4393.7815
The Lake Georgina
Grade II
A mile and one sixteenth
Firm Turf
$150,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old
What a magnificent day of racing that was put together in Upper New York. This is the final turf race of the day and it is just as much of a handicapper's puzzle as all the others. Here we have the Lake Georgina for three year old fillies going 1 1/16 on the turf for $150k and for a win or placing in a grade 2 caliber race. These young fillies are trying to establish themselves and create resumes' of their own. These are our sports future stars. We have a very competitive field of nine going to post with the favorite at a very nice 4-1 and the longest shot at only 10-1. Lets take a look at the field as they head on to the race track:
Breaking from post one is JAGGED STREET from the stables of Bond77. A Grade 3 placed daughter of First Defence, JAGGED STREET has really begun to blossom of late. She has earned just under $200k from her ten exacta finishes in thirteen career starts and has never been off the board in her eight turf contests. She ran two straight races in which she earned speed figures of 104 in winning the listed "West Of Slew Special" and finishing second in the Grade 3 "Chloe Stakes" and should be set for another huge try here. She has a real nice stalking style and will be hoping for a bit of pace in front to really set up her kick. JAGGED STREET looks to be a major player in this spot.
Next in line is Balata's BROKEN KEY. A Grade 2 winning filly by sire Broken Vow, BROKEN KEY is another that really blossomed with the surface switch. Overall she has won four of twelve starts for $384k but on the turf alone her record is two wins and a second from four starts including wins in the Grade 2 "Regina Elena" and Grade 3 "Feeling Bad" stakes. She faded badly last time out when promting a quick pace going 1 1/2 miles in the grade 1 "Irish Oaks" but that race can be forgiven. She should be much better at this shorter trip and her 104 speed figure two back is good enough to take this. BROKEN KEY is a confirmed front runner and would really enjoy if allowed to go uncontested on the front. BROKEN KEY is a major contender for top honors.
From post position number three we have HAWK'S SWEET SONG from the Shiekabner stable. A beautifully bred filly by A.P. Indy, HAWK'S SWEET SONG has never finished worse than third in thirteen career starts for earnings of $283k. More impressively, she is unbeaten and untested in four career turf tries including a win in the listed "Bluto Cup". She steps up here against a much tougher field than she has seen thus far but judging by her previous tries she should be right there at the wire. Her top speed figure of 100 and the 99 last out show she fits at this level and there really is no telling in how fast she can go if tested. HAWK'S SWEET SONG has a ton of talent and now we will find out how good she really is.
FALLING FIRE from Given stables will break from the fourth slot. This daughter of Awesome Again has won five of eleven starts for just over $240k. FALLING FIRE is a stakes winner and also is multiple Grade 1 placed. She finished a nice third last out in the Grade 1 "United Oaks" and previously second in the "French Diana" both at longer distances than she goes today. She is coming off a career best speed figure effort when getting a 101 and must avoid regressing in this spot. FALLING FIRE has shown different running styles thus far and it looks as if she is most comfortable coming from just off the pace. There is no doubt that FALLING FIRE is a very good filly but there are a few questions primarily about her distance preference that may be her undoing.
In post position five we see the stakes placed filly by Unusual Heat, RED HOT STORY. Running for the Dixiedotco stables, RED HOT STORY has finished first or second in seven of eight starts for $93k. She is super fast early and her speed figures have really gotten big her last couple starts topping out at 101 when second in the listed "Gold Inferno Memorial". Her only previous venture into graded company found her stopping badly when finishing fourth beaten ten lengths. RED HOT STORY may be fast enough to win this with any more improvement but I am not sure she will have that opportunity today. She faces serious pressure from the other speed types which may hurt her chances of showing off her best.
Going to post in the six hole for Skunkbarn stables is DUCHESS OF SKUNK. Sired by Duke Of Marmalade, this Grade 3 winning filly has won four of twelve starts and earned just over $200k. DUCHESS OF SKUNK did not appreciate the 10 1/2 furlongs of the Grade 1 "French Diana" last out and the cutback here will help. Her fifth place finish in the Grade 1 "1000 Guineas" wasn't bad but she did hang badly in the stretch. She just did not have the same finish that she showed when winning the Grade 3 "Irish 100 Guineas trial". DUCHESS OF SKUNK has run a high speed figure of 103 and regressed in her two starts since. It is a possibility that the competition was too tough which does not bode well as this field is just as talented as those. DUCHESS OF SKUNK will be finding her best stride late in the contest and needs to bring a much improved effort to win this race.
Oneworld stables brings us our next entry, STORMY TREBRE. This Grade 3 winning daughter of Stormy Atlantic has earned over $350k despite having only two wins in twelve starts. She is also Grade 1 placed when finishing second last time out in the "United Oaks" at ten furlongs. STORMY TREBRE has really gotten good as the distances have increased. This is a pretty steep cut back in distance which may keep her from running her best. STORMY TREBRE has recorded new top speed figures in her last two starts of 102 and 100 and also must avoid the dreaded "bounce factor". She is a deep closer and it looks like a lively pace will develop in front of her yet STORMY TREBRE may have trouble unleashing her best finish at this distance.
Next up in post eight we have Lsumark's PYRGOMACHE. A grade 3 placed filly by Mineshaft, PYRGOMACHE had her four race winning streak snapped in the Grade 3 "Hot Springs" last time out when finishing third. The going gets even tougher here and PYRGOMACHE has yet to run a speed figure over 97 which is why she is the longest shot in this field. She ran two straight 97 speed figures which may be a sign of improvement and she gets a firm turf course for only the second time so maybe she shows more here. PYRGOMACHE has shown a ton of ability but today will get a very big class test.
And rounding out the field will be RAHAHAHY from the sendem stables. A stakes winning daughter of Sharp Humor, RAHAHAHY has won four times in her eleven contests to date and earned just under $100k. She won the listed "Nurey Evermore Memorial" two races back earning a fine speed figure of 102 and regressed sharply when third in the "Bluto Cup" behind one of today's rivals. RAHAHAHY will look to sit in the middle of the pack before unleashing her bid. This is a much tougher group than she has ever faced which will make improvement a difficult task. RAHAHAHY can compete if able to run back to her best but it looks as if her best days are still yet to come.
Top choice goes to JAGGED STREET. Place to HAWK'S SWEET SONG and the show to FALLING FIRE.
