The Castle Point Stakes
Spain’s big race this week is the Castle Point Stakes, a grade II race for all fillies 3 year old and up going 6 furlongs on turf. This week has been filled with rain and the turf course was pronounced a soggy yielding turf. With 12 fillies entered this will be one fantastically messy race.
1. (15/1) THREE TAPS (KY) – slewsback – (Tapit X Dixie Union) This 4 year old grey mare has pit in some very nice races as of late covering 6 and 6.5 furlong stakes in speeds of 103 and 107. Nothing to sneeze at. Those two starts were the filly’s first attempts at stakes she won and placed third. It showed she was ready for the step in competition. This is her first off track race that will play a huge factor here.
2. (13/1) RAHY SET GO – royalybred – (Rahy X Maria’s Mon) This is a talented 5 year old light grey mare. Has one off track experience where she finished 4th. Her last two races have proved this little girl ready for this field. She ran a nice 1st with a 104 speed in the Doctor Can Stakes, and a 102 to finish second against mare 5 years old and up in the G1 Ball and Chain Bullet.
3. (8/1) NIGHT WITCH (KY) – wemblem – (Pulpit X Unfuwain) This 4 year old brown mare has recently been excelling over 7.5 furlongs where she has posted brilliant speeds. Her only start covering 6 furlongs comes in the Shareto Special where she finished 3rd by 1 ¾ lengths and closing with a 102 speed. No off track starts though I believe Pulpit as a sire doesn’t mind them. Has one graded attempts over 6.5 furlongs where she finished a beaten 5th. Looks better prepared for this race.
4. (9/2) ALBERTA FIRE – oilspill – ( Seeking the Gold X Gone West) This Nicely bred 6 year old filly is the favorite of our field. Having won the Ball and Chain Bullet G1 race and 6 other races before it. This winning streak started off with allowance wins, and then two grade 1’s and a grade 3. Nice filly and will be tough to beat here. Even has 2 off track starts with a first and a second. Though both on good not yielding turf.
5. (11/) EYE OF THE WORLD (IRE) – shamran7 – (Dubawi X Sakhee) Love the breeding on this little 4 year old chestnut filly. She excels over 6 and 7 furlongs. Her last start out was a stakes race over 6 furlongs where she closed brilliantly to win with a 102 speed. Easy win shows the jump in class in warranted. Though she has never run on an off track and we will see how she fairs here.
6. (6/1) RUDY – stupor1 – (Bestyoucanbe X Distant View) This 5 year old brown mare has proven herself a valid contender. In the Babified Shotgun Challenge she stalked the lead to win with a blazing 112 speed. She finished 3rd in the Ball and Chain G1 but after such a big effort a bounce is understandable. Having won over half her starts including one on good turf she might be better apt to handle the yielding surface today.
7. (7/1) SUFI – peeps4 – (Vindication X Mr Prospector) The best vindication cross you can get is present in the 5 year old brown mare. This nice mare won a 6 furlong stakes three back with a nice 110 speed showing she has the talent. Her two off track starts resulted in seconds, she looks nice here. Even though she didn’t do so well last time out she looks fit here today.
8. (17/1) PLOY – tcrowell – (Exploit X Lord at War) This 6 year old brown mare has been off her game in her last three starts not running up to her potential after some thought tcrowell decided it would be best to rest her and let her get fit and sassy again. This long break looks to have worked as she’s showing she is ready to run here. She has one start over yielding turf and it didn’t end well, but I don’t think it will matter today.
9. (8/1) MIRARI’S WAKE (IRE) – sender – (North Light X Carson City) This little chestnut 4 year old is a dangerous little filly. With 16 of her 19 starts on the board and 10 of those wins. Taking a cut back in distance here as she is shortening up from her favorite 7 furlongs here. She has 3 races over 6 furlongs two she won. Though they were her first starts. Since then slews of stakes wins at other distances have proven this filly amazing. Let’s hope this yielding track and the distance doesn’t faze her.
10. (8/1) HOLLABACK GIRL – super23 – (Danzig X Capote) This 6 year old brown mare ran well in her last race a 6 furlong turf race. She has also proven to like a yielding surface as in the Sally Bluegrass Special she ran a solid second with a 106 speed covering the 7.5 distance. She looks to like the shorter distance and the surface; she is well placed here and could be a good bet.
11. (10/1) RANGER CHARLIE – billy – (Forestry X Danzig) This is the oldest horse in the field this 8 year old chestnut mare is looks to be improving with the change to turf. In her last 9 starts she has only won a race. It was over 6 furlongs in the Pro the Friendly Challenge. Other than that she has only the board twice in those 9 starts. She is a good mare, and well placed surface and distance and trainer billy hopes she can step up here.
12. (6/1) IDOLATRIA (KY) – victoryrun – (Buddha X arazi) This little 4 year old light grey mare is proven she likes the shorter distance, her running style says that. She breaks in front and leads tell she wins or gets closed on. Very consistently in the top two she looks to be improving and will definitely be well placed here. Her two starts over off tracks show she can handle the surface.
This race looks to be held by the 4, an easy first choice as she looks tough and can handle the surface. Keep an eye on number 6 and number 10 both could prove dangerous at the wire.