Lucky 13 entered in GII Walnut Stakes

The spotlight will be on the 2YO fillies division as they extend to the one mile distance in the Grade II Walnut Tree Stakes in California this week. 13 fillies are entered in this one mile dirt race that if offering a $200,000 purse. It goes off as the 15th race on the 16 race card on Saturday.

Here is a look at the field:

1)UNBRIDLED’S SPIRIT–12/1—This filly is 3/4 lifetime with two ungraded stakes wins in her resume already. She is ranked 67th in the division and had no problem extending her distance to 6.5 furlongs last time out. She has displayed a versatile running style both winning on the front end and by stalking the early pace. She should be able to handle the extra yardage and had the services of above average jockey M Staples. Her speed ratings are improving with every start as she has recorded 74-75-75-79 in her 4 lifetime starts to date.

2)RUDE LAUGHER–9/1—This filly enters the race still looking for her maiden victory but does possess some of the fastest speed rating in the field and has already gone 8.5 furlongs in distance, that being her last race against the boys where she displayed a huge late kick sweeping the field and ending up second in the Grade III Buckeye Juvenile. While she does possess some nice speed rating figures including an 85 and 81 she is starting to show a pattern of just coming up short at the wire and could probably be better placed trying to get a maiden win in the MSW ranks rather than trying to beat winners right away. She does get the services of the top jockey Gossett which cannot hurt her chances.

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3)DIXIE PARK–11/1—has really blossomed now that she is competing at the mile distance and is 2/2 in those races. She won her MSW race in her 4th career start and came back in a NW2L allowance in her next start posting an 85 SR. This will be her first attempt at the stakes ranks and her mile SR’s of 80 and then 85 put her right in the hunt of things here today. She is another who possesses a huge late kick in the stretch run. Poor win percentage jockey Ford get the call.

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4)APT TO FLY–7/1—This filly in undefeated in two lifetime starts debuting with a MSW win and then coming back to take an overnight stakes with an impressive 86 speed rating over the 6 furlong contest. She is another of many closers in the race today and should enjoy the extra yardage of today’s distance. If she can improve on the previous races SR here today she could be very difficult to beat. Average jockey Pimental gets the call and should have this filly well placed and closing strong in the final strides.

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5)HOLD ET BUSTER(IRE)–10/1—This speedy filly has finished no worse than 2nd in 5 lifetime starts all at the sprint distances. She captured her first stakes win in an overnight stakes event last time out earning an 82 SR over the 5,5 furlong event. She should be the one cutting the fractions in this race but can she hold on for the entire mile will be a question on many people’s minds today. She has been beaten in the stretch in 3 of her 5 races and today’s race does possess alot of tough closers. Jockey Simcox will have to rate her perfectly in order for her to carry her speed all the way to the wire.

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6)ST GOAR–13/1—has won 3 of her 5 lifetime starts by winning her MSW and 2 other allowance races. Her two losses have come in overnight stakes company where she was badly beaten in her 2nd lifetime start as she was obviously not ready for the class rise and in her last start where she finished 2nd over 7 furlongs posting a nice 85 SR. Her stalking style should keep her close to the leaders and if she can improve on her last race could be right in the hunt of it at the wire. Average jockey Brim has the call today.

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7)PROSPECT’S FORTUNE–6/1—comes straight into graded stakes company of off her MSW debut score where she won the 6.5 furlong race with a 80 SR. She has a very expensive pedigree and will be expected to perform well here today. She showed good speed in her debut and is expected to be up there with Hold Et Buster on the front end today and it will remain to be seen whether she can hold on for the entire mile. Average jockey Mecklenberg will be guiding this filly today.

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8)BAY LAUREL–25/1—This filly is the morning line longshot in the race who has one MSW win in her two tries both at the 6 furlong distance. Her top speed rating of 73 will need to be vastly improved upon here if she wished to be competitive and get a money finish in this race. This spot looks a little to difficult for this one at this stage and low percentage jockey Wood is aboard.

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9)INDYLEAD–7/1—This filly has won 2 of 4 lifetime starts by winning a MSW and an allowance start. She debuted in stakes company last time out in the Grade III stakes event in NY where she ran an even race over the mile posting a 83 SR and finishing 4th. If she can improve on that race here she will be a factor today. Her stalking style will keep her fairly close to the pace and I like the fact that she has already raced at today’s distance. 10% rate jockey Donahue gets the nod here today.

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10)BUBBLE DANCER–8/1—This filly has 3 lifetime wins already including her last in an ovenight stakes race where she posted an 83 SR in the 7.5 furlong contest. She is another who displays a good late closing kick. In her only previous Graded stakes start she finished 4th with a 74 SR over 4.5 furlongs, a race she may not have been ready for and a distance she obviously did not care for. She should handle todays mile distance well. Poor percentage jockey Fraser is aboard today.

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11)GRAND CAUSEWAY(IRE)–10/1—is another filly with 3 lifetime wins including an overnight stake. She has posted 3 straight 80+ SR’s. She tried a Grade I stakes event last time out and pressed the speed for most of the race before tiring at the end albeit still holding on to finish 5th in the race. She does possess some early speed but with two other speedball fillies here today may be hardpressed to get the lead and will have to be well rated so as not to get burned out before the real running starts in the stretch drive. Incay will be in the saddle today.

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12)FUSAICHI FLAME—14/1—This filly won her first two lifetime starts including an overnight stakes race where she posted a 78 SR over 5.5 furlongs. In her last start she tried the Grade I event in NY where she was never a serious factor finishing 6th with a 80 SR in the 7 furlong contest. She will have to improve on that finish to be a factor here today and will have a lot of company being one of many closers in this race. Track position will be of importance here today so as to have the open lane for the stretch drive. Above average jockey Bonus will be the rider up today.

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13)JADES TREASURE–5/1—This filly is listed as the morning line favorite coming in with two wins in three lifetime starts including her last an overnight stakes event where she posted an 83SR in the 6 furlong event. While she showed speed in wiring a MSW field in her debut she has shown to prefer the stalking the pace style of racing and should be able to handle the extra distance today with no problem. HIgh percentage jockey Bates gets the call today.

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A very competitive group of fillies here today as many of them are showing improvement with every start. I am going to go with #4 APT TO FLY coming in off of that huge 86 SR and picking her to be the best of the closers who will run down the 2 fillies who should be dueling on the front end early.

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Good Luck and Good Racing.