To kick off the stakes action on Saturday November 7 is the Filly and Mare Sprint with a field of 9 horses. With morning line 7/5 Gamine and several others under 10/1 looking to add to their already stellar racing career resumes.
Top Pick
Gamine
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Johnny Velasquez
Owner: Michael Lund Peterson
5-3-0-1 Lifetime $480,000 Earnings
3rd in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks @ Churchill
Won Grade 1 Test Stakes @ Saratoga
Won the Grade 1 Acorn @ Belmont
DQ'd OC100k 1st to 11th
A daughter of Into Mischief (Harlan's Holiday) looks to be the best in this field. The past 3 races she has posted speed figures well over 100. Seems to be the pace setter in here, so should be an easy win. However I will look for an upset as always just to throw a wrench into the mix, though its tough to beat Baffert and Johnny V.
Longshot Pick
Come Dancing
Trainer: Carlos Martin
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owner: Blue Devil Racing Stable
18-9-3-0 Lifetime $1.1 million Earnings 2020
Won Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap @ Saratoga
4th in the Grade 1 Ballerina @ Saratoga
2019 (6-4-1)
Won the Grade 2 Gallant Blossom Handicap @ Belmont
Won the Grade 1 Ballarina @ Saratoga
Won the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps @ Belmont
Daughter of Malibu Moon (AP Indy) and Tizahit (Tiznow), look as if she may be back in her form from 2019. She struggled at the start of the 2020 campaign and finally broke through with a win in the Honorable Miss and posted A 102 speed figure. Irad gets the mount back on her here and will be close to the 2nd betting choice.
Bells the One
Trainer: Neil Pessin
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Owner: Lothenbach Stables LLC
14-7-2-1 Lifetime $790,000 Earnings
Won the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff @ Churchill
3rd in the Grade 1 Madison @ Keeneland
Won the Grade 3 Winning Colors @ Churchill
This horse seems to be enjoying her 2020 campaign as a 4 year old and has 2 big victories in the Distaff and the Winning Colors putting up big speed numbers in each. Seems to always run a big race when the stakes are high and I believe connections like her spot in here even with heavy favorite Gamine.
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