Grace Again!
What a week this could be for the Stidham stable, with a stakes winner already, and the promise of perhaps more to come!
Let’s start with John and Susan Moore’s homebred Sir Lancelot, who absolutely blitzed the field in the Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle on Tuesday.
Ridden prominently by Jose Ortiz, Sir Lancelot kicked clear at the top of the stretch to pass the post a full seven lengths clear of the field. This was a magnificent performance from the 2-year-old son of Goldencents, on only his second ever career start, and it’ll be a surprise if he doesn’t step up again next time.
Sir Lancelot hasn’t been the only stable winner this week. Riversedge Racing and Alifyfe Racing’s Hard Spun 2-year-old colt, Old Alliance, was almost as devastating on his racecourse debut today at Laurel Park, leading start to finish under Jevian Toledo.
Now to the weekend, and the stable’s sensational race-mare, Princess Grace, who’s looking for a first G1 success in the $750,000 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland tomorrow, over a mile on the turf. Drawn 2 of 6, Princess Grace is a 6-1 shot on the Morning Line to prevail under Florent Geroux.
A mulitple graded-stakes winning superstar, Princess Grace was second in the G1 Beverly D. Stakes at Churchill Downs only two starts ago – a turn at the top table would be more than warranted for this noble performer.
On Sunday at Belmont At The Big A, the equally wonderful Pixelate is drawn 6 of 10 in the $150,000 G3 Knickerbocker Stakes, over 1 and 1/8 furlongs on the turf. With Jose Ortiz aboard, Pixelate is an 8-1 shot to gain his first win since last September, though he’s run a series of admirable races in defeat in the meantime.
And now to the rest of the weekend entries:
Saturday
Delaware Park
John Macarthur – Race 3, Maiden Special Weight
Laurel Park
Hang the Moon – Race 4, Maiden Special Weight
Meadowlands
Rambert – Race 5, Optional Claiming $20,000
