| Keeneland Friday, October 05, 2012 "Alcibiades Stakes Preview" (Post Time: 5:21 p.m. ET) Surface: All Weather Track, 1 1/16 Miles, Fillies, 2 Year Olds, G1 STAKES, Purse: $400,000 |
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PURE INDY won her Del Mar debut as the favorite, rallying from last going 5 ½ furlongs. She was at a disadvantage in her next start, the Barretts Debutante, a 6 ½ furlongs sprint over the Fairplex bull ring. She checked in fifth that day, after breaking poorly on a track that favors front runners. It’s encouraging to see them ship across the country for this Grade 1 event while bringing jockey Victor Espinoza along for the ride. If things get going too fast up front she has the stamina and ability to finish well.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey have had success in this race. They won it last year with Stephanie’s Kitten. This year, they bring KITTEN’S DUMPLINGS, a first out winner at Saratoga. She took that debut effort despite having to rally from behind and twice bumping hard at the start. Her second race, the Grade 2 Natalma, saw her come running as far back as 13th to finish fourth by 2 ¼ lengths. Today, the Michael Maker trained filly gets a rider upgrade as JJ Castellano returns to the irons. This is the most complete horse in the race.
ROSE TO GOLD was purchased for just $1.4k as a yearling. The daughter of Friend’s Lake has won her first two races, both stakes races, by a combined 26 ½ lengths. Granted she didn’t face much that is still impressive. Today the Sal Santoro pupil will get the acid test. Jesus Rios has made the trip to ride.
ALMOST AN ANGEL boasts a strong pedigree for synthetic. Wes Ward excels at Keeneland and will be returning his pupil to filly foes as she faced open company in the With Anticipation last out. Her lone win came in a six furlongs turf sprint at Belmont. The daughter of Artie Schiller will be ridden by Elvis Trujillo.
Trainer Ken McPeek has had plenty of Keeneland success and was second in this race last year with Putthebabiesdown. This year he brings $425k purchase FULLY LIVING. She won her debut like a good thing in late May at Belmont, but has failed in three stakes tries since. She was last seen in the wake of Dreaming of Julia, 16 ¼ lengths back in second.
D Wayne Lukas used to dominate the stakes scene, but hasn’t been the same in recent years. He isn’t all the way gone though and will look to secure a trip to the Breeders’ Cup with BROKEN SPELL. The daughter of Broken Vow was last seen just missing in the $100k PG Johnson Stakes at Saratoga. An improvement on that race might be good enough to win this Grade 1 event.
GOLD EDGE is an undefeated Grade 3 stakes winner, the only lass in this group that can say that. Chris Emigh gave her a masterful ride in the Arlington-Washington Lassie, relaxing her off the lead only to come again and score the win on the wire. Lon Wiggins is the trainer and Emigh will retain the ride.
LA SONG almost scored a 37-1 upset in the Arlington-Washington Lassie after free wheeling on the lead, but was caught by the aforementioned Gold Edge. She should make the front again under jockey Jeffrey Sanchez. Wayne Catalano trains the daughter of Unbridled’s Song.
Mark Casse’s SPRING IN THE AIR was an emphatic 10 ½ length maiden winner going six furlongs on Woodbine’s synthetic surface. After that, she rallied from 11th to end up second in the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes on the grass. A switch back to Poly Track figures to help move her up. Patrick Husbands, who rode her in the maiden score, is making the trip to ride.
TARA FROM THE CAPE has two races for Todd Pletcher after breaking her maiden at first asking for Ricky Griffith at Woodbine. Those races were a win in an overnight stakes event at Delaware where she was the heavy chalk and a third place effort in the PG Johnson after pressing the pace. Ramon Dominguez will retain the mount.
Todd Pletcher will also saddle Glencrest Farm’s SKYFALL. She won her debut at Saratoga in a race that came off the grass before being trounced in the PG Johnson Stakes. John Velazquez will pick the mount back up after riding her in the debut.
SPEEDINTHRUTHECITY was twice second to the monster Executiveprivilege before finishing third by a neck in the Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes at Del Mar. She was defeated by only a neck that day in a very close photo finish. Moving back to a synthetic surface could help her and she figures to have enough stamina through Thunder Gulch on the dams side to get today’s distance. Julien Leparoux picks up the mount for Peter Miller.
MAGICAL MOON sped thru 5 ½ furlongs on the Saratoga lawn while drawing clear by 10 ¼ lengths. That massive effort will make her one of the favorites in this race. Anna Napravnik retains the mount on the bay daughter of Malibu Moon out of the Lord at War mare Lady Dora. Al Stall, who has had success in Keeneland’s juvenile stakes races, will saddle her.
Larry Jones will bring Arlington Washington Lassie third place finisher DANCINGINTHECIRCLE to this Grade 1 race. If not for a bump at the break she might have won that race. Robby Albarado will pick up the mount on this girl who rounds out the field.
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