A Race With No Name
Welcome to Upper New York! We seem to have been slighted by the race naming committee this week, as we have a stakes race with no name. This is undoubtedly of little concern to the connections of the six two-year-old fillies who will enter the gate, however, with $80,000 and a black type win on the line. The beautiful weather continues here in New York, and we will have a firm turf course for Saturday’s 6 furlong event.
Sighdropper, the second choice on the morning line, has won both of her starts since being switched to the lawn. While it’s difficult to argue with being 2-for-2 on the turf, she did not crack a 70 speed figure in either race and will need to step up her game to run with the fillies with stakes experience.
Auction Baby has a stakes win to her credit, but that was over yielding turf and in a slow time. Her last two efforts have been solid but she has fallen a bit short. She fits in this spot but will probably need to show improvement to get the win.
Mixed Signals looks to be a bit of an overlay here at 6-1. She scored her first stakes victory last time out and finished a solid third in the race before. She did not put up a big number in that race, but she ran as fast as she needed to. The 78 she scored in her maiden win compares favorably with the favorites in here, and she has a solid chance to win.
Trickrtreat is making only her second start after breaking her maiden in her debut. She is the first foal out of a mare who made only one start, so there are no clues there about what to expect from her. This is a tough spot for her, but her first race looked good and she could be any kind.
Moon Brisson, a recent auction purchase for trainer starbound, regressed a bit in her first stakes try last time out. That race was at seven and a half furlongs, however, and this distance will probably suit her better. An improved effort can be expected today for her new connections.
Favored Safe Return has an intriguing pedigree – she is a daughter of champion sprinter Speightstown and the stakes-winning Theatrical mare Solar Storm, who preferred the turf and never even started at a sprint distance in her 47-race career. Safe Return has done little wrong in her four races, and scored an allowance victory last time out. This will be her first stakes try, but she is improving with each start and should give another good effort today.
Good luck to all the entries!