Ladies Take Center Stage in
Barbara Fritchie Stakes
By: Laurie Ross, Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds
This year’s Barbara Fritchie Stakes
for older female sprinters attracted a contentious field of eight. The Grade 2 event is held at seven furlongs
over the Laurel Park dirt and is one of six stakes races carded for the Winter
Racing Carnival. Three of the mares faced off in last year’s edition of the Barbara
Fritchie.
High Ridge Road is making her season debut at her favorite track.
The five year old daughter of Quality Road is three for three at Laurel. She’s making her first start of the season,
but has previously beaten By the Moon and Wonder Gal. She teams with Horacio
Karamanos who has won two of the last three editions of this Grade 2 race. There
are only two chinks in High Ridge Road’s armor. The long layoff against a sharp
group and she’s never raced at seven furlongs.
By the Moon is a seven furlong specialist and has won/placed in
both starts at Laurel. She’s making her first start of the season and could be
very tough.
Wonder Gal is multiple graded stakes placed. Last year she was
third in the Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct before finishing off the board in the Barbara
Fritchie. She may be a different filly this year. The daughter of Tiz Wonderful
demolished her competition in the Ladies Handicap by 13 lengths. The drawback
is that she’s finished off the board in two starts at seven furlongs.
Clothes Fall Off was a game second in last year’s edition of the Barbara
Fritchie. She’s making her second start of the year after a speed/fade debut in
the Interborough Stakes at Aqueduct, behind stablemate Takrees, who she’ll face
again here.
Takrees competed twice at Laurel and finished second both times.
She was a determined neck winner in her season bow in the Interborough Stakes. The
confirmed stalker owns the highest late pace speed figure in the field. If
things get hot n’ heavy on the front end, watch for her to take advantage. Trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin took home last year’s Barbara
Fritchie trophy.
Sweet On Smokey is the local threat. She’s been in the money eight
of ten starts at Laurel. She’s raced five times at seven panels and although
she’s yet to earn a victory at the distance, she’s placed three times. She was
fourth in last year’s Barbara Fritchie.
Rowd E Allie could be ready for the step up in company. She
completed last year with a three race win streak over allowance foes at PARX.
She’s now stepping up in class and distance, plus trying a new track surface for
the first time It’s a lot to ask, but trainer Kelly Breen is 20% with shippers.
Rowd E Allie is a confirmed front runner, and owns the highest early pace speed
figure in the race. if Wonder Gal doesn’t press too hard, perhaps Rowd E Allie
could steal it. Stranger things have
happened.
Regia Marina ships in from Tampa and takes on tougher for her first
start of the season. She was third in her only start at seven furlongs and has never
competed at Laurel. Trainer Eoin Harty is 17% with shippers, but has a 2% win
rate in graded stakes.
Four of the last five editions of
the Barbara Fritchie were won by pace setters or pressers. Rowd E Allie and Wonder Gal do their best on the
front end. By the Moon likes to be up close and is the only filly in the race
with a victory at the distance.
Selections:
By the Moon and Clothes Fall
Off have the class and running style
to win. High Ridge Road could be
competitive. Sweet On Smokey is the
longshot to watch. Takrees and Wonder Gal could fill out exotics too.
#3 By the Moon
#7 Clothes Fall Off
#1 High Ridge Road
#5 Sweet
On Smokey – longshot pick.
Handigambling: Normally, I would wait to see the odds before
betting a tri box, since it may not be worth the cost. If I was spending my own hard-earned dollars,
I would bet one or two longshots for $2 WP bets and skip the fancy stuff.
$2 Tri Box #3 #7, #1, = $12
$2 Tri Box #3, #7, #5,
= $12
$2 Tri Box #3, #7
#8 = $12
$2 Tri Box #3, #7, #6
= $12
$4 Exacta Box = #3,
#7, #1, #5 = $48
$4 W/P #5 at odds 4-1
or higher
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