Speed battle in upcoming Mother Stakes
The Mother Stakes Grade II
4799.5914
A small field of 7 mares will compete this weekend for the Grade II, The Mother Stakes, over 8f, for a prize pool of $400k. The turf track will be firm, so conditions perfect, to see the 5 inside runners do battle in a speed duel for the lead, while the 2 outside gates will drop right back and wait for a late charge.
PP1 BLOODLETTER(KY) (STREET CRY (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x MISWAKI) lenny10 8/1
Top class 3yo filly who takes on the older mares here for the first time, but comes off a dominant performance last time out in the Black Tricky Turf Filly Route, where she proved far too quick, leading from gate to wire with an SP111. Struggled slightly before that when she didn’t manage to get to the front, and weakened throughout against a strong field. Put together a hatrick of easy wins in allowance company at her previous 3 starts. Will find this tough, but last start was first class, and if she can run up to that she appears to be over the odds at 8/1.
PP2 VAPORIZE(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x A.P. INDY x STORM CAT) peppermill 5/2
Looking to crack $1mil in prizemoney here, this 4yo mare led last time out and was run down in a very fast time, finishing 3rd with an SP109. Before that, she outclassed a good field in the Grade II Call For Cash, when she kicked away to lead by 4 lengths at the third call, and just held on to score by a neck. Won a listed stakes by 4 lengths prior to that when she kept increasing her lead throughout. Will have fierce competition to find the lead here with so much speed, but will be very hard to beat if she gets away well.
PP3 I’LL GET OVER IT(IRE) (NOVERRE (IRE) x BROAD BRUSH x GONE WEST) blaznsadle 8/1
Veteran mare who has been running well in claimers, not missing the board in her last 5 starts, including an easy win last time out, when she got over 7 lengths in front at the half way mark and cruised home to score by 1 ¾ lengths. This is her first start for her new trainer, and she is being set an ambitious task, especially with so much early speed here, but she is a stakes winner, and has been in great form. Will need to bring her best if she is to challenge, but could surprise and sneak a place.
PP4 STEALTH SURPRISE(KY) (MINESHAFT x LYPHARD x DAMASCUS) simsters8 4/1
Grade I winner, who put in a rare poor performance at her last start in the PgPg’s Filly Turf Mare Challenge, when she found herself out in front by 3 lengths, but faded badly to finish at the tail of the field. Before that, she led well, but was over run, holding on for 3rd in The Start Up (Grade I), and was a runaway winner three starts ago in the Foul Mouth Stakes (Grade I), when she skipped away by 4 ½ lengths before the turn for home, and eased down to win by 2 ½ lengths in an SP110. Has been in front at the second call at each of her last 10 starts, and may revel in a speed duel here.
PP5 ULTIMATE FAN(KY) (RAHY x A.P. INDY x SUNDAY SILENCE) pogs4 4/1
Former claimer who has not missed a place in her last nine starts, and has hit peak form, coming here on a five race winning streak, and an ever improving top speed. Last time out she graduated to stakes winner, with an imposing front running effort, opening up a lead of 7 ½ lengths at the second call, before holding out all challenges to win by a length in a career best SP112. Before that she ran an allowance field off their feet, with an all the way win with an SP110. This is by far her biggest test, but her massive win last start indicates she is ready for this level.
PP6 GUINEAS TOAST(KY) (KINGMAMBO x NIJINSKY II x NUREYEV) desimster1 5/1
Trying for third time lucky, this Grade I winning 6yo has finished 8th in this race in the last two years, so with only 7 runners this year, she is sure to improve on those results. Will be coming off a rare off-run last time when she never looked a chance, finishing almost 7 lengths off the winner of the Firm King Turf Mare Challenge. Before that, she stormed home late to finish 3rd behind STEALTH SURPRISE(KY) in the Foul Mouth Stakes. Was thereabouts, doing her best work at the finish in tough fields at her two starts before that, with SPs of 107 and 105. Is likely to get a long way back with so much early speed in the race, but has the opportunity to sweep home over the top if she’s on top of her game.
PP7 LIFE ON THE ROCKS(GER) (MONSUN(GER) x NORTHERN DANCER x MR. PROSPECTOR) redhill5 4/1
Likely to be the back marker along with GUINEAS TOAST(KY), and comes here with winning form, after being dropped back to an open allowance last time out where she scored an easy victory with an SP105. Finished midfield before that in the Smart Dancer Grade II, but proved too good in the Grade III Morning Julep, with a last to first win three starts ago. Has won 4 of her last 6 starts, with a career best SP110. It may take a similar effort here to get the main prize, but she has proven she is top class, and should be charging home late in the stretch.
Good luck to all runners.