Big Race Preview 2615

Short week on the grade I scene this week. Just four grade I races and three are for two year olds. We should get quite a few questions answered when it comes to the two year old divisions. On dirt a field of twenty will get their chance to prove grade I worthy. Two year old fillies also have a turf race where the number one turf filly will prep for the Breeder’s Bowl. Also two year old colts go in a turf sprint and the winner very likely will earn their way into the Breeder’s Bowl.

Race: 2615.2216 The A.R.S.E. WE Win Grade Ones Too – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Delaware
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: One mile on the Dirt

 Twenty horse grade I for two year olds. Talk about wide open. Groomed to Romp T is the favorite. She has been sprinting and in her last two tries she has been running out of gas. It will be interesting to see if she gets better with some distance. A.P. Sadler should probably be the favorite. She is a perfect two for two on her young career with a stakes win at the distance already.

A Ok Raider is a solid little two year old filly. If she has Breeder’s Bowl hopes she needs to finish in the top three here. Jungle Miesque Tos has won six of seven as a two year old but is another who needs to hit the board for a shot at the Breeder’s Bowl. Smokin Lois has been a good sprinter. Now she gets a distance test as well as a post position test.

Really it is any ones race and the top three will get to the Breeders Bowl baring an injury. 

Race: 2615.3315 Queen Ascot Stakes – Grade I – $750,000
Track: Ascot
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Back in Your Arms is a heavy favorite to win her first grade I race. Her last two have been awesome in listed stakes and she looks much the best in this field. She has a couple of tries at this level and each time she seemed to not show up. This time around she looks the best on paper. She can stalk or come from well off the pace.

Mambo Birdie is a three year old filly and she looks well placed here against her older rivals. She has been running very well all summer and should give a good account of her self. True Slew Again is a grade II winner at longer distances. Now she drops back to a mile so the jury is out on how she will handle the cut back in distance. Little Deuce Coup just finished second in the grade II Peperton Mile. That was a bit of a surprise but if she has found a new level she might be a player.

Race: 2615.3314 Filly Grand Prix – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ascot
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf

The number one ranked two year old turf filly has chosen this race to prep for the Breeder’s Bowl. Super Gold has been super good in her first four starts. She has gone to the lead each time and won wire to wire. She is already a grade I winner so the only question for her will be the extra distance. There is nothing that would leave one to believe she cannot go a mile. The one exception is that there is a whole lot of speed in this race. How will she react if she does not have the lead?

Native Species won last time out against the boys at this distance. She can sit off the pace and stalk which may be a great running style in this race. Mr. Men (AUS) and Carson Touch (NZ) will be adding to the pace. Horse Nashville (SAF) is another filly who took on the boys last time out at a mile and won. She will need to step up to compete here.

Race: 2615.5915 Nationwide Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ireland
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Turf

This grade I has the potential to put a runner into the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile Turf. We have a suspect favorite in Corey’s Mission. He ran well in his first turf start last time out in a grade I on an off turf. He has a very solid turf speed figure but he may be better on dirt. Bead Two (GB) has won four of five starts. His only loss was last time out over a mile in a grade III. It was a solid run none the less. He is already a dual grade III winner and this race looks right up his alley with a lot of speed.

Northern Chant was all speed in her sprints but in her mile try last time out she was unable to get the lead and never got into the race after that. Testing (IRE) is a grade III winner. Last time out he competed with the favorite but failed to pounce after a solid stalking trip. Ghetto Muppet (IRE) has won two in a row and his last was a grade III at this distance. He has some of the best speed figures and a good running style to take advantage of the speed.