Ten three year old fillies headline Berkshire\u2019s Saturday program in the Grade One Cremation Stakes.\u00a0 The race will be run at one mile over a firm turf course for a purse of $750,000.\u00a0 The ladies running are quite evenly matched with eight of them listed at single digit odds.\u00a0 Headliner in this spot is Akatah, last year\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Bowl winner and Champion but she will have to face Jessa who is already a multiple grade one winner this year.\u00a0 You can\u2019t really count out any of the horses in the field, let\u2019s take a look at them.<\/p>\n
#1 River Road Runner\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8\/1<\/p>\n
River Road Runner enters this spot with only five starts to her credit.\u00a0 Three of them have come on the grass and she has two wins and a second.\u00a0 Her last two starts have been her best.\u00a0 Both came on the grass at one mile and both were listed stakes races.\u00a0 In the first, River Road Runner had a lot of horses in front of her early but was only about two lengths off the pace before closing solidly to finish second with a 103 speed.\u00a0 In her most recent start she was farther off the pace early but closed stoutly to win going away by almost two lengths with a speed of 104.\u00a0 The daughter of Street Cry has a lot of upside but this is a difficult spot to tackle.<\/p>\n
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#2 Akatah \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\/1<\/p>\n
Akatah was last season\u2019s Champion Two Year Old Turf Filly off a victory in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl.\u00a0 The daughter of Street Cry and grade one winning mare Hataka (Exceed and Excel x Fappiano) will try and win this race for her dam who finished third in the 2013 edition.\u00a0 Akatah only has one victory in the five starts following her Breeders\u2019 Bowl triumph.\u00a0 That win came in February when she took a listed stakes at a mile and one sixteenth.\u00a0 She tried stretching out to a mile and one eighth in March and was fourth in the Grade Three Longest Walk but rebounded strongly when returned to one mile in her most recent start.\u00a0 After being dead last early on in the Classic 1000 Guineas, Akatah rallied to pass all of the field save one, finishing second behind Avery Arizona by only one-half length while running a career best 105 speed.<\/p>\n
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#3 Jessa\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\/2<\/p>\n
Jessa is the favorite here.\u00a0 The daughter of Galileo out of the stakes winning Kingmambo x Storm Bird mare Fourth Spice Filly earns that distinction off smashing victories in the French and Japanese 1000 Guineas races (both grade ones).\u00a0 It\u2019s no surprise she\u2019s winning important mile races this time of year, her half brother Idealista (by Redoute\u2019s Choice) won last season\u2019s Irish 2000 Guineas.\u00a0 Overall Jessa has won six of nine starts, all on the turf.\u00a0 She closed out last season with her first graded win, the Grade Three Me Me Me Handicap at one mile with a 100 speed.\u00a0 She was given a good layoff after that race and returned to action in the Grade One Vermont Is 4 Lovers which may have been an ambitious spot to mark her return to the races as she finished eighth.\u00a0 That was followed by the Japanese 1000 Guineas which saw her close from midpack to win by one half length with a 108 speed.\u00a0 She did that one better, running a 109 while winning the French 1000 Guineas by the same distance.<\/p>\n
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#4 Foodeukanuba\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\/1<\/p>\n
Foodeukanuba is a strong entrant in the field.\u00a0 She has seven wins from nine starts and is undefeated in five route runs.\u00a0 She made her stakes debut two starts back when she took a listed race at a mile and one eighth with a 103 speed.\u00a0 Foodeukanuba followed that up with a victory in the Grade Two Regina Elena Stakes with a 108 speed.\u00a0 The daughter of Exceed and Excel is out of the grade three winning Pivotal x Storm Cat mare Storm Puppy.\u00a0 Storm Puppy\u2019s dam is Hall of Fame mare Storm Dog who won the 2002 edition of this race by a convincing margin.\u00a0 A win by Foodeukanuba would keep this race all in the family.<\/p>\n
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#5 Lopeki\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\/1<\/p>\n
Lopeki was a very nice two year old, winning the Grade Three Natalie at one mile before finishing second in the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Filly Juvy Turf behind Akatah.\u00a0 She was given time off after that race and returned to the races in January winning an allowance race easily.\u00a0 Following that race she lost three straight stakes races although she was second in the third attempt, going seven furlongs.\u00a0 The daughter of Lonhro won her most recent start a seven furlong allowance race which she won with a 101 speed, her first triple digit effort.\u00a0 She\u2019s never been out of the exacta in eight sprints starts but she has not been as successful routing.<\/p>\n
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#6 Hartshill\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 19\/1<\/p>\n
Hartshill seeks her first stakes win of any kind in this spot.\u00a0 She\u2019s only run in two prior stakes and both were graded.\u00a0 In April she took on the seven furlong Grade Three Darling Fred Stakes where she ran a creditable fifth with a 96 speed.\u00a0 In her most recent start she finished last in the Grade One French Diana at a mile and five sixteenths.\u00a0 In between those races she won a local-bred allowance at one mile with a 97 speed.\u00a0 She is a daughter of Intello has shown speed in her winning efforts.<\/p>\n
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#7 Darci Meztli \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9\/1<\/p>\n
Darci Meztli has won half of her eight starts and one of two mile efforts.\u00a0 But that win was a big one.\u00a0 It came in her most recent start when the Darci Brahma filly tried the Grade Two Germany 1000 Guineas and closed from next to last to win going away with a a107 speed.\u00a0 Her connections are really hoping to run back to that race today.\u00a0 Prior to that she\u2019d had two runs this year; an off the board finish in a grade three at one mile and a third place finish in an allowance at seven furlongs.\u00a0 The Germany 1000 Guineas was her first time breaking the triple digit barrier and she did it in a big way.<\/p>\n
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#8 Lyra D\u2019Amour\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20\/1<\/p>\n
Lyra D\u2019Amour is looking for her first stakes win of any kind here.\u00a0 She\u2019s also going to have to break the triple digit speed barrier for the first time if she wants to win against these fillies.\u00a0 Her most recent race was promising, she finished second in a listed at one mile with a 97 speed.\u00a0 Prior to that she had run two much longer races this year.\u00a0 She started the year with a mile and three sixteenths listed and then returned in a mile and one half allowance.\u00a0 She failed to hit the board in either start but considering she is undefeated sprinting those races may just have been too far for her.\u00a0 She\u2019s got a lot to prove in this spot but at least the distance will suit this daughter of Lope De Vega.<\/p>\n
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#9 Forest Fire Pye\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 7\/1<\/p>\n
Forest Fire Pye\u00a0 was graded placed as a two year old and earned her stripes in her second start this year, winning the one mile Grade Three Ice Cream Gold Stakes with a 105 speed.\u00a0 She followed that up with a second in the Grade One Japanese 1000 Guineas with a 101 speed and then was eighth in the Grade One Irish 1000 Guineas.\u00a0 Her victory in the Ice Cream Gold came after a break of only twenty seven days.\u00a0 She then had over two months off before the Japanese 1000 Guineas and about six weeks between that and the Irish race.\u00a0 She may be the sort who needs to race more frequently to be successful.\u00a0 She\u2019s coming into this spot with only four weeks off since her last start so we\u2019ll see.<\/p>\n
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#10 Like A Maniac\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\/1<\/p>\n
Like A Maniac was a grade three winning juvenile and twice grade one placed.\u00a0 This year she has a listed win and a neck second in the Grade Three Irish 1000 Guineas Trial, both at one mile.\u00a0 She earned a 101 speed in the listed and a 99 speed in the grade three before running a 101 again in her most recent start, the Grade One 1000 Guineas where she finished seventh.\u00a0 She\u2019ll need to up her game to do better in this field of talented fillies but she\u2019s got a ton of class and the daughter of Choisir has already banked close to half a million dollars showing consistency as well.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Good luck to all!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ten three year old fillies headline Berkshire\u2019s Saturday program in the Grade One Cremation Stakes.\u00a0 The race will be run<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":401,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30334"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30340,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30334\/revisions\/30340"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}