A Field of Eleven 2yo NY Bred Juvenile Fillies are Feelin’ Groovy in the $100,000 ESR 59th Street Bridge Stakes

A field of Eleven Two Year Old New York-bred Fillies enter the Big Apple starting gate in the $100,000 ESR 59th Street Bridge Stakes.  The race will be run at One Mile over the Dirt Course.

IMAGINARY INVASION – the trotter1 trained 2 Year Old Roan Filly by Normandy Invasion passed her two-turn test with flying colors in her last start earning her a spot in this week’s ESR Local feature; the promising young filly has never been off the board in seven career starts and should be considered a major player in her first stakes appearance…dangerous

LAND INVASION – the second of the trotter1 trained entry, this a 2 Year Old Light Grey Filly also by Normandy Invasion, the local product enters this field undefeated racing around two turns, both races coming in her previous two outings; making her first stakes appearance, the NY local will have to demonstrate her exceptional ability around two turns to reverse the outcome of the ESR Incurable Optimist Special where she finished 2 1/4 lengths back to debut winner IN SWEET SONG…in with a chance

IN SWEET SONG – nearly perfect in her first four appearances, the kingab trained 2 Year Old Bay Filly by Big Brown turned in a late rally to finish second in her two turn debut in her last start; gaining ground with every stride, expect this promising local-bred to improve off her last start and demonstrate the prowess that dominated 17 other resident fillies in the ESR Incurable Optimist Special…one to beat

RALLY CADET – the cadet trained 2 Year Old Roan Filly by Market Rally checked all the boxes in her debut while drawing away from a small field of New York-bred’s; don’t be overly concerned about that 68-speed figure, she was as good as she had to be in that one, and her bloodlines go back to the G3 winning TODAY WE FIGHT, so improvement is to be expected…might surprise

MISSION OF EVIL – the casino trained 2 Year Old Light Grey Filly by Mission Impazible impressed favorably in her maiden debut when she pursued the front runners on the turn, picked up interest at the half, challenged in earnest down the lane and dug in well to preserve the decision; in her next start, the impressive looking filly broke sharply in her two-turn debut, established herself on the lead, showed the way, but relinquished the lead in the final strides…must not falter

NASTY CROSSOVER – the lbailey trained 2 Year Old Bay Filly by Don’t Cross Me raced evenly in her debut finishing seventh, 4 ¾ lengths behind IN SWEET SONG in the ESR Incurable Optimist Special; the New York hopeful made amends in her next start when she settled behind an early pace duel, moved on cue and ran down the leaders in the final strides…eligible to improve

BARSWEEPER – making her third stakes appearance is the irisharse trained 2 Year Old Light Grey Filly by Trinniberg; the NY-bred filly turned in an stirring performance in her racing debut against open bred rivals prompting a start in the open bred ESR Dig Dug Stakes where she turned in a respectable performance while gaining ground during the stretch run; after a second place finish at the local level, the determined filly took on Turf specialists in the ESR Skyscraper Stakes in her last outing; back on the dirt, expect this gal to be full of run and a major threat in the stretch…chance off best

MODERN GOLD – the sremel trained 2 Year Old Bay Filly by Al Khali may still display maiden status, but she just might be the most accomplished filly in this field finishing third in her debut in the ESR Incurable Optimist Special and then second in the ESR Skyscraper Stakes over the grass course LTO; the likely pace setter should feel right at home with this field and will be dangerous if left unattended on the front end…one to catch

DEEP READ – I’m sure the kody connections were quite surprised to see this 2 Year Old Bay Filly by Alpha in a 12.5k claimer LTO, and equally surprised to win the shake for this nicely bred filly that was a MSW winner of her first career start; she tries the dirt and two turns for the first time in her first stakes appearance, so there are still some questions to be answered, but the claiming question has been put to rest…might be this good

JAYMZINTHEPULPIT – making her racing debut is the ace trained 2 Year Old Brown Filly by Beautyinthepulpit out of a Rule mare; the Freshman sire has produced four winners from sixteen starters, none of which have won in their debut…look elsewhere

TROTTER JINXED ME – another making her racing debut is the beisbol trained 2 Year Old Bay Filly by Al Khali out of MONICAGOESTOCANADA (Dehere), an Allowance winning mare that did her best running over a distance of ground over the Dirt Course; unlikely winner should benefit from her first outing…in tough

Handicapping the Field

The ESR Local Bred Stakes provides a great opportunity for many of these, all with the prospect of notching their first stakes victory.  The field does contain three maidens, usually any easy toss from a handicapping perspective, and while JAYMZINTHEPULPIT and TROTTER JINXED ME meet that criteria, MODERN GOLD certainly deserves careful consideration against this field.

There are several horses that will vie for the lead in the early going, notably MISSION OF EVIL and MODERN GOLD, while LAND INVASION should be well within striking distance.

Others that might make a bid for the lead are the fillies stretching out for the first time like RALLY CADET, NASTY CROSSOVER, and DEEP READ.  I expect this group of three to be compromised the most by the speedy maiden, MODERN GOLD.

IMAGINARY INVASION and IN SWEET SONG figure to benefit the most from the early fractions and should be poised for a strong stretch run.

There is always that one horse that you just can’t figure, the one that you just know is going to make you hate yourself for not using it after the race, this week it’s BARSWEEPER.

The Picks

IMAGINARY INVASION – might be the best miler in this field

IN SWEET SONG – top connections, top runner, top effort

MODERN GOLD – until proven otherwise