Alabama Stakes Features Talented Juvenile Fillies

Down home in Alabama, the feature race is the Bob’s Well Stakes, a sprint stakes for juvenile fillies on the main track. Five nice looking youngsters are set to vie for the lion’s share of the $65,000 purse, as well as some black type credentials. This is a closely matched bunch, with the favorite at 2/1 the longest shot on the board at 4/1.

On the rail is sopark100’s Cliff Dance, a daughter of sim freshman sire The Cliff’s Edge. She’s won only once from five starts to date, but that seems to be mainly because she keeps running out of ground. That said, I’m puzzled as to why her connections are sending her again at six panels instead of longer. She’s been consistently posting speed figures in the 70s, and may have the class to win at a distance shorter than her best, but this is a nice bunch. Watch her to come flying late. Pedigrees don’t come much nicer than Bastet’s, who is by Storm Cat out of a Mr. Prospector mare. The juvenile has stood up to a tough campaign by ovidius, winning two of six starts, including a victory in the Grade 3 Unusual Circumstances Juvenile. She led most of the way last time out before tiring over a good track, finishing second in a 5 ½ furlong stakes and earning an 80 SF. In her last few, she’s struggled with distance, or perhaps gotten a bit rank. In any event, she’s gotten away from the come-from behind running style that served her so well in her first three races, and it will be Eddie Sharp’s job to make sure this talented miss settles early. Tigerstar has a beauty in Ontibile. The dark brown filly couldn’t quite handle graded stakes company two back, but has done little wrong otherwise, including a determined victory in an allowance over this distance last time out (84 SF – the highest speed figure in the field). Should be up there early, and gets the jump over the other speed on the field, who are to her outside. Has proven she can handle a speed duel – lots to like about this daughter of Mt. Livermore. Remembered was bred for the turf, but this dapple grey Cozzene filly has proven she prefers the dirt. Dancer’s half-sister to the stakes winning, graded stakes placed Ayden, who is having a fine season sprinting this year, is unbeaten in two starts over the main track. She won a 6 ½ furlong allowance last time out with an 80 SF, so the cutback to six will be no problem. Hasn’t really been pressured yet, so that’s the main question mark, and the odds are, she will be remembered after Saturday. On the outside is Barb’s Ho Ho Ho, who hails from mattbarn. This nicely bred daughter of Woodman had an easy time breaking her maiden in Maine, posting a 77 SF for the 7 furlongs. In that race, she made every pole a winning one, and will see if she can take another step forward here this weekend. Her dam won 14 of 24, and was a multiple stakes winner and graded stakes placed, so class and stamina come to her naturally. Good luck to all of the runners!