The Grade III $100,000 Honorable Dame Stakes

A field of nine Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up will enter the New York starting gate here on Saturday in the third running of the Grade III $100,000 Honorable Dame Stakes. The race will be run at a distance of one mile over the Turf Course.

MADCAP BANDITA(KY) – despite the fact that this veteran of forty races hasn’t visited the winners’ circle in over a year, the six year old Awesome Again mare has managed to remain competitive at this level during her 2011 campaign, as evidenced when she finished 2nd and 3rd in the G1 Breeders Bowl Game and G3 The Statue respectively. Second highest ranked mare in this field for this division, the squirrel trained homebred has found herself further back in the early going of recent races and might need to revert back to the running style that got her top honors in the G2 The Winston Spa when she was sitting only seven and four lengths back at the second and third calls respectively before roaring home to capture the $200k grand prize…chance off best

RAGING FIT(KY) – top ranked filly in this field for her division, the shaghar trained Bernardini offspring is racing in top form turning in five consecutive triple digit speed figures while finishing 1st and 2nd in the G3 Statue and G1 Start Up respectively. The four year old homebred has never been off the board in six races at a mile, five of which were in stakes competition. Came up short last time out in the Tete High Moon Turf Mare Route at a mile and a sixteenth, the turn-back to the mile should put this filly in perfect striking distance to continue her winning ways…one to beat

ULTIMATE MACHINE(ENG) – five year old lender trained mare has been anointed the 3-1 morning line favorite by the track odds-maker. Winner of six of her last eight, the Pivotal(GB) progeny has posted three stakes wins on her recent assault of fillies and mares in this division; however has struggled in Graded company failing to hit the board in five attempts. The precocious chestnut has never been better, but short odds at this level make her a risky play…proceed with caution

THE LIBERTINE(KY) – is representing the skull and crossbones silks of the super stables. The three year old Giant’s Causeway(IRE) filly got back to her winning ways with an allowance win Portugal last time out after stalling her stakes campaign with three less than impressive in her three prior starts. A multiple graded winner, the capable chestnut homebred takes on older fillies and mares for the first time and appears ambitiously placed given her recent form, but the connections have done better with less…your call

DRY FUSION(KY) – the five year old Fusaichi Pegasus mare is looking for her first win since November when she was first in the owner restricted Cavalcade Cup at this distance. The sledge trained homebred is hoping to record her first graded victory, and is eligible to improve after contending in the early going of the G1 The Maybe Johnny Handicap last time out before falling back in the final stages. The thirty race veteran will need some patient handling settling behind the early leaders while leaving something in the tank to hold off the late charge of the top two choices…must not falter

TWELVE BENS(KY) – the trotter1 trained five year old earns a spot in this graded filed courtesy of six consecutive triple digit speed figures in her last six starts. the Giant’s Causeway(IRE) offspring is 0-4 in graded opportunities, and would have to run the race of her life to get her picture taken here on Saturday, but eight straight in-the-money finishes give her a ray of hope…happy with part

CUQUI TARICA(KY) – four year old A.P. Indy filly’s current form is white hot. Winner of four of her last five including her first stakes victory in the Silver Snifter Turf Mare Sprint two back, the otto haack trained scratch-bred will be tested for class this week as she hopes to translate this recent domination into her first graded victory. Triple digits in her last six, the odds-maker lists this regally bred filly at 5-1 as she looks to record her 10th victory in her 20th start…might be this good

MONT NOIR(IRE) – other half of the super trained entry, the three year old Montjeu(IRE) filly has been a force to be reckoned with in her last two starts, albeit allowance company, but you have to respect the 102 and 109 speed figures respectively in those two starts. Gate to wire running style will have her battling for the lead with CUQUI TARICA(KY), and has been first or second in all her starts at a mile. Might be at a disadvantage taking on older for the first time, but you have to like the way this gal is progressing with every start…might surprise

DYNA MAJOR(JPN) – four year old filly from the willyam13 stables, the Daiwa Major(JPN) progeny will take on stakes competition for the first time in her career. Undefeated in her last four at this distance, Winless in her first eight starts, the lightly raced homebred figured things out winning four of her last six starts and posting a new top last time out when she turned in a 103 speed figure in an allowance affair in Sweden , but will need the race of her life to compete here on Saturday…must show more