BELLA FIGURA tries to defend her title in the Milky Way Stakes
A full field goes off Saturday in the 7th annual Milky Way Stakes. Somebody is looking out for this race, it has yet to experience anything less than perfect weather and this year is no different.
A few illustrious horses have won this race previous years. Some, like last year’s winner BELLA FIGURA, who returns to defend her title this year, use this race to launch a streak of stakes wins, others like 2004 winner COPELLIA use this race to make one great statement before fading back into relative obscurity. It’s not just the winners that go on to prosperous careers, in the inaugural race LIL POT finished second to VIRGIN KELLY but is still competing successfully today. Other successful horses that couldn’t muster enough to win this particular race are HUGE SLIDE(IRE), SEATTLE’S WEST & TALKIN FREAK (who all raced in 2001) and SKY TUNE & JO ANN CHRISTMAS alumni of the 2003 race.
Three year olds do not fare well in this one, perhaps because only a few can carry this distance with ease in their second season. Only one filly will try this Saturday, HERO’S LUCK, running against a field of four, five and six year old mares. Let’s take a look at the whole field:
DEPUTY HUNTER – trained by barn25dog – 7/2
A royally bred DEPUTY MINISTER x A.P. INDY filly, this one has won 7 of the 11 races she’s been tried in this year. She won two graded stakes races over 8.5f in her four-year-old season, and finished fourth in the talented grade one Queen Ascot Stakes last time out. This filly’s talent is definitely not in question, nor is her trainer’s ability to put her in situations where she can win, however the distance of this one may not be perfectly suited. One of her four loses this year was over this distance, 9.5 furlongs, and she’ll have to rise to the occasion today to end up in the winner’s circle.
BELLA FIGURA – trained by sgtbones – 5/1
Last year’s winner is trying back again. Coming back off three straight stakes wins bodes well for this one’s confidence, though her speeds have been a little slower than what she needed to win in 2005. Knowing she can put a good one together here bodes well and I’d be surprised if she finished out of the money.
CRYPTIC HABITS – trained by dtown – 15/1
Although this horse certainly likes a longer distance, most of her successful races this year have been at the allowance and ungraded stakes level. This won’t be such a big jump in class though because she finished 3rd in The Goat Just Fainted Cup over 10f. She’ll have to stay close to the leaders in the early going to stand a chance and improve her closing kick to end up in the money.
GIANT SOUVENIR(IRE) – trained by souvenirs – 17/1
This four-year-old filly has been posting pretty consistent SP’s in the 90’s of late, but will most likely have to improve to over 100 in order to get a piece of the $250,000 prize offered here. With only one stakes win under her belt, she’ll face much more experienced horses in this field as well. This field may be just a tad too illustrious for her, but long shots have won in the past so let’s not count her entirely out.
NAG OF NOTLEY – trained by bunsay – 20/1
One of this five-year-old’s best races of the season came not too long ago over this surface and distance. It was a heartbreaking loss as the stretch was just a tad short for her to catch the winning and placing horses. If she makes her move earlier this time out she may have a shot at the money, though in this classy field I wouldn’t bet on her to win.
ADIOS AMIGO – trained by devil01 – 11/1
This filly is coming off a win in the grade 1 Princess Di Cap. She saw some of these other competitors there and blew by them in the stretch. I expect she’ll try the same strategy here, tuck in towards the back of the pack early on and make her move at the beginning of the turn towards home. She’ll be facing older and more experienced horses here, but her times have been consistent enough that she should crack the top three.
SEEKING THE STORMER – trained by quentin – 25/1
This six-year-old mare had one brilliant performance in The OUR MOUTH Challenge in week 2846, but has been lackluster since. Perhaps that race was a one off, but if not she could sneak in as the big upset. She’ll have to conquer a stronger & larger field, an extra ½ furlong and even her genes to get there though.
TOMMY – trained by artistway – 7/1
This heavily inbred filly (DANZIG x NIJINSKY II x NUREYEV) has managed to run on six legs, and with success at that. She’s been in the money in three of her last five, all in graded company, however her two of her last three (at 6, 9.5 and 10 furlongs) have been significantly slower than usual. If she can resume the form she showed in week 2951 & 2839 she’ll have a definite shot here.
INVOLVEDD – trained by gg – 13/1
This one has been posting both consistent and high numbers over long distances, but surprisingly 9.5f will be a shorter course for this one. She ran this distance last time out in what I suspect was a prep race for this one, but only managed to post a 93SP. She’ll have to be better to stay in the mix here.
ALBERTA GOLD – trained by bertaal– 5/1
This daughter of FORTY NINER has impressed the oddsmaker with three over 100SP races in the past five. What the odds don’t reflect is that “Goldie” is significantly slower beyond 8 furlongs and has never attempted anything beyond 9 furlongs. I’m reluctant to put this one in the money because of her lack of experience at this distance, particularly in a field of tried-and-true runners.
HERO’S LUCK – trained by bigbro – 21/1
The lone three-year-old leaving the gate, she’s hoping to build on a win last time out. I’m concerned about the distance again here, she’s untested beyond 9 furlongs and her young legs may not be prepared to carry her the extra ½ furlong. I’d try to race her against fellow three-year-olds as much as possible to end the year and try this one again in 2007.
OCTAVICH(NZ) – trained by geophysics – 16/1
This OCTAGONAL(NZ) filly, turned out a win last time out and geophysics hopes she can ride that wave through to another money-making performance here. She’s had success at 10 furlongs and longer, but the early speed of the milers found in this field may prevent her from running in mid-pack where she usually likes to lie until the stretch. Next time out I’d return her to the marathon ranks, either in an allowance with a big purse or an ungraded stakes race.
A.P. ANDY – trained by andycapper – 29/1
I can’t quite explain the oddsmaker on this one. She’s had a couple in the money performances in stakes races this year and ran well in the Yellow Submarine Stakes last time out. The distance doesn’t seem to pose a problem, though as with OCTAVICH(NZ) perhaps the early speed will hinder this one’s race plan.
JOE’S ANGELS – trained by ajr13 – 10/1
This SEPTIEME CIEL mare has had some huge performances this year over 10 & 10.5 furlongs. Shortening this one up may not be an advantage – she might need that extra ½ furlong to make her move in the stretch. With more milers in the mix as well the early pace should be pushed more than this one is used to.
I really like a story, and if BELLA FIGURA can come up big two years in a row that’d be a good one. This race has a tendency to bring out the best in horses that wouldn’t otherwise be contenders so keep an eye out for the long shots, particularly SEEKING THE STORMER and CRYPTIC HABITS. Top finishers often go on to long successful careers, and even if they don’t win on this particular day keep your eyes on JOE’S ANGELS, ALBERTA GOLD, TOMMY, ADIOS AMIGO and DEPUTY HUNTER in the future.