Long Way Left to Run
A fascinating Sunday card in store, with some cracking fillies on show in the day's feature Allowance contest and the little matter of the one-and-a-half mile Marathon race
AMANDA has been holding her own in excellent company this season and her win last time over INDYGOGOLD and WIDE AWAKE was decisive. She looks the one they have to beat. SHAMRA may appreciate the return to 6 1/2 furlongs after two sub-par efforts over the ‘long’ course. A repeat of her June win over U Did It would make her hard to handle. REMARKABLE ANGEL makes her first appearance for new connections after being claimed last time, although this also represents a return to deeper waters.
This promises to be a fascinating tussle between ERLICH and the two Willow Creek-owned rivals, LAUGH WITH ME and FRANKIE MACHINE. Erlich arrived late and full of running when beating both opponents last time, but all three run as though the additional furlong should suit. ARTISTIC JEWLER’s style also suggests she might enjoy the additional real estate, while stablemate OUREVELADY is normally seen closing rapidly in the final stages - although this is unknown territory in terms of distance.
Her season debut apart, PINEAPPLE TIDBITS has won or hit the board in each of her nine appearances this term and reappears for her former stable after being re-claimed last time. THE KAT’S BACK had ANOTHERSUNNYDAY just behind in her two most recent starts and should confirm superiority again here, while this represents marginal class relief for ARIKARA who has been running solidly against better horses than she faces today.
WELLSLEY has improved with each race to-date and was only caught close home last time. He looks ready to break his maiden soon. Conversely, FILLY FATALE has lost her way a little after a terrific second-place finish in the BC Cup Debutante Stakes back in August. ENGLSH BAY TEDDY, meanwhile, enjoyed a stress-free debut back in July but has been out of action since, while DADDY’S PEPPER unseated his rider last time and is better judged on a seventh-place behind WELLSLEY in his debut.
PRETTY ARIA (above) has performed consistently well all year and her second-place finish to Rea Mea, with WANDALITA behind, suggests a fourth win of the season is within reach. AYELLOWROSEOFTEXAS and VIVA LA VINO chased home Kloepatra in the BC Oaks last month with both then far from disgraced behind the useful Boitano last time. That form looks rock solid and both can make their presence felt again.
WISELY PLAYED’s win last time was reward for some consistent performances this term and he should be a factor again today in what looks a wide-open contest. VALUABLE COWBOY returns to a level above where he won last time as he makes his bow for new connections following his claim. GREYTOGO signalled his wellbeing with a two-length win over Texas Legacy earlier this month, while BETTER TONE had HANKY PRANKY, SLOOP JOHN B and SHARPZAN behind him when chasing home the useful Florida Gator last time.
It’s surely only a matter of time before DRILL BABY DRILL gets her head in front after two narrow second-place finishes. AUNTIE J has only had one run but wasn’t beaten too far in fourth behind Champiosa and would need only moderate improvement from that debut to be a major factor here. That sentiment also applies to QUALITY PLUS, who makes just her third career start. HARBOUR STORM’s 1/2-length second to Keepingthedream two starts ago puts her firmly in the mix.
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