Interstatedaydream, Misty Veil, and Le Da Vida, the top three finishers in the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes last month at Pimlico, will meet again when they top the field for the $250,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes on Saturday at Thistledown.
Interstatedaydream was the half-length winner of the DuPont as the favorite and will likely be the choice again in the 9-furlong test.
Trained by Brad Cox, the 4-year-old daughter of Classic Empire is a three-time stakes winner and has won half of her ten lifetime starts.
The runner-up in the DuPont was Misty Veil. Claimed by trainer Mike Maker last fall at Churchill Downs, the Tonalist mare has been on the improve of late. If you're interested to see more, take a look at the racetrack guide for Churchill Downs - the home of the Kentucky Derby.
A sharp allowance winner three starts back, she battled Interstatedaydream for much of the Pimlico stretch five weeks ago.
Only beaten a length by Interstatedaydream in the DuPont was Le Da Vida. A 6-year-old daughter of Gemologist, she was bred and began her career in Chile.
A stakes winner in her native land, she won her first two starts in the U.S. in allowance company. She is winless in five subsequent stakes attempts while proving competitive in good company.
Lady Jacqueline Stakes Predictions and Race Analysis
Interstatedaydream
The class of the race, this 4-year-old daughter of Classic Empire comes to Ohio off a determined stakes win going the same distance at Pimlico last time.
Overall it was her third stakes win for the Brad Cox-trainee in a career that really has never seen her run a bad race in ten career starts. Clearly the one to beat here, she does her best running on or near the early lead, which could be difficult with all the speed in the race.
If she runs her best, she probably still wins on Saturday, but at the odds, I think it is worth it to take a shot to beat her.
Sixtythreecaliber
This daughter of Gun Runner knows her way to the winner’s circle, having won half of her ten career starts. Her biggest win came last fall in the Grade 3 Comely, and like all of her career victories, she pressed the early pace that afternoon.
She is 0-for-3 so far in 2023, but does have a nice performance in her last, finishing second in the Grade 3 Shawnee at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Tom Amoss, the graded stakes winner is an obvious threat here, but in a race with so much early speed, I am leaning towards others who can rally into the fast pace.
Le Da Vida
This experienced daughter of Gemologist will have the advantage of being one of the lone late runners in a race filled with speed.
Although she has yet to break through in a stakes race since arriving in America last summer from her native Chile, she has run a series of good races here and seems to fit with this level of competition.
Last out, she proved her class with a nice rally to finish close to both Interstatedaydream and Misty Veil in the DuPont at Pimlico. I like her chances to be right there at the finish on Saturday and will be using her in my exotics.
Misty Veil
Claimed for $80,000 last fall by Mike Maker, this daughter of Tonalist joins a long list of horses the veteran trainer has been able to move up into stakes company.
She did not do much in her first try for her new barn, but has now turned in four straight solid performances, and seems to be getting better with every start. Last out she gave the favorite everything she wanted at Pimlico, and this time she should have a better race set-up to rally.
The 9-furlong distance of the Lady Jacqueline looks to be ideal for her. I also expect her to offer solid value once again. She is the top pick.
Candlelight Hours
Of the local contingent, this 4-year-old daughter of Dominus looks to be the most formidable. In twelve career starts at Thistledown, she has never finished out of the money and has won five times.
Switching between one and two turn races of late, she comes into the Lady Jacqueline off a pair of sharp wins, and looks ready to take her shot against strong competition.
She’s definitely one to consider, but coming from the outside post she will likely have to work hard early in a race with an expected strong pace. I respect her chances, but there are a few others that I like better.
Secret Fix
In a race with plenty of early speed, this could be the quickest of the bunch. The chestnut mare comes off a romp in her prep race for this and will now look to prove that she belongs in stakes company.
A nice race over the track is always a good sign, but it did come against much softer competition than she will see on Saturday.
Given her lack of proven class and the other speed in the race to pressure her early, I like others better here. Still, she should make her presence felt in at least the early stages of this $250,000 race.
Red Hot Lass
This well-traveled mare has come home victorious in 7-of-17 lifetime starts. Since switching barns and coming to Ohio, she has been even better with four wins in six starts.
Very comfortable out on the lead, she hopped at the start last time and never got in contention as an overwhelming favorite. That is not an ideal way to come into this test.
With other speed in the race, and some classy mares listed above her, I am looking elsewhere as she makes her stakes debut.
Market Success
An Ohio-bred daughter of Giant Oak, this 7-year-old mare sports a nice record at Thistledown with 9 wins from 25 starts.
Of course, that record was built against softer competition than she will find here. In fact, she has yet to win against stakes company in 14 career tries, and this promises to be her toughest test yet.
She’s proven herself a nice Ohio-bred mare over the years, and likes the track, but against these she will likely find the competition a bit too stiff.
Soul of an Angel
In a race with plenty of early speed, this is one longshot that I will give some consideration. Trained by Gerald James, she clearly does her best running from behind.
She is also no stranger to tough stakes competition. Having said that, she hasn’t exactly been a real contender in previous tries at this level.
A winner of only 2-for-24 lifetime, it’s hard to pick her out in this spot, but if you are looking for a mare with big odds who could pass tired horses late and sneak into the exotics, she is worth a look.
Maliced
This gray daughter of Palace Malice came into this same race last year in sharp form and actually set the pace before weakening to finish fifth as a big longshot.
Her form is not quite as good this year and she looks to be a big longshot once again. There is also more speed in the field this year, so it looks unlikely that she will be the pacesetter this time around.
Despite having a pretty nice lifetime record, and a decent performance in this race last year, there are too many others I like better to give her strong consideration.
Candy Island
Since being claimed last fall by trainer Khadeem Galloway, this daughter of Shackleford has responded with three wins and two second-place finishes in five tries.
She also has shown consistent speed in those races. Unfortunately, she has found a very difficult spot to make her stakes debut.
Not only are there plenty of classy mares in the field, but there is also a good amount of early speed to make her life more difficult early. She’s going good right now, but this race will likely prove more than she wants.
Gray Royalty
This gray daughter of Graydar looks to be one of the longest shots in the field on Saturday. A winner of only 3-of-27 races lifetime, she has been competing in claiming races of late.
While she has a win and a second in her last two races, and both came at Thistledown, they were at a significantly lower level than she will find here.
Because of her lack of class, I find her very difficult to recommend in the Lady Jacqueline Stakes.
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