VA Oaks-GIII

7/16/2011   CNL   Race #3   1 1/8m   Turf   Graded Stake Purse $150.000 For Fillies Three Years Old

This weekend CNL features two graded events on the Saturday race card. The first of these is the sixth running of the Grade III VA Oaks for sophomore fillies. Party City won the inaugural race back in 2006. Serenitime set the stakes record for the 1 1/8 turf course in 2009, with her winning time of 1:48.07.

The 2011 VA Oaks drew a field of seven talented fillies. They range in experience from graded stakes winners to lassies looking for their first black type win. One trait they all share is that none has won a race since last April. This is taking nothing away from any, as youngsters this age are often trying to find their niche while learning and growing at the same time. Many had valid excuses for losses such as older competition, off tracks, bad luck in traffic, etc.

Looking through my notes, I see plenty to like including two that have already raced faster than the stakes record. This should be an exciting race that could herald the rise of some future stars.

Here is the field:

1    Simply Excellent   Ken Allan   Court J K   122 This daughter of His Excellency was bred by the owner.  The tall, good-looking chestnut won her first stakes last fall as a juvenile. That race remains her last victory. She went on to run in six more races and hit the board in two graded events. A versatile filly that can run on or off the pace, she closed for third in her last at this distance and looks to turn in a solid effort this weekend. Top connections are always a plus.

2    Magical Journey   Paradise Stable   Camacho E   122 This daughter of noted sire Dunderfunk was bred by the owner. She broke her maiden at first asking on the turf and went on to win two allowances at TUP.  She was skunked in the Grade II Providencia stakes last April and missed the board in a follow up optional. Unraced since May, her veteran connections returned her to training where she turned in some very sharp turf preps. Leaving out her last efforts and looking at her preps, this one could make her mark Saturday.

3    Ballroom Dancer   Angelos Stable   Karamanos H A   122   This autogen filly was developed by Deschutes Racing and claimed for $20.000 last summer by her current connections. The well-built compact chestnut has since picked up a pair of allowance wins plus a win and a place in two dirt stakes.

She has yet to race on the sod, but a recent bullet turf work indicates she can make the switch. She tired late in some races and will need to hold her speed to the wire to score here.

4    Queen Victory   Riggins Racing   Garcia Lu   122 This autogen filly was developed by the owner. She is the only graded stakes winner in the field and leads all in purse money earned.    The diminutive bay broke her maiden at first asking then picked up an allowance win as a juvenile. She finished third in the Grade I BC Fillies Juvenile, but missed the board in her next three stakes. February 2011 saw her rise to the top with back-to-back stakes wins including the Grade II Providencia Stakes. A muddy track found her well off the board in the   Grade I KY Oaks, followed by a disappointing last place finish in the Grade II Sands Point versus some very tough company. She ships in off a place finish in a dirt route allowance at LS. Recent turf mile works are on target and she won a graded stakes at this distance before. Her winning time in the Grade II Providencia Stakes would smash the stakes record for this race. If she can repeat that effort, she could take home the trophy.

5    Blonde Au Pair   Pulaski Calvary   Leparoux J R   122 This daughter of Seaburial was bred by the owner. The fine looking gray has a triple ideal build and if this was a beauty contest, she would easily take home the trophy. However, she has just two wins in eight races with her last victory coming in her juvenile season. She missed the board in her two career stakes tries and seems outclassed here.

6    Cinderella Story   Yahudi Stables   Korger S   122 This daughter of Keeping The Faith was bred by the owner. She is the lightest raced entry but won three of five career efforts on the long sod. She missed the board in her first black type try after fading late on an off track. She loves to run the lead and this could spell trouble in a race this long.

7    Holier Than Thou   Bush Wackers Of Ohio   Alvarado R Jr   122 This daughter of Keeping the Faith is the second foal representing this sire tomorrow. Bred by the owner, she won four races in a row before tiring late to finish third behind Queen Victory in the Grade II Providencia Stakes. She took on older rivals in her next two stakes but missed the board in both. She faded off the lead in her last, but looked sharp closing in some races. She is back among others her own age and she crossed the wire in the Providencia with a time that would smash the current stakes record here. She prepped quite nicely for this and looks live.      

PICKS:

7. Holier Than Thou

4. Queen Victory

1. Simply Excellent/2. Magical Journey