Gierkink's preview: Did Da Silva choose correctly?
Saturday, June 28, preview
The Polytrack was quite slow while kind to closers Friday, but the quirky surface could speed up on the weekend. The turf was rated good Friday, but it should be firm Saturday, when lane 2 will be used.
My Dear Stakes
By sticking with Sweet Dreams instead of Unhindered, did second-leading rider Eurico Rosa Da Silva handicap the $125,000 My Dear Stakes for us? He rode these two juvenile fillies when they both won first time out. There isn’t a whole lot separating them on paper, and it will be interesting to see if Da Silva lands on the winner.
Sweet Dreams awaited room along the inside on the turn before scooting up the rail to win a 4 1/2-furlong dash by daylight May 31. Unhindered is returning to action just two weeks after airing on the lead by five lengths in another 4 1/2-furlong maiden special. Unhindered ran faster than Sweet Dreams, but the latter’s 65 Beyer was much better than the surprisingly low 57 earned by Unhindered.
Leading rider Luis Contreras, who picks up the mount on Unhindered, is 2 for 6 at the meet for her trainer, Ralph Biamonte.
Zia looks next-best off a slow-starting second to Sweet Dreams on May 31. Her trainer, Nick Gonzalez, has excellent stats with maiden second-timers.
Jackpot Hi 5 carryover
The 10th race has a Jackpot Hi 5 carryover of $227,097. Woodbine announced a mandatory payout for the challenging bet on the $1 million Queen’s Plate, which should have a large field of at least 14. Jackpot Hi 5 wagering will be suspended next week until the July 6 Plate, and it’s probably unwise to gamble serious money on it this weekend.
Horse to watch
NEESA
Trainer: Steve Attard
Last race: June 27, 7th
Finish: 1st by head
She awaited room on the far turn before closing to capture an Ontario-sired allowance route with determination over an older stakes-placed filly. The daughter of Sligo Bay is bred to run long on either local surface and could be a factor in Ontario-sired 3-year-old stakes company later this summer.