Best Bets in the Princess Rooney Stakes
By: John Caro, S. FL ThoroFan
Welcome back to South Florida. Weather is expected to be sunny in the morning, with our usual chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. It’s a 40% chance of a shower or two which might add some moisture to the track. Hopefully, the ladies can handle it without incident.
The race is for three and older fillies and mares. We don’t have any younger gals in this one; all are four and older. This is a sprint race, and we have some specialists ready to light it up with their speed. Lots of speed. Then again, there is the pace factor.
#1 Estilo Talentoso – Arriagada/Castellano – She certainly lives up to her Talented Style name. Of her seven races at 7 furlongs, she has never been out of the money. And out of six races at Gulfstream, she’s been in the money every time. In her four contests in the off-track, she’s been first or second on all occasions. And speed at this distance is excellent. She has run with maybe the best in the country, Gamine, and lost to her by two and a half lengths in a Grade I. In the Grade I Madison at Keeneland, she dead-heated for second. Although she can close well, my only concern is if the track comes up fast, the pace may find her short of first place. Nevertheless, she is very talented and a must-use on your ticket.
#2 Heiressall – Pompey/Vasquez – Although she hasn’t had a graded stakes finish in the money, she is a black-type winner, with more than half her money being won at this distance. Be careful with this one as she can run with a hot pace and show up in the money or on top as she did in the Sheer Drama here last fall. She won her last race here and is on a third off a layoff. Hard to say she will win but, she goes on my trifecta.
#3 Thissmytime – O’Connell/Jaramillo – She’s only run once in graded company and finished second against Pacific Gale in the Inside Information Stakes. She loves Gulfstream with in the money finishes six of seven times and three wins. She has one win and two seconds at seven furlongs. Her racing speed average is the highest of the group (even with a 48 in the race she was pulled up in). Her best speed and pace was at Gulfstream Park West with a 105 against eight others in the slop going this distance. That race was won on the front end, and the three-quarter-mile time is the fastest of this Bunch. If it’s wet, this might be the winner given the layoff, the trainer’s graded stakes record, and a jockey who likes to get up and go. If the track is fast, I expect this one to be in the money. I think Kathleen has a plan, and Jaramillo can make this a top Longshot at 6-1.
#4 Pacific Gale – Kimmel/Maragh - She has two graded stakes wins here at Gulfstream and does her best work when tracking a leader. Still, her recent race suggests she was not enthused about the sloppy conditions at Belmont when beaten by Estilo Talentoso. Not sure what to think about a horse that seems to be too polite to win? I don’t see getting to the winner's circle but will put her in the bottom tier of exotics.
#5 Ce Ce – McCarthy/Espinosa – A lot has been written about this gal as of late. And she has nearly a million dollars under her saddle to verify her abilities. Her record shows she’s only gone this distance twice with one win and a fourth-place finish (against G-I company), hitting 97 Bris speed at seven furlongs. She’s actually better going longer. She’s had rest for 42 days which was good for the last attempt at seven furlongs against optional claiming company, but other breaks in training haven’t always shown a move forward. Her classy history of G-I company suggests she can’t be out of consideration, and apparently, the horsemen at Gulfstream like her so much they gave her the high weight. I think that shows respect by the race officials as she has never come to Gulfstream. Yes, she's playable.
#6 – Laura’s Light – Miller/Geroux – Another Western invader who has a great record going a mile on the lawn. Taken off the grass last time with this jockey at Lone Star Park, she slew four others in the slop with a moderate time. I don’t have a good feel for what she might do on a fast track, but given performance on an off track and the crafty ride by Geroux, she must be used if conditions are wet to sloppy. Since she is a Constitution kid, I would have to think she may go well under any condition. She’s a top contender with fair odds.
#7 – Hallawallah – Avila/Berrios – Any mare with God’s name in it must be worthy of praise. And here is a remarkable thing about her. She has the best middle pace and final times of all of today’s contenders. This is a big step up in class, but given her performance in her last out ya kinda have to wonder if she might do something special (at 20-1). She got stretched out in a mile and a sixteenth, losing badly, and took about 120-day break and come back with a 99 Bris speed figure and a 105 middle pace number. I think she may have found her distance as she’s won at a mile and at seven furlongs. The only concern here is can she handle an off track? No stats to say she can, but Candyride kids are mudders, and she is likely a candidate for a good trip on an off track. Another longshot with potential. I’ll show you how I’ll play her*.
#8 – Sound Machine – Joseph, S/Zayas – Gotta love the connections because, as a team, they do very well at Gulfstream. She won last out after being bumped out of position here in the Musical Romance Stakes (BT) going shorter. She lost by two to Pacific Gale in the Hurricane Bertie Stakes three back (also going shorter). When she could not sustain the lead through the stretch, I don’t think she will match the speed or the pace. Not in the top today.
So I think the pace will make this race and will challenge any closer, even the ones who can come from near the pace. If it sets up with the speed up front, it should be exciting.
Handigambling
The speed of the speed on paper are #7, #3 & #1.
$0.50 Trifecta – 1,3 with 1,3,6,7 with All $18. You could play this up to three times $54
$2 Exacta – All with 7* & 2 $28
$1 Exacta – All with 7* $7
$11 Win 7*
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