Gierkink's preview: Fillies prep for Natalma

Friday, Aug. 22, preview

The seven-furlong allowance prep for the Grade 2 Natalma Stakes, a one-mile test for 2-year-old fillies here Sept. 13, seems wide-open. Unhindered (2-1) looms a vulnerable favorite while competing on short rest and moving out to a distance that may be farther than her optimum. She is by the successful turf sire Stormy Atlantic.

Internal Bourbon (6-1) is the lone entrant with any turf racing experience. She rallied from off slow splits for third in her Aug. 3 debut in a six-furlong maiden special, and the daughter of Not Bourbon and Del Mar Oaks winner Internallyflawless is bred to stretch out.

Trainer Sam DiPasquale likes the look of the Purim filly My Little Darlings (10-1), who was a distant second to the front-running favorite Quidi Vidi at first asking in a seven-furlong maiden special Aug. 9.

“I think she’s bred for the turf,” DiPasquale said. “She’s given me an indication that she’s a turfer. She’ll run all day long.”

Don’t Leave Me (9-2) overcame traffic problems to notch her six-furlong debut over Reserved, who came back to romp in another maiden special. The daughter of Lemon Drop Kid doesn’t have much turf breeding on the dam’s side.

Conquest So True (3-1) won a rather slow six-furlong maiden special after duking it out on the lead July 27. The $200,000 juvenile purchase by Yes It’s True isn’t bred for the grass, but trainer Mark Casse has always advocated that most of his good horses handle the expansive Woodbine course, regardless of pedigree.

Scindia (5-2) parlayed a pair of seconds into a front-running score in another five-furlong maiden dash Aug. 3. Seven-eighths seems a long way for the daughter of Cool Coal Man.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover building

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $220,752 for the ninth race, a $12,500 route for non-winners of two.

Stand Em Up (15-1) could take this field a long way as the lone speed under Eurico Rosa Da Silva in his first appearance in the selling ranks.

Melmich (3-1) brings the best recent form and Beyer Speed Figures to the race. He’s worked two leisurely half-miles since coming close in an identical event Aug. 2 and seems poised to make the grade under regular rider Gerry Olguin.
Zipper Solo (8-1) is emerging from a maiden victory for DiPasquale and should be a factor.

FORMULATOR FACT: DiPasquale is 2 or 18 (11 percent) the second time off a claim over the last five years, with a return on investment of $1.18.

Horse to watch

DOOGIE
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Last race: Aug. 20, 1st
Finish: 2nd by a head
Beyer: 75
He did all the heavy lifting while battling through fast fractions before giving way grudgingly when favored in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special. His next outing should be winning one if he resurfaces in an identical spot.