G2, This Means War Stakes
This week we are headed to the beautiful state of Virginia where on the card we will preview the running of the G2, This Means War Stakes. The race is restricted to 4 year old and older, Fillies and Mares only. They will be traveling a grueling 14 furlongs on the dirt track for this race on Saturday, a race that has drawn a field of seven horses. Only one of the entries has a graded win but the field looks tight for this event. The morning line odds and post positions have been released. Let us now preview the seven horses that will make the start in the G2, This Means War Stakes.
| 1 | CLARISSA’S MUSIC | KY | 5F | eballstars | D Ochman | 31 | 6 | 52% | $361,999 | 7.06 | 7/2 |
Heading out first we will see this 5 year old Light Grey Mare (MINESHAFT x GHOSTZAPPER x UNBRIDLED’S SONG that two starts back would get a second place finish in the Prospector Wailing Dirt Mare Stayer. She then made her most recent start in Minnesota going 12 furlongs in another Listed Stakes, One Pot Dirt Mare Stayer. She would not have one of her better starts in this race and would finish well back in fifth with a 96 speed rating. She has seemed to struggle over eleven furlongs this season but if she fires you should see her at or near the front in the early going representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 2 | UNKALAKI | KY | 4F | given4 | R Logan | 18 | 8 | 72% | $308,035 | 7.31 | 3/1 |
Next, we have this 4 year old Bay Filly (QUALITY ROAD x MEDAGLIA D’ORO x TAPIT ) that has raced well this season mainly at the Allowance level. Her most recent start would come in New Mexico where she would travel 14 furlongs in a $42100 Nw1t Allowance. She popped out of the gate quickly and would lead this field gate to wire for the win with a 107 speed rating. You should expect to see her challenging for the lead when she breaks from her gate representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 3 | ZOMBIE COWGIRL | TX | 5F | petz | L Creek | 20 | 8 | 80% | $522,340 | 50.50 | 5/2 |
Here we have a 5 year old Brown Mare (KING ZACHARY x STREET CRY x A.P. INDY ) that is our only graded winner in this field. She would get this win in her most recent start here in Virginia when she went 16 furlongs in the G2, The Rocky Top Oaks. She was well back at the second call but would move up to a nice second place spot by the third call. She would then make chase down the stretch and snatch the win by a head with a 105 speed rating. She seems to have the stamina it will take for this race and look for her to start moving late when she head over to her gate representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 4 | VANKYRA | KY | 4F | gonzo3 | M Samaan-Molinero | 12 | 4 | 58% | $163,033 | 10.00 | 11/1 |
Coming out next, we have this 4 year old Brown Filly (WAR FRONT x CREATOR x DEPUTY MINISTER ) that two starts back would get up for the win in the Rumson Dirt Mare Endurance. She would then head out for her most recent start in Indiana where she would go 11 furlongs in a $31500 NW4x Allowance start. She found a spot in second out of the gate and that is where she would stay all the way to the wire with a 104 speed rating. She can go the distance, and this will be her first graded start when she heads out of the paddock representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 5 | NOT MY MONKEYS | KY | 4F | asrcurlin | R Bokie | 15 | 2 | 60% | $301,898 | 32.13 | 7/2 |
Next, we will see this 4 year old Chestnut Filly (CURLIN x PULPIT x SUMMER SQUALL ) that has some graded experience but that has yet to find the trip over to the winner’s circle. She was third in the G2, The Pittsburgh Stayer and two starts back was second in the G2, Big Dessert Stakes. She would then make her most recent start in New York going 9.5 furlongs in the G1, The Jockey Filly Cup. She would not have a good trip on this day and would cross over the wire in tenth with a 105 speed rating. She gets a longer distance this Saturday which she seems to favor as she hunts for her first graded win representing the Orphan Racing residency.
| 6 | AMERICAN DISCOURSE | KY | 4F | americanasr1 | B Orazio | 18 | 4 | 50% | $149,029 | 9.50 | 7/1 |
Headed out next, we have this 4 year old Bay Filly (AMERICAN PHAROAH x BROAD BRUSH x TIZNOW ) that has only been off the boards once this season and that came two starts back in a Listed Stakes. In her most recent start, she would head to Minnesota where she would go 11 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Prospector Wailing Dirt Mare Stayer. She found a spot in fourth out of the gate and stayed there until her stretch run where she would move up to get a third place finish with a 105 speed rating. This is her first graded start this season and she has done well at this distance in an earlier start this year. She will head out in the post parade representing the Orphan Racing residency.
| 7 | OMBU | ARG | 4F | maclr1995 | A Hewitson | 16 | 7 | 87% | $226,965 | 28.00 | 10/1 |
Breaking from the final gate in this race we have this 4 year old Bay Filly (ECOLOGO (ARG) x SEA THE STARS x DANEHILL ) that was claimed back in October 2024. Under new ownership she has proven the claim was worth her cost. Three starts back she would be third in the G2, The Breakdown. She would then have an off the boards start in September before making her most recent trip to the track in Ireland. In this start she would go 16 furlongs in the G3, The All Nighter. She would come out of the gate quickly and grab the early lead which she would hold until her stretch run where she was rundown and forced to finish second with a 96 speed rating on this off track. This is another horse in the field that likes to run at or near the front in her better starts. She has proven to be a challenger in other graded starts, and the owner would like to see that out of her this Saturday in Virginia representing The Mecca residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
3-Zombie Cowgirl: G2 win on this track last time. Does she repeat?
5-Not My Monkeys: Has been hunting the winner’s circle. Does she find it in Virginia?
7-Ombu: In the money in two out of three graded starts. Can she hit this Saturday?