Classic turf fillies take center stage in the sunshine

Welcome to Longchamp for this years renewal of the Freiermuth Stakes, a Group III contest for three year old fillies over 10f on the firm turf course. The race traditionally sees some decent types attempting to pick up the not inconsiderable paycheck and this year is no exception. The Parisien track is bathed in balmy autumn sunshine and a good crowd is in evidence so with no further ado, lets cast our eye over the nine fillies contesting the race.

Stall 1 is home to anymore’s Light Blinds, a daughter of Silver Ghost out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. This impeccable breeding has paid off so far to the tune of four wins from sixteen lifetime starts with total career earnings thus far of a third of a million sim dollars. She has raced mainly on dirt, with only two runs on the green stuff, but her tainer must have seen something he liked in the manner of her latest start on grass, a facile 4 3/4 length victory in a listed stakes race at Georgia three starts back. While this may not have been the most competetive race ever, her next run, a win in the GI Players Club National Oaks when switched back to dirt could not be faulted. She had several multi group winning horses behind her that day and was certainly value for her 3/4 length success. If we can excuse her last run, which resulted in a 15 length beating in the GI Birmingham Stakes and assume that she will continue to enjoy the grass, she must have a live chance here. Jockey M Mia will hope to use the advantage of the rails berth to win the likely battle with the runner on her outside to get on the bunny. 5/1 is a fair reflection of her chance in a very open market.

Beyond Lois(IRE) comes next from stall 2 and trainer thierry will be hoping that his daughter of multi millionaire race mare Black Lois(IRE) by Street Cry(IRE) can continue her excellent progress. While this may seem a big step up from her last race in allowance company, there is little doubt that there is more to come from this lady. Sympathetically handled, and allowed to find her feet, it would appear that there could be a long and illustrious future ahead, maybe emulating the successful seven year career of her dam. Her 2yo season was fairly low key, with it taking seven races to lose her maiden tag, but this year she has come on in leaps and bounds since being given more track to run on. Her latest two allowance successes over todays trip have seen her post impressive speed figures of 94 and 99, and provided she doesn’t cut her throat in the probable speed duel with the inside runner, this long striding filly could give her rider, B Thedog a fine chance of adding to the 17 wins so far this year. The punters obviously aggree as she is only 6/1 on the morning line despite the obvious uplift in class, but whatever happens today, this looks like one to watch for the future.

River Lady from stall 3 is an interesting runner in that at first glance, she would appear to be seriously overmatched. Unfashionably bred, by Mtoto(GB) out of a Blakeny(GB) mare, she would appear to have little chance against these. One thing her pedigree does guarantee, however, is stamina and trainer boricua150 will be hoping to see his filly flying down the stretch picking off the speed horses. Whilst it took her untill her 8th start to break her duck, which is not exactly auspiscious, her pedigree rather suggests a late maturing type and there was a lot to like about the way she ran on in her first try at allowance level to take second place. While a NW2L allowance may not seem like the natural springboard to a GIII race, she is certainly improving with age and distance and providing E Wood can keep her within hailing distance, her power packed finish could see her move through the field. There must be a doubt about this however, and her price of 9/1 reflects this, maybe this is one to watch for in marathons rather than classic distances.

If this race had been run last year Jaca, from stall 4, would have already been getting a rub down with the sporting life and the rest may have just as well not bothered turning up. Palmisland’s striking daughter of Queen Bluffy (Gone West x Roberto) by Mount Livermore, was right at the top of the tree when it came to 2yo turf fillies. Her five 2yo wins included the Breeders Bowl turf juvinile fillies and GII More Glare stakes along with 2 other listed stakes. Her form this year has been solid rather than spectacular however, with two listed stakes wins to show from ten starts. This would appear to give the others a chink of light to aim at, but several of those defeats have been in absolute top class company including a second in the GI Sydney Oaks and close up 4ths in the Equinics and Oaks de English. She seems effective over any distance between a mile and 12 f and would be very hard to beat if giving her best running today. Piloted by the tracks top jockey, B Wu, who is likely to settle her close to the pace, she is the only millionaire in the race and a deserving 4/1 favourite, even though her very best form may heve been left behind at the turn of the year.

Use the Schwartz from stall 5 is the outsider of the field at 14/1. Calumet’s daughter of Smarty Jones out of a Dream Well(FR) mare may look as though it needs help from Mel Brooks at first glance, but is another like River Lady who is open to improvement. That said, it would need to be considerable in terms of what has been achieved so far with a maiden and allowance win from seven starts. Only the last two of those races were on grass however, and that is were the encouragement lies for anyone who wants to take advantage of the big price each way. The dams side of the pedigree certainly looks likely to add stamina and a liking for grass, so who is to say the necessary improvement wont materialise? Jockey B Mann will certainly be hoping this is the case, and the capable rider should probably try to make the most of his mount by winding the pace up from half way.

Generous Jewel is the mount of V Macmahon in stall 6 and could give her rider a big win here if he can keep her close enough to the pace. Her lovely breeding, by Generous out of a Theatrical mare, would suggest that she would be ideally suited to racing over plenty of grass, and that has certainly seemed to be the case so far with her 4 wins from 9 starts coming at distances between 9 and 12 furlongs. Her shrewd trainer, superfecta, kept her in the barn at two, realising she was likely to want longer distances and a little more maturity to show her best form and has been rewarded with earnings of nearly $250,000 in only nine races including a hard fought victory in the GII Rippleschip Stakes over 12f. Another who seems to be going the right way, the biggest doubt will be whether the speedsters run her off her feet early, but if she holds her place, 7/1 could be handsomely rewarding odds.

Cotevol’s Bellafiga is next from stall 7 and the punters make this one second best at 9/2. By Dixieland band out of a Kris(GB) mare this nice filly was campaigned mostly at allowance level for her 2yo and the beginning of her 3yo campaign. Since stepping up in class, she has registered wins in two listed stakes, the last one resulting in an eye catching 103 SP. Three allowance wins along with those two stakes, have lined her trainers pockets to the tune of $233,855 which fully justifies her breeding. S Graf gets the leg up today and the jock is having a successful year at th etrack with nearly two million sim dollars won. Both the jockey and the punters will be hoping that she reproduces her run three back rather than the subsequent two fairly heavy defeats and as she is another who is likely to sit just off the lead, she should get a decent run through, which should result in a big run. Definitely one for teh shortlist.

Getting it is next and Peter12’s filly is a live conteneder here. She looked likely to be very near the top when opening this years campaign with a win in the GIII Triangular Star Stakes on her seasonal bow, following that with a close up third in a GI. She seems to have lost her way slightly after that, although only being beaten 6 lengths in the 1000 Guineas is hardly a poor run. Her trainer didn’t panic though, and dropped her to allowance level for a couple of morale boosting wins. J Ventura gets the ride on the daughter of Dynaformer today and she is likely to be able to sit a little closer to teh pace over this 10f trip than seems to be the case over a mile. Providing she is back to somewhere near her best form, and sees out the extra 2f, this could be the value of the race at 5/1.

Can of Whoop AS must surely be one of the claims of the century! Betdahouse picked this daughter of Wolfhound up for $30,000 at the end of her 2yo year, and she’s picked up 4 listed stakes wins along with a narrow defeat in the GII Michigan Sophamores Turf Invitational and over £220,000. She’s a 5/1 shot today for jockey P Liceman and he must be over the moon to pick up this ride. The one slight question mark against her is that she often seems to give her best running when on or near the pace, and she may not be able to live with the runners inside her in this respect. She does have a win over todays distance in a listed stakes, and provided she gets a good run, should be close up here. Certainly not one to be put off of if you fancy her, she may just be found wanting here.

In summary, this year sees some very nice fillies making the trip to Longchamp, but this reporter will go with Getting it to beat Beyond Lois with Generous Jewel running on for third. Good luck to all connections and any one having a punt in this very competetive race.