Chatting about the 2016 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes
By: Nicolle Neulist, Blinkers Off
Juddmonte
Spinster Stakes (GI), three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, post time
5:45pm EDT
This year marks the
61st running of the Spinster Stakes, a nine-furlong, weight-for-age test of
filly and mare routers. It has always
been run on the main track: dirt, except for 2006-2013 when it was run on
polytrack. The race has been a rich
source of filly and mare champions; twenty horses in the history of this race
have won it on their way to a championship. Before the Breeders' Cup era, such
stars included Doubledogdare (1956), Bowl of Flowers (1961), and Gallant Bloom
(1969).
During the Breeders' Cup
era, the Spinster has produced four horses who went on to win the Distaff in
the same year: Princess Rooney (1994), Sacahuista (1987), Bayakoa (1989, 1990),
and Inside Information (1995). Two
horses have won the Spinster and the Distaff in different years: Paseana (1993
Spinster, 1992 Distaff) and Azeri (2004 Spinster, 2002 Distaff).
This year's Spinster,
again sponsored by Juddmonte, offers a $500,000 purse as well as a Win And
You're In berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff for the winner. The race drew a field of just five. I’m a Chatterbox and Paid Up Subscriber
formed the exacta of the GI Delaware Handicap earlier this year, and Engaginglee
also achieved a grade I placing in the La Troienne earlier this year at
Churchill Downs. Miss Pink Diva and Genre,
both trying Grade I company for the first time, complete the field.
Unfortunately, this
year's edition of the Spinster is not the best betting race. The race drew a field of five horses...and
though I’m a Chatterbox will likely
go off the heavy favourite, she deserves it, and she has proven everything she
needs to prove in order to be the goods here.
A five-horse field can be a bit unpredictable. Speed can be good, and I’m a Chatterbox has
it, but so do Genre and Miss Pink Diva.
It makes sense to look for a horse who has speed, but also
ratability. I’m a Chatterbox is not only
the fastest horse in the field, but also has that running style. She also has form at a mile and an eighth,
and two exacta finishes in three tries at Keeneland. Her only off-the-board finish in Lexington
came in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (GI) last year; this field is nowhere near
that level. Her three bullets since the
Personal Ensign suggests she is coming into this in good form, too. In short -- opposing I’m a Chatterbox here
just seems cute for cute's sake. In
multi-race bets, single her and move on.
Underneath, Genre and Paid Up Subscriber have the most appeal. Genre already has a "second to I’m a
Chatterbox" medal from the Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park earlier this
year. The Obeah was the same mile and an
eighth distance as the Spinster. Since
then, she has started three times.
Though Genre has been facing a bit softer company than this, she has
made good account of herself. She won
the Molly Pitcher (GIII) in the slop two back, and proved her stamina in
winning the ten-furlong Lady Jacqueline last out. Genre has been highly consistent in her
career, finishing in the exacta in nine of her eleven starts. And, her running style fits nicely, as she has
speed, gameness, and a stalking gear.
Among the late
runners, Paid Up Subscriber appeals a bit more than Engaginglee. Paid Up Subscriber can sit up a bit closer to
the pace, an advantage here. Though Engaginglee did win in a short field
last out, that came in the mud. Engaginglee
is a slop monster, and may not be quite as effective against these better
horses on a dry track. Whereas, Paid Up
Subscriber drops here from a much tougher Grade I last out, and has shown
herself to be adaptable enough to be effective in a short field. Turning the tables on I’m a Chatterbox would
be too much to ask, but given her class and speed, it would be a surprise to
see Paid Up Subscriber miss the board.
Selections:
#3 I’m
a Chatterbox
#5 Genre
#2 Paid
Up Subscriber
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