Stanwyck viable alternative to Stopchargingmaria in Beldame
Stopchargingmaria is in the midst of a terrific season. She has won the Grade 1 Alabama, the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, and the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan consecutively while earning $866,000.
On Saturday, she will face older rivals for the first time in the Grade 1 Beldame, a 1 1/8-mile race that her trainer, Todd Pletcher, has won five times in the last nine years, including in 2013 with the 3-year-old Princess of Sylmar.
Stopchargingmaria will be favored to follow in the footsteps of her recently retired stablemate, but it may not be an easy chore.
Although the field for the $400,000 Beldame has come up on the soft side for a Grade 1, Stopchargingmaria’s Beyer Speed Figures don’t stand out from those of her competition. Also, the fillies Stopchargingmaria has beaten in her three graded wins are somewhat suspect and have not gone on to do much winning of their own.
Stanwyck may be Stopchargingmaria’s chief Beldame rival. She has finished second or third in her last six starts and during that time has raced twice against Close Hatches. On the West Coast, she has faced Iotapa, who has since won two Grade 1 races, and Let Faith Arise, who went on to win the Grade 3 Adoration.
Stanwyck’s last two races have come over muddy tracks at Saratoga. Trainer John Shirreffs is hoping for a fast track Saturday.
“We don’t think she likes an off track particularly. She runs well anyway,” he said. “Hoping to catch a drier track.”
Three starts back in April, Stanwyck finished third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, 2 1/4 lengths behind Close Hatches.
“I thought it was a really nice race.” Shirreffs said. “She loomed up there like she was going to be relatively close and just didn’t quite have the kick at the very end. I think she’s come a long way since then.”
Beldame, race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Stopchargingmaria (Last 3 Beyers: 82-94-85)
◗ Is 3 for 3 at 1 1/8 miles, although each of those races was around two turns.
Stanwyck (Last 3 Beyers: 85-97-96)
◗ Won the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm last October in her only Belmont start.
Fiftyshadesofhay (Last 3 Beyers: 91-86-86)
◗ Trainer Bob Baffert opted for this spot over the Grade 1 Zenyatta at Santa Anita, where she would have faced last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner, Beholder.
◗ Won the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont in May and was second to Princess of Sylmar in the Grade 1 Alabama last year.
“She likes New York. She runs well in New York for some reason,” Baffert said.
Belle Gallantey (Last 3 Beyers: 58-99-100)
◗ Won the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap two starts back when able to control the pace on the lead. She looks to have the best speed in the Beldame.
◗ Trainer Rudy Rodriguez said she may not have handled the mud at Saratoga last out when she finished a badly beaten sixth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
– additional reporting by David Grening