No clear favorite among baker's dozen for Just a Game
ELMONT, N.Y. – With last year’s winner, Tepin, and Maker’s 46 Mile victress Miss Temple City in England to race at Royal Ascot next week, the Grade 1 Just a Game has lured 13 evenly matched fillies and mares who will square off over a mile on the Widener turf course Saturday at Belmont Park.
The race begins in a chute adjacent to the clubhouse turn, doglegs onto the backstretch, and then navigates around one turn before the stretch. Although there are no speedballs in the lineup, there appears to be enough horses with tactical speed to provide a fair pace scenario. Chad Brown has two runners in the $700,000 race, Bill Mott has three, and Jim Cassidy has shipped in a pair from California.
Mrs McDougal, trained by Brown, and Strike Charmer, conditioned by Mark Hennig, finished first and second in the Plenty of Grace, a one-mile turf race at Aqueduct on April 16. Mrs McDougal has enough speed to work out her own trip, while a mile is a little short of optimum for Strike Charmer, who would benefit from lively fractions.
Mrs McDougal won the Grade 2 Lake George at Saratoga at age 3 in 2015. She returned from a six-month layoff in the Plenty of Grace.
“She’s bigger, stronger this year,” Brown said. “She’s training sharp.”
Brown’s other entrant is Rainha Da Bateria, a late runner who will have to overcome post 12. Rainha Da Bateria finished second to Tepin last out in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day.
“She didn’t draw well, but with a strong pace, I can see her getting up,” Brown said.
Hennig took over the training of Strike Charmer last September, and at age 6, she is in the best form of her career. Strike Charmer comes into the Just a Game off a 2 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Beaugay over the Belmont inner turf course May 14.
“She’s doing outstanding, and we’ve had a race over the surface,” Hennig said. “We’ve lightened up her training, and she’s really taken to it.”
Strike Charmer will break from post 1.
“The post isn’t bad, it’s not like she’s going to be up on the pace,” Hennig said. “Going a mile, the first curve is always a little tricky.”
Mott’s trio consists of My Miss Sophia, the Beaugay favorite who sprinted off to a lengthy lead and then weakened to fourth while making her first start in seven months; Celestine, who will make her first start since winning the Grade 2 Honey Fox, a one-mile race at Gulfstream Park; and Lady Lara, who was sixth in the Honey Fox as the favorite.
“We’re expecting My Miss Sophia and Lady Lara to improve,” Mott said. “My Miss Sophia was too keen in her last race.”
Just a Game, Race 8
Key Contenders
Mrs McDougal, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers; 98-82-90
◗ She ran a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Plenty of Grace.
“We’ve given her plenty of time to recover,” Brown said.
Strike Charmer, by Smart Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 100-97-89
◗ She was second-best behind Mrs McDougal in the Plenty of Grace and then flattered her by winning the Beaugay.
My Miss Sophia, by Unbridled’s Song
Last 3 Beyers: 89-94-102
◗ Look for her to be more settled than in the Beaugay while still forwardly placed.
Irish Rookie, by Azamour
(No Beyers)
◗ According to Freddie Meade, assistant to his father, Martyn, who trains 60 horses in England, she had difficulty handling the soft going at The Curragh in her last race when second in the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl.
◗ Meade would like to see her settle into a position behind the leaders.
◗ She has made her last six starts in Group 1 or Group 2 company and finished second last year at 3 in the French 1000 Guineas. She has a lot of class, and according to Meade, “If things go well now, there are races she would fit here in the fall.”
Faufiler, by Galileo
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-70
◗ Late runner has closed stoutly to be second in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita and to win the Sand Springs at Gulfstream Park in her last two starts for Graham Motion. She has come from last in those two races, however, and will need a bit of luck to find a clear path from post 10.
Lexie Lou, by Sligo Bay
Last 3 Beyers: 93-74-82
◗ Returns on 13 days’ rest after winning the Grade 2 Nassau at Woodbine for Mark Casse. Will need to use her tactical speed from post 11.