Will you tell GOLDEN TALES or sing WESTERN SONGS?

The A. P. NASKRA Stakes
One mile on Fast Dirt
$60,000
Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Standing along the rail at Monmouth Park in New Jersey we are getting set to run The A. P. NASKRA Stakes Race named for 2 times stakes winner A.P. Naskra. The track looks firm and fast with great weather forecast for this autumn weekend. We’ve got a nicely matched field so let’s take a look:

#1 WESTERN SONG trainer – stoners, (3/1), Jockey – J Benisz (22%), Avg Sp # (84.1)
What can you say about this Unbridled’s Song out of Southern Lynn filly? The beautiful grey lady has won three in a row and four of five including two stakes races. She has early speed and knows how to hold on. She is stretching out to a mile for the first time but it appears she will like the extra distance as her last two were 7 furlongs and she won both. She has the tracks best jockey up in J. Benisz and he should be able to guide her from the rail to the circle.

#2 LOOK DAGGERS(GB) trainer – 2tohold, ( 8/1), Jockey – M Squitieri (13%), Avg Sp # (81.6)
Bristish bred by Diesis out of Legs by Her Ears, this filly won her maiden on turf three back and ran a mile on the dirt for this first time last outing and seemed to like it as she won at the wire with a respectable speed figure of 81. She has finished first or second in four of five and could surprise as a longshot here. Trainer 2tohold has chosen a nice spot for her first dirt stakes race.

#3 STONE COLD BIRDIE trainer – dougmatt, ( 8/1), Jockey – E Kottler (10%), Avg Sp # (81.6)
One win in one race for this Birstone offspring. She won her maiden race at 7 furlongs and looked good doing it with a nice stretch run and had plenty left so the mile should appeal to her. Her Mom, Quatorze Dupe was a successful runner on dirt with 7 stakes wins and seems to have handed down the right genes. Tough crowd in this race but she has a chance.

#4 MY HEART’S DES(IRE) trainer – eddielegg, ( 6/1), Jockey – Q Oliver (10%), Avg Sp # (79.5)
The wiley old veteran of this race with seven starts is a Ballingarry filly out of Jove Trapper. She has two wins but none in a stakes race. She tried a mile in a Grade One last outing and was beaten handily. She needs to find her previous form in a hurry here as she looks to be just a bit over her head in this crowd.

#5 MEDAGLIA DANCER trainer – subwinner, ( 7/2), Jockey – R Case (18%), Avg Sp # (81.2)
This pretty dark grey filly is by Medaglia d’oro out of Lyjinsky. She has had consistent speeds around 80 but has had a hard time finishing. She was also in the aforementioned Grade one with My Hearts Desire and didn’t finish far ahead of her in a poor effort. She has a stakes win earlier this year at five and half and I have to wonder if that distance doesn’t suit her better. With R Case guiding her, he will get the best she has to offer.

#6 RAZIEL trainer – blaster6, ( 7/2), Jockey – L. Bell (8%), Avg Sp # (80.3)
Raziel won her first outing last time and ran a mile at a respectable 80speed figure. She seems like a value pick from the morning line and may surprise here. The Rahy out of Deputy Silver offspring went from ninth to an easy victory and had plenty left at the end as she eased to the win by nearly two lengths. If she can get into position at the top of the stretch, she could be smiling for the cameras.

#7 GOLDEN TALE trainer – apniner, ( 3/1), Jockey – T. Richard (7%), Avg Sp # (84.0)
Co-Favorite on the morning line Golden Tale has had an auspicious beginning to her racing career with two wins and a second in three races. She has two in a row including the Endless Nana Stakes last outing which she won handily. This Tale of the Cat out of Falcon’s Quest filly knows how to finish and looks to be the strongest lady here. I wonder about trainer apniner’s choice in putting T Richard in the stirrups and hope that doesn’t cost her the win.

Paz