Full Field Lines Up For Autumn Miss Stakes
Image:
Description:
Lexie Lou won the Queen's Plate in June against males. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
The $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes brings together a full field of 10 with four more listed as also-eligibles, meaning they can run if other horses withdraw. Leading the field is Lexie Lou, winner of the $1-million Queen's Plate Stakes in Canada in July versus males. Up-and-coming star Alexis Tangier comes into the race off a win in the Unzip Me Stakes on the Santa Anita turf course, with Unzip Me runner-up Gender Agenda also returning. Sheza Smoke Show and Famous Alice finished first and second, respectively, in the similar Senorita Stakes in June over the course and add more depth to the field. Another contender may be Thegirlinthatsong, who shipped out from California to Oklahoma last month to finish second in the Remington Park Oaks.
Lexie Lou earned a career best 106 Equibase Speed Figure when victorious in the Wonder Where Stakes in August at the distance of one mile and one-quarter on the turf at Woodbine. That was her third win in a row, with the second win in that streak coming in the $1-million Queen's Plate Stakes versus males on the main track. In her most recent race, Lexie Lou finished last of 10 in the Canadian Stakes but in that race Lexie Lou was facing thee-year-olds and upward. With her three wins prior to that coming against three-year-olds only, it may be likely Lexie Lou will rebound to that 106 figure effort, which is good enough to win the Autumn Miss Stakes.
Alexis Tangier has won her last three races on turf, including the Unzip Me Stakes on the Santa Anita turf last month. Improving to a career best 103 figure with that effort and with a perfect two-for-two record at Santa Anita on the grass, Alexis Tangier may be able to improve again and threaten Lexie Lou for the win in this race.
ALEXIS TANGIER WINNING THE UNZIP ME STAKES
Photo by Benoit
Zindaya is another improving filly, coming off a pair of wins on the turf in New York, the most recent at the allowance level with a 102 figure. Top trainer Christophe Clement's runners must be taken very seriously wherever they show up, but perhaps no more so than when he ships into California, which is rare. Noting Alexis Tangier went from a first level allowance winner to stakes winner in her most recent start, there is a strong possibility Zindaya may do the same thing so she must be considered a win contender in the Autumn Miss Stakes.
Others worth noting - Thegirlinthatsong earned a 95 when finishing second in the Remington Park Oaks in her most recent race, on dirt, and won a stakes at a mile on turf last September. She could transfer competitive form to the turf and be a factor. Sheza Smoke Show and Famous Alice finished first and second, respectively, in the Senorita Stakes at this mile turf trip at Santa Anita in June (94 figures) and although both ran poorly in two races since they have potential to be factors if they can repeat those efforts. Burning Arch just won an allowance race at a mile on turf like Zindaya, earning a 99 figure, and if she gets into the race from the also-eligible list may be given a look at the outcome as well.
The rest of the field, with their best representative Equibase Speed Figures: Diversy Harbor (98), Gender Agenda (103), Kool Kat (93), On the Backstreets (95), Tiz Kissable (93), Wonderfully (96). Maibaby is making her first start in North America.
My Selections:
Lexie Lou
Alexis Tangier
Zindaya
$100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes
Race 8,Saturday, Santa Anita, Post Time 7:30 PM E.T.
One mile on Turf for 3-year-old fillies
PP
Horse
Jockey
Weight
Trainer
1
Thegirlinthatsong (TX)
Rafael Bejarano
117
Jerry Hollendorfer
2
On the Backstreets (PA)
Joe Talamo
117
Peter Miller
3
Sheza Smoke Show (KY)
Martin Garcia
122
Peter Eurton
4
Famous Alice (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
117
Tom Proctor
5
Lexie Lou (ON)
Corey Nakatani
117
Mark Casse
6
Diversy Harbor (KY)
Mike Smith
117
Tom Proctor
7
Alexis Tangier (KY)
Victor Espinoza
117
Richard Mandella
8
Zindaya (KY)
Brice Blanc
117
Christophe Clement
9
Wonderfully (IRE)
Perry Ouzts
117
Tom Proctor
10
Tiz Kissable (KY)
Tyler Baze
117
Tim McCanna
11
Burning Arch (KY)
Alex Solis
117
Jerry Hollendorfer
12
Kool Kat (KY)
Corey Nakatani
117
James Cassidy
13
Gender Agenda (GB)
Joe Talamo
117
Carla Gaines
14
Maibaby (IRE)
Kieren Fallon
117
Neil Drysdale