Eleven to dispute the Grade III BB Bayou in Alabama

The weather forecast calls for a sunny and delightful afternoon for this weekend’s Grade III BB Bayou Stakes, which is the feature in Alabama. The distance is a mile and an eighth. It is a turf event and a field of eleven will enter the gate looking for the big piece of the $125,000 purse. The group looks pretty evenly matched; let’s take a look at them:

Bad Scene was doing great two races ago; however, her last two efforts have been extremely disappointing, including a sixth place finish in an allowance race last time out. This Pleasantly Perfect filly can be the speed of the speed in this race and if she finds herself alone in the lead with dawdling fractions, she can lead them wire to wire. Trainer lenny6 enters her of a three week layoff for her second race of the year, and is a very interesting betting play. She is a multiple graded winner, so the class is present here.

Devil’s Slide is the number 5 ranked mare in the turf classic division, and her record speaks for herself, winning 13 races in 36 starts and $3.4 million in earnings. Veteran trainer afc hopes her mare improves his last effort, a pretty dull sixth place finish in the Grade I Sexy Muffins. This daughter of Kingmambo comes here freshened, working great in the mornings and we should expect and much better performance from her, coming from the middle of the pack. Top notch candidate to win.

Apple Carbon is the old lady of the field. The nine year old veteran out of the very obscure Marks Mill gives her best every time she comes to the track. However, her last win was on week 2888, almost nine months ago, and furthermore, her last two races are disastrous. Not long ago, she was a credible fourth in the Grade III Exploding Outhouse Stakes in Italy. If she remembers that form, she can be fighting for the minor awards, but improvement needs to happen for her to win. Trainer corza6 is still looking for some fire in the old gal.

Skippy takes her game to the route distances after doing extremely well in the sprints. The daughter of Afleet is the typical sprint closer, and she is a graded winner on the dirt and graded placed on the turf. Versatiilty is this mare’s second name, and now she looks to add to that by being a graded winner on both surfaces. I have to say her only question mark is the nine furlong distance, but trainer scout4 has performed some changes in her training routine, looking to get more stamina out of her. A wild card choice.

Bling (SAF) is the least experienced runner here, with only 14 lifetime races. But in her short career, she has shown great talent, having won two Graded Stakes so far, and her last one with a superb 106 SF. She will come form way off the pace flying in the late phase of the race, and if she finds the spaces, will be a tough beat in this spot. Trainer safrace2 hopes her Horse Chesnut (SAF) mare just keeps improving and maturing nice and sound. She is my pick to win here.

Dreaming of Love just turned out one of her best races lifetime, a second place finish in the Grade III Shawnee River Handicap. She is a Grade I winner, ultra consistent, but in the midst of a five race losing streak. Black Type Bugler queen snowchief is the trainer of this Saddlers Wells mare, who likes to stalk the pace and make a move from the three eights pole on. Her last SF (103) tells us she is in top form and will be a tough contender in this race.

Copalachee is maybe on the peak of her career. This filly of out the very useful Cape Town comes from her best lifetime effort, a win the Mother Teddy Special in Wyoming. Her running style is perfect for the turf, however she has been competing mainly in allowances and listed stakes. She still needs to prove she belongs in the graded ranks, but if she continues to improve with every race, there is no doubt she can be the winner of this contentious race as the “now” horse. Trainer rochdale hopes her filly climbes the ladder with a victory.

Wondergirl Cheryl comes from a disappointing out of the money placing in the Grade III Good Vista Handicap, after getting an uncontested lead thru the first fractions. A daughter of Sakhee, this mare needs to have the lead if she hopes to have a chance to win races, and that will be a little difficult here, with fillies like Bad Scene and Krazy Momma in the race. Her appearances in the graded stakes have been discreet so far, and she will need to improve on her best effort lately to win in here. Trainer wonder2 looks for a fast and firm course for his filly to stand a chance.

Stormy and Spicy is an interesting proposition at odds of 9-1. In her last race, she was coming from a ten week layoff and turned out a pretty lame effort in the Grade III Shawnee River Handicap. This filly, out of Storm of the Night, has proven to be capable of much better efforts, and that last race should have serve him to complete her preparation for this race. Trainer mmstable2 has been patient with her, and his patience can prove to be the best allied for her filly to score here.

Krazy Momma (IRE) has been doing her running mostly in listed stakes company, but sixteen months ago she won the Grade I GSR Oaks. The problem here is the presence of Bad Scene, who is as fast as her, and will not let her go on an easy lead. The Desert King (IRE) mare disappointed in her last race, falling short in an allowance being bet at even money. Trainer imamudder looks for a better showing from her filly, although I think her best times are beyond her.

Miswaki’s Last is simply a winning machine. Ten wins in seventeen starts tell the story of this consistent filly out of Miswaki, slowly climbing the ladder, from allowances, to listed stakes, and now in her first try in graded company. Her trainer xanthu3 would not have entered her in here if he did not feel she has a nice chance to win. She should be in the middle of the pack and although her SFs appear to be a little lower than the best in here, you can not count her out because of her braveness and consistency.

My picks: Bling (SAF), Stormy and Spicy, Devil’s Slide