AMERICAN GRADED STAKES
PREVIEWS
| GOLDEN ROD S.
(G2), 9TH-CD, $250,000, 2YO, F, 1 1/16M, 3:28 P.M. (EST), 11-24 |
|
| 1 |
PURE CLAN, 2, f, by Pure PrizeGather the Clan (Ire), by General Assembly O-Lewis G Lakin; B-A. Lakin & Sons, Inc. (Ky) |
| 2 |
GREENHAVEN LAKE, 2, f, by Greenwood LakeNight Mountain, by Mountain Native O-Running Grey Stable Inc (Ernest P R; B-Jane C. Hinkle & Greenwood L (Ky) |
| 3 |
TURN AWAY, 2, f, by Empire MakerAverti, by Known Fact O-Juddmonte Farms (Khalid Abdullah); B-Juddmonte Farms Inc. (Ky) |
| 4 |
C J’S LEELEE, 2, f, by Mizzen MastFight to Love, by Fit to Fight O-Sarah Lyn Stables Llc (Carl Gessler; B-Hargus Sexton Sandra Sexton (Ky) |
| 5 |
SUNDAY HOLIDAY, 2, f, by Sunday Break (Jpn)Militant Maid, by Metfield O-Zayat Stables Llc (Ahmed Zayat); B-Ancient Oak Thoroughbreds (Ky) |
| 6 |
MORAKAMI, 2, f, by Fusaichi PegasusAstrid, by Concern O-Louise I & G Watts Humphrey Jr; B-Devil Eleven Stable & Waterville (Ky) |
| 7 |
MINEWANDER, 2, f, by MineshaftWander Storm, by Storm Bird O-Carl F Pollard; B-Jaime S Carrion Trustee (Ky) |
| 8 |
FRENCH KISS, 2, f, by HussonetOrnate, by Gilded Time O-Anita Ebert; B-Anita A Ebert (Ky) |
Saturday’s $250,000 Golden Rod S. (G2) features a field of eight juvenile
fillies, including the unbeaten PURE CLAN (Pure Prize), who rallied for a 1
1/4-length decision in the Pocahontas S. (G3) last time out. We respect the Bob Holthus runner, but TURN AWAY (Empire Maker) is our top pick.
Conditioned by Bobby Frankel, Turn Away will make her stakes bow off a
dominant 9 1/4-length score over maiden special weight rivals in her first
career start. That performance came at the tricky seven-furlong distance at
Churchill Downs, and the bay miss registered very respectable BRIS Speed and
Pace ratings for her effort. She’ll likely show speed from her inside post, and
Turn Away appears capable of making it two straight.
MORAKAMI (Fusaichi Pegasus) will offer the opportunity for some value. The
Rusty Arnold pupil recorded a smart two-length score when making her career
debut at Saratoga and followed it with a fourth in the Spinaway S. (G1). In the
Alcibiades S. (G1) last out, the dark bay lass was rank during the early stages
over the Polytrack at Keeneland, leading early before settling just off the pace
under Javier Castellano. She didn’t disgrace herself finishing fifth, and we
expect to see improvement in her return to the dirt. Shaun Bridgmohan will pick
up the mount.
Pure Clan has closed stoutly to win all three career efforts, including her
first two starts over the turf, and she’ll be running late on Saturday with
Julien Leparoux. The chestnut will face stiffer company in this spot, and there
isn’t much speed present. She might be vulnerable.
C J’S LEELEE (Mizzen Mast) goes from turf to dirt off a 4 1/4-length
allowance score at Churchill, and gray filly will keep Robby Albarado in the
saddle. She did capture her lone dirt attempt under the Twin Spires, breaking
her maiden by 5 1/2 lengths in May, and the Kenny McPeek charge shows a sharp
work in preparation for this appearance. C J’s Leelee looms a threat from just
off the pace.
SUNDAY HOLIDAY (Sunday Break [Jpn]) exits a pair of third-place finishes in
the Tempted S. (G3) and Frizette S. (G1), and the Bill Mott-trained filly will
attempt to get involved late here. She’s eligible to clunk up for a small share,
but we’ll go against.
FRENCH KISS (Hussonet) easily broke her maiden last time, but we’ll give her
a race at the graded level. MINEWANDER (Mineshaft) doesn’t look fast enough to
contend. GREENHAVEN LAKE (Greenwood Lake) is still a maiden and appears
overmatched.