainer: desperado4

Making her 5^th career start, Desperado Wish trained by desperado4 has improved in each start she has had but only broke the 90 speed barrier last time out in The Queen Bee Stakes –Stk where she finished 5^th out of 6 runners.  With only a handful of races under her belt it’s hard to say at this point what she’s capable of and she may surprise with a monster race.  Breeding suggests a pure miler and she has shown that she can handle the distance.  Look for her to sit just off the pace and make a move down the stretch.  

PP3  5/2   HAWKFLY’S BRIDLE(IRE)

(HAWK WING (IRE) x UNBRIDLED x GREEN DANCER)

R Albert ( 65 – 5 – 7 – 7 – 8% )

Trainer:  bombfly

Breaking out of gate #3, Hawkfly’s Bridle(IRE) is another contender looking to win her first stakes race.  She posted a career best 93 speed rating three races back in a NW4L allowance race but she followed that up with two lackluster attempts in a stake and G-3 event.  Trainer bombfly is hoping that his filly can bounce back to form and with a short and wide open field she may do just that.   Like most of the others in the race, she likes to sit mid pack before making a move but will have to catch the horse starting on her right.

PP4  9/2   CAPE COD DEVIL

(CAPE TOWN x DEVIL HIS DUE x BOSTON HARBOR)

C Jefferson ( 57 – 11 – 9 – 5 – 19% )

Trainer:  pilgrim9

Normally you would hear me say that pace makes a race.  However, even though Cape Cod Devil is the only horse likely to challenge for the lead, her lack of real speed may still make for a slow enough pace for the others to sound the cavalry charge.  She’s shown some good speed rating in her last few races and she may even catch a piece of the board but only the fact that we have a soft field and five horses gives her the odds she is receiving.  Even if she gets lucky, she’s probably better suited in the allowance ranks.

PP5  2/1   LAKE MINNIMAC

(MEADOWLAKE x ALLEGED x MINNESOTA MAC)

M Buck ( 318 – 69 – 66 – 57 – 22% )

Trainer:  kk1039

Morning line favorite Lake Minnimac looks to notch her second stakes win.  After trying unsuccessfully in graded company she moves back down to the regular stakes ranks and with a short field and the highest previous speed rating of the bunch I have to like her chances here.  Her last win came three races back in The Heather Prospector Handicap –Stk where she posted the above mentioned 96 as she sat mid pack and moved through traffic with ease winning by 1 ¾ lengths.  However, those last two graded attempts may have taken some of the confidence out of her and I would have liked an allowance prep race ahead of another stake attempt.  The field may be short but it’s full of competitive runners so a win isn’t guaranteed. 

Maverick’s Picks:

#1 Across the Board