The Alabama Stakes (G1) was run on Aug. 17 at Saratoga Race Course and Dunbar Road finished strong to capture the ten furlong stamina test for sophomore fillies. She is lightly raced and on the improve for Chad Brown, and he also has Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1) winner Guarana.
Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Dunbar Road capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest. Later that same day at Del Mar, Fighting Mad was too fleet for her rivals in the Torrey Pines (G3). The Bob Baffert trainee won by eight lengths but might not want to travel longer distances against top company.
Alabama Stakes (G1) Recap (8-17-19): Winner: Dunbar Road ($5.50)
The track was sloppy in this mile and a quarter stamina test for 3-year-old fillies. Speed did not hold in this race. Champagne Anyone, Ulele, and Lady Apple were all right there early and nowhere late. Point of Honor made a nice outside move under Javier Castellano, and it looked for a brief moment that she might spurt clear, but Street Band went with that one and would not go away. Meanwhile, Dunbar Road was patiently ridden and always traveling well under Jose Ortiz, and she had all of the momentum in the stretch and pulled clear to win by a bit less than three lengths. Point of Honor won the place battle by a nose over Street Band, and the top three were 5+ clear of Off Topic and Afleet Destiny. The three aforementioned early runners completed the order of finish.
Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) Recap (8-17-19) - Winner: Fighting Mad ($6.60)
This race was settled right out of the gate. Fighting Mad stretched out for Baffert, made a clear early lead though very reasonable splits, and scampered away in the lane to win by eight lengths. Hollywood Hills rallied from last to land the place as the longest shot on the board. Into Chocolate stalked and tried to make a run at the winner, and she lost 2nd late. Kim K was 4th, followed by High Regard, Sneaking Out, and Classic Fit.
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (8-27-19)
#1 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner easily handled 10f in Alabama (G1). #2 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Sept. 21 Cotillion (G1) at Parx is next.
#3 - POINT OF HONOR - Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner finished 2nd in CCAO (G1) and Alabama (G1).
#4 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner 2nd in Acorn (G1) and 2nd in Test (G1). #5 - BELLAFINA - 6-time graded winner has worked twice at Del Mar since distant 3rd in Test (G1).
Bolton Landing Stakes Recap (8-14-19) - Winner: Kimari ($2.50)
Kimari is a fleet 2-year-old filly turf sprinter for Wesley Ward, and she made very short work of this field. She held a brief early lead through some fast fractions (21.55 opening quarter). She ran presser Vast off her feet, and stalker Abscond was also left behind. She won by 4-lengths while under a hand ride. John Velazquez was simply a passenger today. Abscond held 2nd by a length over Champagne Humor, and Vast weakened to 4th. Classic Sadie was next and it was 6+ lengths back to trailer Persian Queen.
Union Avenue Stakes Recap (8-15-19) - Winner: Carrera Cat ($13.20)
This was an interesting six pack. The pace figured to be quick, and the two patient favorites seemingly held the edge, but it did not turn out that way. Baby Boss opened up early through an opening quarter in 22.26, and Carrera Cat went after her and was on even terms after a half in 44.67. Just like that, Carrera Cat was a length in a half in front in the stretch, and she increased her winning margin to 2-1/4 lengths under Rajiv Maragh. Post time favorite Holiday Disguise chased the pace and dug in to hold the place by a neck over late runner Jc’s Shooting Star. Fair Regis was 4th and my top choice Bonita Bianca was a length behind her in a non-effort. Baby Boss was all by herself in last place.
Skidmore Stakes Recap (8-16-19) - Winner: Another Miracle ($7.10)
Race favorite Montauk Daddy showed an impressive display of early speed (21.82, 44.82), and he opening up by four lengths with about two furlongs to go. He looked gone turning for home but his lead started to evaporate. Another Miracle and Proven Strategies were in chase mode throughout, and the former was moving better and reeled in the leader to prevail by a length and three-quarters. Proven Strategies just got past Montauk Daddy for the place, and the top three were well clear of Memorable. Now It, Venerate, Frosted Rose, and River Hawk completed the order of finish.
Smart N Fancy Stakes Recap (8-17-19) - Winner: Oleksandra ($10.00)
Morticia was overbet as the even money favorite. Counting today, she has lost five of the last seven times as the chalk. Once again, we had a Saratoga turf sprint with quick fractions, and the fast and firm conditions would not last much longer. Too Much Tip challenged Morticia early, and they were rolling right along (21.37 and 43.29). Broadway Run added blinkers and was in chase mode, but she could not keep pace, and the top two were done as well. Oleksandra was more than content to sit back in last place, and she made her move in the stretch under Joel Rosario. She was full of run and burst away by a length over Miss Gossip. Ruby Notion got past Morticia late to secure the show. Fire Key, Broadway Run, and Too Much Tip trailed.
Lake Placid Stakes Recap (8-17-19) - Dead-Head Winners: Varenka ($2.90), Regal Glory ($3.10)
Rain was in the area and the inner turf course was good for this sophomore filly route. The pace was very slow, and that was expected. Blowout was on cruise control up front (26.36, 51.10, and 1:15.39). She was going too slow for her own good, and you kind of knew the well-fancied runners with the strong kick would get her. That was the case and her stablemate Regal Glory made the first move, and chalk Varenka made the last move. It was too close to call and there was a dead-heat for the win. It looked like Varenka might have had it, but Regal Glory got her nose down at the last possible moment to share the win. Blowout was 3rd, and the tightly grouped field was completed by stalkers Amandrea and Vow To Recover, and Feel Glorious (trailed throughout).
Alabama Stakes (G1) Recap (8-17-19): Winner: Dunbar Road ($5.50)
The track was sloppy in this mile and a quarter stamina test for 3-year-old fillies. Speed did not hold in this race. Champagne Anyone, Ulele, and Lady Apple were all right there early and nowhere late. Point of Honor made a nice outside move under Javier Castellano, and it looked for a brief moment that she might spurt clear, but Street Band went with that one and would not go away. Meanwhile, Dunbar Road was patiently ridden and always traveling well under Jose Ortiz, and she had all of the momentum in the stretch and pulled clear to win by a bit less than three lengths. Point of Honor won the place battle by a nose over Street Band, and the top three were 5+ clear of Off Topic and Afleet Destiny. The three aforementioned early runners completed the order of finish.
Summer Colony Stakes Recap (8-18-19) - Winner: Blue Prize ($3.20)
Blue Prize was a standout on paper, and she looked like a sure winner as long as the track was fast. She got her preferred footing and made the last run to get by stubborn stalker Vexatious. The two two were 14+ clear of show finisher Alberobello. Skeptic, Pacific Wind, Breaking Bread, and Tweeting also ran. The winner figures to return to the graded ranks in the near future. She won the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland last fall, so look for her to return to that venue for a title defense.
Article by Jarrod Horak
Photo by Josh Chicorelli
It is time to update the 3-year-old filly top five list. Guarana, my top ranked filly heading into last weekend's Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), stretched out in that event and ran her record to a perfect 3-for-3, but she was not nearly as impressive around two turns. Does she retain the #1 spot?
Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) Recap (7-21-19) - Winner: Guarana ($2.50)
Guarana could not have been more impressive in her first two wins around one turn, including the Acorn (G1) at Belmont. This nine furlong affair was her longest test to date, and she was the controlling speed. The Chad Brown trainee was never headed and got the job done by a length, but she did not dominate this event. She was never seriously threatened but it appears as though she has distance limitations. Point of Honor ran a big race to land the place. She was wide from the outside post and rallied from last in the compact 5-horse field. This race served its purpose as a prep for the Alabama (G1), and she figures to love ten furlongs. Off Topic was best of the rest in 3rd, and Champagne Anyone pressed the pace and weakened to 4th in her first start since the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Boxwood trailed.
Jarrod Horak’s Fabulous Five Sophomore Fillies (7-27-19)
#1 - POINT OF HONOR - Exits strong 2nd in CCAO (G1). She is the one to beat in Aug 17 Alabama (G1).
#2 - DUNBAR ROAD - Mother Goose (G2) winner breezed 5f at Saratoga July 27. Goes next in Alabama.
#3 - GUARANA - Acorn (G1) & CCAO (G1) winner is 3-for-3. Might have distance limitations.
#4 - BELLAFINA - 6-time graded stakes winner goes next in Saratoga's Test (G1) Aug 3.
#5 - SERENGETI EMPRESS - Triple graded winner 2nd in Acorn (G1). Test is next target.
Article by Jarrod Horak
You can read all of my 3-year-old division reports on my Fab 5 Fillies page, and my daily full cards from Del Mar can be found on my Runaway Horse Sales page.
