Victoria Feature a Classic-Distance Filly Fight

Eloquent Lady Handicap
Grade III
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$150,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up

1 127673 TIZ FRESH(KY)  tiznice  L Debow  8/1   

Just turned four, this Dynaformer gal reeled off three straight allowance wins at this distance with increasing speed numbers, then just missed in the LIASON REGINA Stakes on this course on December 1st.  She has impressive speed and an improving form.  As it looks like any of the first four are prime to win this, she looks juicy at 8/1.

2 73461 CLOVIS BOUND  capitanio  R Bailey  2/1    

A Gone West five-year-old headed for New Mexico, she was claimed away from buzz back in 2006 for a mere $20,000.  She turned almost immediately into a solid performer, and is now a stakes winner.  She closed within a length while finishing second in an 8.5 furlong stakes in Argentina last out.  Her stretch-running style makes it look like she may be better at this distance, so further improvement off the 104 she ran in Argentina is possible.

3 6074 INCREDIBLE DIVA(IRE)  tg  J Kohlmorgen  5/1  

The Galileo five-year-old just ran the biggest race of her career, earning a 106 in a stakes win.  She was already a multiple stakes winner, including at 16 furlongs, so the distance will be no problem despite her pace-pressing style.  The question is if she reverts to her summer form, which was not good enough to win this race.

4 107419 CACHE(SAF)  misery  A Snappa  2/1 

She’s by a sire I loved to see run but haven’t yet bred to, Horse Chestnut.  She won the Grade 2 Petunia last year and earned the show in four Grade 1s on turf; class is not an issue.  She followed a decent sixth in the Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff with an up the track finish (earning a 90) in the Miami Beach two weeks ago.  Was she just off her game, or is time starting to pass the Grade 1-winning five-year-old by?  It might not be worth 2/1 to find out against this group.

5 103049 OH SUSANNAH  squirrel5  M Redden  9/1   

She earned just in the mid-eighties her last two, but don’t cry for this 5-year-old’s pedigree:  GONE WEST x DEPUTY MINISTER x NIJINSKY II.  She was freshened a bit after those last two defeats, and looks to regain the form that brought her midsummer stakes success.  Most of her better races have come in races longer than a mile and a quarter, so today’s race may not be the best barometer of her recovery.

6 60534 TREE SPIRIT  anymore  D Evans  10/1

This Woodman six-year-old hasn’t been the same since being distanced in the Yolkshire Oaks back in August.  Still, it was a good year, as she won the Grade 1 Virgin Mary in Queensland last May.  This is her distance, and Evans is the top jockey on the grounds, so those betting on improvement will have their reasons.

7 126809 SEMI CHARMED PYE(IRE)  lordpye4  T Myslinski  9/2    

Pye’s Theatrical gal finished ninth, just ahead of CACHE(SAF), in North Florida two weeks ago.  While her past performances don’t show as many strong performances as some of these, her 103 speed number while winning a Colorado stakes (only back in November) would put her right there.  She can track the leaders, and could be at least one to fill out your exotics tickets.