Eight Older Fillies and Mares Join the Kickline in the $100,000 ESR Radio City Music Hall Stakes

A field of eight New York Bred Fillies and Mares will enter the Big Apple starting gate for the $100,000 ESR Radio City Music Hall Stakes. The race will be competed at Six Furlongs over the Dirt Course.

THREE.ONE FOUR – Forget the 10 wins in 20 starts, that stands on its’ own merit, it’s the victory in the Open Company Over Around Light Dirt Mare Special, in a field that contained multiple Graded Stakes winners that makes this beisbol trained daughter of Adams Circle a tough customer in the upcoming ESR Radio City Music Hall Stakes…couple that feat with a convincing win in an Open Company Allowance LTO against the Grade 3 winning STORMIN WAR and you have the overwhelming choice in this ESR Local Bred feature…one to beat

SOLOLINO – the lgbost trained 4-Year-Old Bay Filly by Solomini has never been off the board in 13 career starts while compiling 6 victories and a hefty $250k for her effort…finished up strongly in the La Verdad Stakes in her final start of the 2022 season where she finished third, sandwiched between KATIE’S BOSS and CENTRAL CAT, both whom figure prominently in this field on Saturday… the NY Bred turned in a solid prep in her last start and should be primed for a top effort to keep her ITM streak alive…always a factor

KATIE’S BOSS – the trotter1 trainee by Laoban has an impressive 13 of 17 first or second place finishes for her career but has yet to accomplish that feat in any of her three ESR only appearances, however, none of which were at today’s distance…connections are hoping that the six furlongs, where she has never been worse than second, will be the difference maker on Saturday…chance off best

CENTRAL CAT –  the second of the trotter1 entry, this 4 Year Old Roan Filly by Central Banker is another that is no stranger to the winner’s circle, winning 9 races in 16 career starts…the NY Bred also exits the La Verdad Stakes two back where she came from far back to finish a close 4^th against familiar rivals…the veteran filly will need to position herself closer to the pace if she wants to visit the winner’s circle once more…needs smart ride

CAT HAS A MISSION – 9 times first or second in 13 career starts, the kingab trained 5 Year Old Roan Mare by Mission Impazible has earned most of her $200k racing at the Open Company level, taking on only NY Bred fields twice in her career…a second place finish against her stablemate in the ESR Saratoga Bell Stakes last August, a field that included ‘O SOLOMINI, a highly regarded NY Bred with a Grade 2 victory and over one million dollars in earnings, makes this NY Bred a major player here on Saturday…dangerous

SUBCONSCIOUS PUSH – the spinround trained 4 Year Old Brown Filly by Bellamy Road continues the line of top money earners in this field with 9 wins in 16 career starts and almost $500k in earnings…while her finish in the La Verdad Stakes LTO was somewhat disappointing, the Local stand-out is no stranger to Stakes level competition, Local or Open Company, with 8 Stakes appearances in her 16 race career…the versatile Local talent has stakes victories from 5 to 9 furlongs, but sprinting is her best game, and if you can toss out her last start then you have a serious Stakes contender in the ESR feature…can’t ignore

MISO FROSTY – the valesa trained 4-Year-Old Chestnut Filly by Frost Giant is the least experienced filly in this field, but don’t let that sway your judgement…never off the board in 5 career starts, the Local Bred filly is fresh off a victory in her last start and should be well-poised for a solid effort here on Saturday…might surprise

LOOKIN AT LUKA – winner of three consecutive outings, at distances of 8-11 furlongs over both Turf and Dirt surfaces, the ace trained 4-Year-Old Bay Filly by Lookin at Lee will try and secure her first sprint victory while at the same time recording her first stakes win…the versatile filly, whose hit the board in 3 of 4 sprint starts, will benefit from a speed battle with her off the pace style, and could be a factor turning back into a sprint…your call

Handicapping the Field

Everything in the Past Performances suggests a victory for the beisbol trained THREE.ONE FOUR.  Consistent triple digit speeds against high level open company rivals makes her a solid choice from a bettor’s standpoint.

Let’s face it, there aren’t a lot of million-dollar NY Bred earners with Graded wins running around in the SIM, and CAT HAS A MISSION’s victory over ‘O SOLOMINI marks her as the strongest rival for THREE.ONE FOUR in this field.

KATIE’S BOSS, CENTRAL CAT, and SOLOLINO are on an equal playing field, and any could beat either one on any given day.  While all three are capable of pulling off the upset, it is more likely they will be competing for a minor share.

I’m not so forgiving of the last start for SUBCONSCIOUS PUSH, but if you can find an excuse for that performance then she will be on par with the above trio. 

LOOKIN AT LUKA is a handicapper’s nightmare, three straight wins at longer distances, two over the Turf and a respectable record in dirt sprints earlier in her career.  Damned if you do and Damned if you don’t.

MISO FROSTY impresses as a future Local star, but I think is short on experience against this bunch, and I think will be better suited for two turns going forward.

The Picks

THREE.ONE FOUR – solid choice here

CAT HAS A MISSION – top connections with a strong upset chance

LOOKIN AT LUKA – Damned if I don’t