In my last post I shared the top 5 MSW races for Colts, since the fillies traditionally get less ink on the way to the Kentucky Oaks, I thought I would pass along 5 dominating Juvenile performances by the Ladies in 2013. This list again, is not to predict the future, but to enjoy the dominating Maiden wins, some were fast, others classy, but all were memorable. The 5 below had me hitting the pause and rewind button multiple times!
Tastes Like Candy – Jerry Hollendorfer does well with Candy Ride juveniles. A few years back he trained Chocolate Candy to a 5th place finish in the Kentucky Derby, in 2013 Hollendofer had Shared Belief on the male side and this filly freaked in a debut win at Santa Anita on October 20th. The official margin was 6 lengths, but she could have named her number that day, coming from 4th place while making a 4 wide move on the turn, Rafael Bejarno never moved as she took the lead without any resistance. Built like a router and A. P. Indy bloodline in the female family, visually impressive muscles and wide in the eyes, lots of room for improvement.
Sweet Reason – Served notice of her talent with a win at Saratoga with a mud splashing romp by 6 lengths. But wait there’s more not only did she win by 6 – at the first call she was 18 lengths behind! – and the distance was five and a half furlongs. Everyone loves a Silky Sullivan type performance and Sweet Reason rumbled to a decisive victory at Saratoga at 10-1 odds. Alex Solid was along for the ride and sat cool on this daughter of Street Sense out of Livermore Leslie – Mt. Livermore. Similar to Honor Code’s slop victory everything clicked for Sweet Reason on August 9th.
Crushed Velvet Bob Baffert unveiled this daughter of Malibu Moon in early December. Malibu Moon stud fee has risen in recent years and this 220K purchase looks well worth the money after one race, when slew blew out a six-horse field by five widening lengths. Bob Baffert has done well with some precocious fillies in recent years like Princess Arabella and Midnight Lucky last year, Crushed Velvet has a chance to be a stakes winner soon.
Divine Beauty – Larry Jones trained filly opened up career with a win at Churchill Downs winning on September 7th winning by a measured head after opening up a two length lead in mid-stretch and C. J. McMahon wrapping her up late. Pre-race warm up was solid and showed speed from the opening bell – going wire to wire with the half mile split in 45 seconds. She ran fast but did not have quick strides so she should be able to stretch out. Wintering down at the Fairgrounds look to see her in the Fairgrounds Stakes Races this winter and spring. All Roads lead to the Kentucky Oaks.
Koukla – John Sadler had the screws tightened for debut race on December 22nd at Betfair Hollywood Park and the word was out as she was bet down to the 8/5 favorite, This daughter of Northern Afleet did not disappoint as she put away a salty field of 8 runners with an official 2 length victory which looked more like 4 visually. The West coast Fillies have been strong this year and Koukla fits with the best of them and her Maiden victory