Juddmonte Spinster Stakes at Keeneland
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes is on tap for this Sunday, October 7 from Keeneland in Lexington Kentucky. A very nice purse of $500,000 is on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Keeneland's main dirt track.
The Juddmonte has attracted a strong field of 13 has been confirmed for race 8 on Keeneland's Sunday card - 12 of which are graded stakes winners. Post time is 4:49 PM. Here is a brief glimpse into the past performances of all 13 combatants and what brought them to this Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic "Win and You're In" Grade 1 event.
2012 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes Race Favorites
Aruna - is the defending champion in this race but has won just one of five since then. After a very productive 2011 (two wins and two seconds in graded stakes action) Aruna has been wildly inconsistent this year. In four starts Aruna has a sixth in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes, an impressive win in the Grade 2 Sheepshead followed by a good second in the Grade 2 New York Stakes and a troubled tenth last time out in the Grade 1 Beverly D. She has to be mentioned as a favorite as she won here last year but Aruna enters not in the best form.
Summer Soiree - made her first start of 2012 after a nearly nine month layoff in the Grade 2 Ballston at Saratoga August 25 and finished an OK third. To end 2012 she had a second in the Grade 1 Matriarch back in November to follow a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland in October. Summer Soiree has winning in her blood though as demonstrated by four wins in five races from January to August of last year including the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks and a pair of Grade 3 wins. It has been over a year since her last win but apparently Summer Soiree has looked good ahead of the Juddmonte.
Karlovy Vary - beat Hard Not to Like in the Ashland here on April 7 for her best result this year - she has two other Allowance wins in 2012. She also has some unflattering results - a disappointing twelfth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on May 4 and a seventh in the Grade 1 garden City last time out to name a few. She like a few other top contenders has been good in the past but enters this week in a bit of a slump.
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries
Tiz Miz Sue - had placed in her last six starts with a win in the Grade 3 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn in March and four runner-up performances - the Grade 3 Obeah Stakes on June 16 and the Grade 2 Delaware Handicap on July 21 to name two. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign. She has been close all year and may be ready for a breakthrough this Sunday.
In Lingerie - very impressive Todd Pletcher trained filly has placed in all six career starts with three wins, two seconds and a third place finish. She won three of her first four starts including the Grade 3 Bourbonette Stakes by six lengths and then followed it up with another impressive score in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on May 18. Her last two starts have been eye-opening as well - a second last time out in the Grade 1 Alabama followed a third in the Grade 1 American Oaks. In Lingerie should be in the conversation Sunday.
Disposablepleasure - Todd Pletcher pupil Disposablepleasure had looked very good at the end of 2012 but has not been quite the same since. In six starts this year, Disposablepleasure has just two seconds and a third place finish. Recently she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21 and was a disappointing sixth last time out in the Grade 2 Lake Placid at Saratoga. She is yet another entering the Juddmonte in a bit of a slump.
Juddmonte Spinster Stakes betting at Keeneland with OffTrackBetting.com
Upperline - has placed in five of six starts this year including an impressive win in the Grade 1 Arlington Millions and in the Grade 3 Bewitch Stakes. She followed a third in the Grade 3 Modesty Handicap July 14 with her worst effort in a while - a fifth last time out in the Grade 1 Beverly D. She has been fast but appears to have regressed as the year has gone on.
Mystical Star - won the Grade 2 New York Stakes June 30 but sandwiched around that win are a couple of unflattering eighths - the Grade 2 Sheepshead Bay Stakes in May and the Grade 1 Beverly D last time out. At risk of sounding like a broken record, Mystical Star enters in some sketchy form.
Smart Sting - Won the Grade 3 Selene Stakes last September - her best result in quite a while. She has failed to place in her last three graded stakes starts - a sixth last time out in the Grade 3 Canadian Stakes and a pair of fourths in the Grade 3 Modesty and Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes.
Starformer - started her career in Europe and had some OK results. In 2012 she has been up and down - a seventh in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs was followed by a terrific win in the Grade 3 Robert Dick Memorial at Delaware Park and a second last time out in the Richmor Aviation Waya Stakes at Saratoga on August 3. Starformer has three wins in 11 career starts - two of which have come in her last four races.
Kitty in a Tizzy - had failed to place in each of her last five starts dating back to September 2010 before a win in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap at Arlington Park on June 30 and a second last time out in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes. She is one that enters in good form but is still likely a slight underdog in this race.
Nefertini - has been good in 2012 winning three of five starts including the Monmouth Beach Stakes last time out on May 27. Her other wins this year were Allowance Optional Claiming races. Last time out was a fourth in the Grade 2 Molly Pitcher in her first really competitive race.
Juanita - was the upset winner of the Grade 2 La Troienne Stakes on May 5 but followed it up with a disappointing fifth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps and a ninth last time out in the minor Belle Mahone Stakes.
2012 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes Entries & Odds
Race 8 on Keeneland's Sunday card with a Post Time of 4:49 PM.
Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | ML Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Disposablepleasure | R. Napravnik | T. Pletcher | |
2 | Juanita | S. Bridgmohan | M. Maker | |
3 | Aruna | R. Dominguez | H. Motion | |
4 | Summer Soiree | G. Saez | H. Motion | |
5 | In Lingerie | J. Velazquez | T. Pletcher | |
6 | Tiz Miz Sue | J. Rocco, Jr. | S. Hobby | |
7 | Upperline | J. Graham | M. Stidham | |
8 | Nefertini | E. Trujillo | A. Goldberg | |
9 | Smart Sting | P. Lopez | R. Attfield | |
10 | Starformer | J. Leparoux | W. Mott | |
11 | Mystical Star | J. Lezcano | C. Clement | |
12 | Karlovy Vary | C. Lanerie | G. Arnold, II | |
13 | Kitty in a Tizzy | F. Torres | H. Bond |