Big Race Preview 3343

Juveniles take the headlines this week. Only one grade one race for older runners and that is for fillies and mares going a mile. You have a very competitive field of fillies and mares that could produce a Breeder’s Bowl runner. The juvenile races are likely to produce Breeder’s Bowl winners as well. The fillies are going a mile on the turf while the colts go seven furlongs on the turf.

Race: 3343.3315 Queen Ascot Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track: Ascot
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

The only grade one race for older runners this week has a field of eleven runners headed by Cosmo Girl. Cosmo Girl ripped off three straight graded wins in a row at this distance before running third last time out. This is a well bred daughter of Storm Cat that loves this turf mile. She is normally close to the early pace stalking and pouncing on the front runners. Last time out she was further back and that may have been her problem. As long as she breaks well here and runs her race she will be very tough to beat.

There are three runners sharing the second favorite spot at five to one. Alberta Gold has been the most consistent of this trio. Her speed figures have been more reliable although she getting older. Her form may be tailing off a bit but at thirty six career races she should have another big run or two in her. She will need that here if she wants to succeed against Cosmo Girl.

Smackdown, while steady, has really found a higher level here in her last two races. She was running in allowances before stepping back up to the graded level. Last time out was a great win at the listed stakes level. She won a grade one race at three but now at five this is the first time you could say she is a serious contender in a while. She closes from well off the pace and is in sharp form right now. If she carries this form into this race she should do well.

Grand Entry is the third in the trio at five to one. She won a grade three back in May ran well in a grade two at the end of June but was not very good last time out. She seems to be a runner that has to have the lead. Last time out she did not get the lead and faded badly finishing tenth. When on the lead she can run pretty well, watch how this ones breaks.

There are a couple of long shots to keep an eye on. Wassie’s Star G is a daughter of Sadler’s Wells that has won four of five runs on the turf. Last time out she was an impressive winner in a listed stakes. If she can run back to that speed figure she is a player in the exotics and if she improves she is a contender for the win.

VY the Quarterback is the more likely of the three year old fillies to take that step forward against older rivals. She was a grade one winner at this distance at two and she ran a good race earlier this year taking a grade three at this distance. She is coming out of a sprint so should be sharp early and if she matures she is a player at fifteen to one.  

Race: 3343.3314 Filly Grand Prix – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ascot
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf

A full field of two year old fillies are headed by Wolverine Wells. She is undefeated a perfect two for two. She broke her maiden in a sprint and ran a nice race in an allowance last time out earning an 80 speed figure. She has won at the distance, but makes this start just four weeks from her allowance run. For two year olds that can be a tight turn around it will be interesting to see how she responds.

Two runners share to title of second favorites. Blue Dawn has a routers pedigree but to this point she has been sprinting. She is undefeated having won both of her career starts. She debuted in June and came back to win a sprint stakes last time out in early August. She has shown some speed stalking in his last race so could be close to the pace as she stretches out. She had a nice 84 speed figure last time out should be a contender.

Single White Pat has been a stakes performer since breaking her maiden. She won a listed stakes last time out and has hit the board in two other listed stakes sprints. She won last time out on an off turf surface. She has not shown the ability to get higher speed figures but could improve with the stretch out. 

A long shot to keep an eye on would be Enchantress. Enchantress went to the lead last time out against the boys and got caught in the stretch but finished second. She cuts back a bit in distance and could set the pace again. She could very well move forward, you have to like her run against the boys.

Race: 3343.5915 Nationwide Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ireland
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Turf

It is a four way toss up for favoritism with four runners on the morning line at six to one. Arcangelo will probably be your favorite. He is already a grade two winner and just missed last time out in the Smackdown. He has been pretty consistent with mid 80’s speed figures in his last two races. He is from freshman sire Artie Schiller. Arcangelo will come from off the pace and should be a big factor in the race.

Gun Hill took on a very impressive group of maidens to break his maiden. He closed from off the pace earning an 80 speed figure. He could very well move forward off that maiden and if he does he will be right in the mix of things. You would like to see him break a little more sharply and not fall too far behind the early pace.

Crezzino is by the red hot freshman sire Cacique. He won the first two starts of his career, a maiden and then a stakes race. Last time out in the Smackdown he ran behind Arcangelo but was on his heels finishing third a length behind the winner. He has speed so should be near the front and thus far has shown the ability to hang around till the end.

Of a Revolution has been on the dirt for the most part. He does have one turf start in which he ran second in a stakes. That however was one of his slower speed figure races. He appears to be better on dirt than turf. His last starts on dirt have not been good and he appears to like the off track which he does not get here. He is up against it going against more accomplished on the turf.

Slainte Chugat has overcome being bred to a less than average mare. Of three runners this is the first good runner the mare has produced. Slainte Chugat is a perfect three for three winning a grade three race last time out. He has been stalking and pouncing his way to the winner’s circle with very nice speed figures thus far. I would expect much the same from him and he will be a decent price.