Turf Amazon, Greenwood Cup appear wide open
Two wide-open stakes, the Turf Amazon and the Greenwood Cup, will set the table for the featured race at Parx on Monday, the $300,000 Turf Monster. The $200,000 Turf Amazon, a five-furlong race for fillies and mares, has a field of 11. The Grade 3 Greenwood Cup, a 1 1/2-mile dirt race for 3-year-olds and up, has a field of eight.
The Turf Amazon is an intriguing race since the top three players have different running styles. The pace is likely to be set by Richies Sweetheart, who ships from Arlington Park for trainer Larry Rivelli. Thieves Guild, who has won two in a row for Jimmy Toner, figures to take up a stalking position. Joya Real, based at Parx with Kate DeMasi, is a confirmed late runner.
Richies Sweetheart is 11 for 22 in her career and has had the lead at the first point of call in 15 consecutive races. Granted, Richies Sweetheart is an Illinois-bred, and a number of her races have come against statebreds, but if the Illinois-bred The Pizza Man can win the Arlington Million, Richies Sweetheart can take down the Turf Amazon.
Thieves Guild, a lightly raced 4-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, was off for 14 months between April 2014 and this June with a fractured tibia. She has come back running for Toner, winning a first-level allowance turf sprint at Belmont Park and the Caress Stakes at Saratoga. The 101 Beyer Speed Figure she earned in the Caress is by far the highest in this field.
Joya Real missed winning the Turf Amazon by a head last year. The winner, Quality Lass, was reluctant to go to the gate, shot right to the lead, and then just held on.
Joya Real won the Blue Sparkler at Monmouth Park with a nice late run Aug. 15. Her third-place finish two races back can be forgiven as she was too close to the pace and then lacked her usual late move.
Greenwood Cup a stamina test
Turco Bravo can run all day, but that wasn’t quite enough to win the 1 3/4-mile Birdstone at Saratoga on Aug. 12. He will cut back a quarter-mile for the $200,000 Greenwood Cup.
Turco Bravo, trained by Gary Contessa, is part of an eight-horse field in the Greenwood Cup. The race used to be a Win and You’re In for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon, but that race was eliminated last year. The 2014 Greenwood Cup was won by 28-1 Cary Street.
Turco Bravo is 1 for 11 since being imported from Chile in 2014. He won the Stymie at 1 1/8 miles in March and has placed in five other U.S. stakes. He took the lead with about five furlongs remaining in the Birdstone, opened a lengthy advantage, fought back when challenged by eventual winner Tacticus, and was second-best.
Deselvo, who finished third in the Birdstone, almost seven lengths behind Turco Bravo, also returns in this race.
For Greater Glory might offer Turco Bravo his strongest challenge. He is moving back to dirt following two turf marathons for trainer Steve Hobby but was beaten only 4 1/2 lengths by The Pizza Man in the Stars and Stripes Handicap at Arlington.
Our Caravan has never raced beyond 1 1/8 miles but has the look of a horse who will enjoy the added distance of this race.