Liberty Rain, Super Alliance co-faves on Dubai undercard
Dubai– Only two months to go before Bluegrass Oaks day. Eight sophomore fillies test the Oaks’ 9f main track distance here in the rich $95,000 Stolen Love Challenge. The field is led by 3/1 co-favorites Liberty Rain and Super Alliance.
Foxon’s Liberty Rain(IRE) was twice a stakes winner over a mile last season. The Statue of Liberty daughter won over both surfaces. She finished out of the money in the Boca Stakes(G2), her final freshman start. A downtown closer, Liberty Rain(IRE) made up a ton of ground in her 3yo debut last month. The filly broke 2nd to last and rallied to finish 5th in the Myocardial Infarction(G3) over 8.5f. She broke through the 90 SP# barrier in that effort too. Still learning ropes, and it remains to be seen whther or not she’s sharper around one-turn. Saturday will be a ceratain litmus test.
Dixie Union daughter Super Alliance(KY) finished 7th in the Myocardial Infarction(G3) over 8.5f. The 2tohold trainee also scored a 90+ SP# for the very first time in that race. The filly has yet to garner black type, though she did run in 5th in last year’s Golden Rod(G2). Talented lassie also prefers to make her run from the back of the pack. We’ll see if she can put things together in her 3rd start of her sophomore season.
Ernieman’s Romance Is Daine(KY) (9/2) boasts royal lineage. The Storm Cat daughter has bagged 3 of her 4 lifetime starts, including two straights stakes scores. All of those efforts though came around one-turn. Romance Is Diane makes her route debut Saturday and she’s one to watch. The filly rallied and won around 7.5 panels well enough LTO, so maybe a mile is in order. We’ll see if she can handle the 9f experiment. Top jockey SL Ledwith an added plus. One to watch.
Another lightly raced entry breaks from post 3. Aframe27’s late foal Busch League(KY) (7/2) went 2-for-2 as a freshman, winning her MSW and ALWs easy-peasy. The speedster by Touch Gold got into a duel however in her 3yo debut last month. Busch League tired a tad finishing 5th over the mile. Granted, that race came against the boys. Very talented lassie. Litmus test.
Sim veteran Toplight brings Love Never Die(IRE) at 7/1. The Sinndar(IRE) damsel makes her black type debut after winning over this distance in February. The filly went 1-for-3 over the lawn with modest speed figures. Her 90 SP# victory LTO places her amongst the favorites’ best speed figures. Interesting longshot bred for 12f. Prefers to stalk the leaders. Possible but must pass class test.
Silver Ghost daughter Silver Sleeper (9/1) presents the most experience in the field with 9 starts in the bank. The filly won a few races for keytomint stable last season over both surfaces. She’s 2-for-2 lifetime in routes, but both of those victories came over the alwn. Silver Sleeper wasn’t half-bad around one-turn on the dirt last season. Could be interesting to see how she does here since she’s a proven router. Kind of a mystery though. Flip a coin.
Mav1762 sends out Teferi’s Realm(KY) (10/1). She’s a royal bred by War Chant. The filly won three straight (didn’t beat much though) last year after switching from the turf. The stalker made her black type debut LTO over 9.5f. ‘Realm found herself on the lead though and wound up 3rd in slow time. Perhaps she’ll have a better go here with fabulous H Harzheim in the irons, but must prove she has the stamina. Pedigree indicates flat mile, but is ambiguous. Additionally, I’m not entirely convinced that she’s a dud over the turf. She had a decent second outing over the lawn. Must be patient.
Finally, Queensguard (KY) (15/1) by Johar breaks from the far outside. She’s won 2 of her last 3 allowances for upperhand2 stable. Slow times though, but 9f was one of them. Worth a shot. Stalker probably will have a difficult time versus this classier group.
Snowchief’s Picks
Not much on paper with 3yos at this of year. Love Never Die might be the best spoiler. Busch League, Tefferi’s Realm, Silver Sleeper mix it up on the pace. I’ll go with chalks Liberty Rain and Super Alliance who have proven class.
Win: Liberty Rain
Place: Super Alliance
Show: Love Never Die
Good luck to all.