Julia Shining should run in the Preakness Stakes.
There. I said it.
And no, I'm not a racing manager or a trainer, and I've never played either of those on TV. I know full well that the fine people in Barbara Banke's employ at Stonestreet Stable and at trainer Todd Pletcher's barn have it all figured out much more than I do.
But she fits.
And her connections are open to it, considering they nominated her to the Triple Crown. Also, both parties have experience winning classic races with fillies. Stonestreet with Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Preakness and Pletcher with Rags to Riches in the 2007 Belmont, coincidentally defeating Stonestreet's Curlin, the sire of Julia Shining.
Pletcher entered Julia Shining in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) off a third-place finish in the Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. This was the same race he used to prep Malathaat and Nest for their Oaks triumphs. Nest went on to finish second to stablemate Mo Donegal in the Belmont Stakes.
Of course, one big difference is that Malathaat and Nest both won the Ashland, and Julia Shining did not. But Julia Shining's form is improving. She would have been my pick to win the Oaks had she started, which, come to think of it based on my performance Derby weekend, was not a good thing. Alas, she did not start in the Oaks after entering but failing to draw into the field.
Another reason the Preakness makes sense for Julia Shining is there are no Grade 1 races for 3-year-old fillies around two turns until the Coaching Club American Oaks in July at Saratoga. Julia Shining is a full sister to Malathaat and should relish the Preakness distance of 1 3/16 miles. Malathaat was a four-time Grade 1 winner at 1 1/8 miles, and Curlin sired Good Magic, sire of Kentucky Derby winner Mage.
Speaking of Mage, he unquestionably would be Julia Shining's biggest challenge in the Preakness. His Derby win was spectacular, and he could move forward off in his fourth career start after an already brilliant beginning. If Mage moves forward again, he's unbeatable. Even if he has plateaued, he is the most likely winner.
But five big races in four months are a big ask. If he regresses, then only a few horses currently pointing toward the Preakness are in the mix. These are First Mission and Disarm, who finished first and third, respectively, in the Lexington Stakes (G3), and National Treasure from California. Julia Shining's performance figures compare favorably with that trio.
Disarm went on to finish fourth in the Kentucky Derby, and First Mission waited for this spot and closed as the shortest price of the potential new shooters in the inaugural Preakness Future Wager. National Treasure has not raced since the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and was a part of the future wager mutuel field.
Mage vs. Julia Shining. It has a nice ring to it.
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"fit" - Google News
May 11, 2023 at 07:38PM
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DeRosa: Julia Shining would fit in this year's Preakness - Horse Racing Nation
"fit" - Google News
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