GI Stakes Review – 11th February 2023
A busy weekend for graded racing in sim world, with nine Grade I races around the globe. We start in California where 14 three year old fillies went to the start in the GI LOS VINEGRETTE STAKES over a mile on the dirt track. First past the post was stormborn3’s front running STORM SWALLOWER who broke fast and was never headed. The grey daughter of Tapit posted a 106 speed and notched up her third Grade I victory. The win paid $16.40 and V. Gardner provided the perfect ride. Finishing like a rocket in second place was the unlucky RIGHTTHROUGHYOU. Despite being detached at halfway, worldclass10’s Uncle Mo filly ran on strongly and only went down by a length and a half at the line. She is still improving and compensation at this level awaits. Outback4’s stakes winning filly OUTBACK GEMINI ran a solid third place in her first attempt in graded company. In only her fourth start, she settled behind the winner for much of the race and kept on to gain a three figure speed rating. Last years’ GI BB Juvenile Filly winner EXPLOSIVE GHOST finished well to give trainer given18 a fourth place. ADDISON LEE just held on for fifth, beaten six lengths.
Still in California on the dirt track, a full field of older fillies and mares started GI THE SANTA MARINA HANDICAP. The race over 8.5 furlongs threw up a surprising winner with the battling four year old HOPKINSONS SISTER getting up by half a length. Hofcadet’s daughter of Medaglia D’Oro, by Hall of Fame dam Union Jack Flyer, was never far off the lead and finally put her head in front half a furlong out under a strong M. Zeus drive. She paid $47.90 and recorded an impressive 119 speed figure. Groupiedoll’s front running mare IT’S BRITNEY ran really well in her first graded race, beating all bar the winner. The five year old daughter of Curlin almost grabbing a fifth consecutive win. Third place went to asrdistorted’s NITRO QUEEN. The dual Grade I winning mare held every chance coming off the final bend but didn’t have the pace of the first two home and was beaten four lengths. Masterfun’s seven year old IS IT ENOUGH kept on nicely for fourth a further length behind, and is still competitive at this level despite her age. SPINNING ARROW came from the rear to grab fifth.
The third event in California was the GI SAN FRANCISCO CAPITAN HANDICAP held on the turf track. The race was open to all four year olds and older over a distance of a mile and a half. The field of 13 was led home by the five year old DISTORTED FUNNIES. Asrdistorted0’s son of Distorted Humor made a successful return to the grass, taking the lead half a mile out and not stopping once in front. He has now won Grade I events on both surfaces and was ridden by regular jockey B. Ball. The win was worthy of a 115 rating and paid $18.50. Three lengths behind the winner was spqr4th’s improving four year old TSARDOM. The Mehmas colt finished strongly to take the runner up position after settling in rear for the first half of the race. Also finishing strongly was ONE LOVECRAFT in third. Grenoble2’s stayer was doing his best work at the finish after spending much of the race in last place and remains consitent at this level. Lifeinyourway’s Justify gelding JUST RALLY TO KING set the early pace and kept on once headed to claim fourth, beaten under four lengths. KIM KAM GALILEO stayed the trip well in taking fifth and needs a return to further.
Over in Florida we had the GI JAI ALAI PARK TURF over the distance of eleven furlongs. A dozen four year olds and older went to the start for the total prize of three quarters of a million dollars. Taking the win was former claimer ANTIGUA ADELE. Toucheamore’s Authorized gelding grabbing his second Grade I win after scooting away to score by two and a half lengths. The five year old recorded a career best speed of 119 and paid $17.10. After six striaght victories, riponred’s RED BRENIN had to settle for the runners up prize here. The four year old Galileo colt finished well under the N. Lawton drive but found one too good at the line. A further length behind in third was the consistent five year old BLACKROSE PRISON. Trainer simsters2 will try again to get him a second Grade I win elsewhere. The front running WESTPAC EMPEROR faded into fourth after leading until the final bend for trainer mastermbp. DEVIOUS KICK faded into fifth and again didn’t stay this trip in this grade.
Japan hosted THE FEBRUARY STAKES over a mile on dirt. The Grade I race attracted 14 starters and the four year old HAGRIDDEN made every yard of the running to take the first prize by over two lengths. Foundational2’s Medaglia D’Oro colt finally got back into the winners circle with his last victory coming as a two year old in the GI BB Juvenile. Jockey D. Raymond got the fractions right and set a 119 speed rating with the win paying $34.30. In second place was driveling’s gelding ROYAL LUNACY. The son of Kingman was trying graded company for the first time on his twentieth start and ran his fastest race to date. SUBTLE DETAILS chased the leader throughout before finding little inside the final furlong. Rtribbett2’s five year old couldn’t set the pace this time and paid for it late in the race but just held onto third. Beerpong’s MOUNT KUSHMORE was beaten a total of five lengths in fourth and the gelding seems a little below form in his last two runs since his GI Sterile Mile victory. DEPUTY IS AMERICAN just held on to fifth.
Finally in Vermont we had four divisions of the GI VERMONT IS 4 LOVERS, two for three year old colts and two for three year old fillies. All races were over nine furlongs with both surfaces being used.
The colt dirt race had a tight finish with asrtriplecrown’s AMERICAN FERVOR getting up close to the line to win by a neck. The son of American Pharoah was adding to his GII The Ransom victory the run before and posting a 105 speed rating. Unlucky in second place was givenstamina’s Tapit colt DRENGILIGR who looked to have made a winning move down the stretch only to get collared late. Finishing well for third was last years’ GI BB Juvenile winner VINDIFY. Dontbetonme16’s son of Justify beaten less than two lengths. Fourth went to inthamoney’s YAUPON CAT who came with his usual late finish and may need further still. LORNE AMERICIUM held on to fifth.
The colt turf race saw an impressive win for 1strule’s Dubawi colt TROJAWI. After settling in mid division he finished strongly to lead just inside the final furlong and post an excellent 109 figure and is now three from three over 9 furlongs. SOMEWHEREINASMILE did nothing wrong in finishing second here. Asrstar3’s son of Zoustar led at a decent pace and only just failed to complete a hat trick of wins. In third, amir1680’s CRACKING QUEST continues to improve and ran another solid race. He kept on well without troubling the winner and was beaten just over three lengths. Fourth went to slowrollelite1’s INNER OUTLAW who stayed this trip well on is first attempt. BROKE MY MOUTH battled to hold fifth.
The dirt fillies event attracted 14 starters and went to tarton31’s winning machine TARTAN ZEPHYR. The scratch bred daughter of Tapit gaining win number six from seven starts and recording a speed of 104. She moved into the lead half a mile out and kept on strongly to hold off any challengers. ENDLESS ELATION improved again to run on into second place. Padrebri’s Curlin filly beaten two and a half lengths at the line. Eyecatching in third was amir1707’s GRUELLING BRIDLE. The filly blasting home from a hopeless position under jockey R. Pollard and is crying out for a bit more distance. LUCY LOVES RICKY ran well in her first graded race for trainer roxyken, beaten less than three lengths. MOUTHSOFDECADENCE stayed the trip well in fifth.
The fillies turf race was contested by just the nine runners. Beerkeg1’s TIFFANY WATSON finally getting the win after second places in the GI BB Filly Juvy Turf and the GI Juvenile Filly in Japan. The daughter of Frankel making no mistake here with a decisive two length victory. Asrstar14’s FRANKLY INVINCIBLE was the only one to get anywhere close to the winner when finishing strongly to take second prize. Despite beating the winner in Grade I events as a juvenile, beerkeg20’s favourite SOFI RYAN could only finish in third place here and may not have appreciated the step up in trip. Vaguy1’s ARYA’S QUEST faded into fourth some six lengths off the winner.