AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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INDIANA OAKS (G2), 11TH-HOO, $200,000, 3YO, F, 1 1/16M, 5:26 P.M. EDT, 10-2 |
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| 1 |
SEEKING THE TITLE, 3, f, by Seeking the GoldTitle Seeker, by Monarchos O-Charles E. Fipke; B-Charles Fipke (Ky) |
| 2 |
FUZZY BRITCHES, 3, f, by Pollard’s VisionFlame Trick, by Mt. Livermore O-Naveed Chowhan; B-Lansdon B. Robbins (Ky) |
| 3 |
HARISSA, 3, f, by Afleet AlexDynasty, by Time for a Change O-Gem Inc.; B-Jeanne Bruce (Ky) |
| 4 |
W W AMERICAN, 3, f, by Quiet AmericanLatin Lynx, by Forest Wildcat O-William Stiritz; B-Darley (Ky) |
| 5 |
SHAKALEENA, 3, f, by Silver DeputyLorline, by Olympio O-Mast Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky) |
| 6 |
ALWAYS A PRINCESS, 3, f, by Leroidesanimaux (Brz)Gabriellina Giof (GB), by Ashkalani O-Arnold Zetcher LLC; B-Arnold Zetcher LLC (Ky) |
| 7 |
ASH ZEE, 3, f, by Exchange RateWickedly Wise, by Tactical Cat O-Zayat Stables LLC; B-Y-Lo Racing Stables LLC (Fl) |
SEEKING THE TITLE (Seeking the Gold) and HARISSA (Afleet Alex) opened up on
their rivals back in June when finishing one-two in the Iowa Oaks (G3), and
while we don’t feel the gap between the two and the rest of the pack will be as
large in Saturday’s $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G2) at Hoosier Park, we still feel
they’re the best of the seven three-year-old fillies in the 1 1/16-mile heat.
Seeking the Title demonstrated she is not among the leaders of her class when
fading to fifth in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) two back, but with a
little racing luck she’s proven at this level. Unfortunately, bad luck was in
abundance when she lost her rider in the Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) and had a
horrible trip in the Acorn S. (G1). However, she rebounded from those two races
to snatch victory away from Harissa in the final strides of the Iowa Oaks, and
last time ran a good second in the Monmouth Oaks (G3) despite dropping farther
off the pace than usual.
There appears to be plenty of speed to set things up for Seeking the Title,
and she should enjoy a ground-saving ride from Robby Albarado.
Harissa skipped some of the other major three-year-old filly stakes of the
summer after the Iowa Oaks. She recently returned at Monmouth and scored a
handsome four-length win against second-level allowance/optional claiming foes,
finishing one mile and 70 yards in a solid 1:42 over a slow-playing track. That
was her debut for trainer Michael Hushion, who’s been winning at a strong 28
percent clip on the year. She looks dangerous here off her last start.
ASH ZEE (Exchange Rate) stretches out for the first time here for trainer
Steve Asmussen. The gray squeezed in three starts during the extended Saratoga
meeting, twice winning at the allowance level and running a respectable
dead-heat fourth in the Test S. (G1) after stumbling at the start. She’s expended so much energy
winning overnight races recently, however, that we’re a bit reluctant to back her
against this kind. At the very least she’ll be a pace factor for a while.
We’re taking a stand against ALWAYS A PRINCESS (Leroidesanimaux [Brz])
despite the fact she has Bob Baffert and Martin Garcia in her corner. Second in
the Oak Leaf S. (G1) and a close fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1) last fall, she only recently returned to the races on September 8, passing
her first allowance condition going six furlongs at Del Mar. Unlike a lot of the
good California-based synthetic types, her pedigree is heavily tilted toward
turf. Indeed, her dad was the champion grass male of 2005. We’ll pass on the
expected short price and watch how she does on dirt.
Stakes winner FUZZY BRITCHES (Pollard’s Vision) has placed in a couple of subpar
renewals of graded stakes, but is clearly heading in the wrong direction based
on her last two starts. There was a reason why this Grade 2-placed filly was
entered to be claimed for $100,000 two back. SHAKALEENA (Silver Deputy) just
lost for a $30,000 tag, while W W AMERICAN (Quiet American) looks too slow on
paper.