Bringing Up The Rear Classic

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Bringing Up The Rear Classic

Race ID. 3217.1415

            Saturday is the 7^th running of New Mexico’s Bringing Up The Rear Classic. It is a GIII over 9.5 furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares 3 years old and older.  The race record is a blistering 1:53 4/5 set in 2004 by the now retired SUMMER SWEEP.

            It looks like a great day for racing with a fast track for the 15^th race on the card.  9 mares go to the post with 3 four year olds, 3 five year olds, and 3 six year olds making up the field.

PURITY CONTROL (7-1) a 4yo mare trained by buffy6 breaks from PP1. Only recently joining the stakes circuit (3 races) she has run well at 10f and shown good speed numbers with a 103 last time out in a 2^nd place stakes finish.  She has a G II 4^th place finish that indicates she won’t be over her head here.  An interesting daughter of Sadler’s Wells, she may be peaking at the right time, the only question maybe is the 9.5f distance too short. At 7-1 this mare is a good value bet in this race.

CAROL OF THE BELLS (5-1) a 4yo mare trained by deyoto3 starts from PP2. A former 13.5k claimer, this mare likes 8f distances and has a win in a G II and a second in a G I at that distance. However she has not gone longer than 9f in her career. Seems to fade at 8.5-9f distances, so this maybe a bit long for her tastes.  Has a track favorite jockey Bennington on board, but this mare bred from Hennessy will be tested over the last furlong.

NORTHERN IDEAL (16-1) is a 6yo mare out of the stable of bushmonste who comes out of PP3. This daughter of Rahy has raced in only 3 stakes over the last year and as fared poorly in all of them.  Her last stakes win was 2 years ago; however she has won allowances at 9 and 10 furlongs and shown a 100 speed rating as well. She looks overmatched here and has one of the weaker jockeys on board for the ride.  The long odds here seem warranted especially in coming back from a race just 2 weeks ago.

WAKI NOTION (2-1) a 6yo mare trained by looney1 breaks from PP4. This Miswaki bred mare has been a winner at both 9 and 10f in GIII to GI company. She has the highest speed ratings107-109 of all the runners and has tremendous closing ability.  With the best rider (Duffy) on board it looks like the 2-1 odds may be a bit long, as this horse has shown the speed and the class to dominate this field.

A BOWL AND A MARE (5-1) a 5yo mare trained by squirrel starts from PP5.  Has stakes wins at 9, 9.5, and 10 furlongs, as well as showing consistent speed numbers (99-103) in stakes fields. One of two Storm Cat sired mares in the field it looks like she may have a say at the finish.

INTENTTODISTRIBUTE (12-1) a 5yo mare trained by lordpye2 breaks from PP6. This is an interesting horse that has been lightly raced in stakes fields but has demonstrated some ability. She has a 103 speed rating in a recent allowance, as well as a creditable 5th in a GII 12f at this same track. As a true pace setter in this field she will be looking to hold off the others in the last furlong. However this Red Ransom bred mare has one of the circuit’s least successful riders (Klein) on board.

CHOPPING HILL (6-1) this 5yo mare is trained by meguire5th and leaves from PP7. This daughter of Woodman has won 4 stakes races and been in the money in 10 others including GII and GIII. Consistent speed ratings in the 93-105 range and success at distance (3^rd in GII) indicate that this horse has the distance and class to be there at the finish line.

ERREKA (9-1) a 4yo mare trained by triska breaks from PP8. A stakes winner at 10f, was in the money in a G III two races back. This Storm Cat daughter has decent speed numbers at 10f (98-105) and is looking to show that she possess the class to finish consistently in the money at GIII.

DECEMBER SHADOW (6-1) a 6yo mare trained by topicount2 starts from PP9. This mare has finished in the money in 8 of 13 stakes races including a nice 108 speed rating in winning a GIII 10f 6 months ago.  The 9.5f distance looks like a nice fit for this A.P. Indy breed mare. Has one of this years hottest jockeys in New Mexico (Chancellor) in the saddle.

The Race

            I think that INTENTTODISTRUBUTE will set the pace early with NORTHERN IDEAL, A BOWL A AND A MARE, ERREKA, and DECEMBER SHADOW all close. CAROL OF THE BELLS and CHOPPING HILL will be mid pack. PURITY CONTROL and WAKI NOTION will be bringing up the rear.  At the finish I look for WAKI NOTION to fly by the field to victory, with PURITY CONTROL and CHOPPING HILL closing on tiring A BOWL AND A MARE and DECEMBER SHADOW.  It would be fitting if those Bringing Up The Rear might both be in the money, but after WAKI NOTION there are at least 4 strong ladies vying for 2^nd and 3^rd.