DRF Plus Graded Stakes Analysis: Nassau Stakes
Solid Appeal was also making her first start of the year and she used the same formula, a prep on Poly at Keeneland, to win this race in 2013. She is reunited with Campbell who was aboard for her wins in the Nassau and the Grade 2 Dance Smartly.
Sisterly Love was the champion filly or mare in Canada in 2013 and she might be better this year with back-to-back wins at Keeneland. First time on turf, though, and she’s by Bellamy Road who never ran on grass and is 7/84 with first time turfers and 22/265 overall. Her dam was unraced but three of her five siblings to race are turf winner so it wouldn’t be surprising to see her run well on the lawn.
DECEPTIVE VISION is stepping up in class following an impressive win over a couple of decent horses. Hot Tempo came back to win her next two including a minor stakes at Evangeline. Anahauc received 102 and 100 Beyer Speed Figures in her next two wins in sprints on the main track at the Fairgrounds and Churchill. It was Deceptive Vision’s first try on grass and her first start in a year. She’s coming back in a more reasonable time frame and has worked well leading up to this. Her full-brother Eye of the Leopard won the 2009 Queen’s Plate and another full-brother, Hotep, finished second in the 2010 Queen’s Plate.
AVIE’S SENSE was a sharp winner following a 10-month layoff and both of her older siblings to race are turf winners so she should be okay running on it for the first time. The horse that beat her in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra has since won a Grade 2, another Grade 3, and finished second in the Grade 1 Spinster last year.
Solid Appeal and Sisterly Love are the class of the party and we’re going to go with Solid Appeal who is proven on the lawn and should get a perfect stalking trip behind what should be a hotly contested pace. She’s also 4-1 on the morning line as opposed to 5-2 for Sisterly Love who wants to be involved right from the start. We’ll bet her to win if she’s that price. In the exotics we’ll key her to Deceptive Vision hoping Sisterly Love doesn’t fire in her first try on the lawn.