The primary players in this race are exiting another division of the New York Stallion Series on June 24, contested over 7 furlongs. Kreesie (3) got up for the win that day over Goodbye Brockley (3), as both got decent trips. The horse that undoubtedly ran the best race in that spot was Mentality, but she was scratched out of this spot after contesting a turf sprint on Monday. I slightly prefer Goodbye Brockley to Kreesie in this situation, given her experience going route distances. Kreesie has run well so far this year, but she’s gotten very favorable setups in her races at 7 furlongs, and I’m not sure that she can transfer that form to this two-turn configuration. Goodbye Brockley has at least shown that she can race up closer to the pace if they slow down the tempo early. I’m using her, but I’m actually most interested in a filly that finished just behind them in that June 24 stakes.

WEGETSDAMUNNYS (6) also benefitted from the strong early pace that day, but I thought she wasn’t able to carry her momentum forward into the final eighth of a mile as she had to alter course multiple times. Manny Franco had to briefly pause on her late in the stretch as horses came together, which may have cost her a better placing. I had been interested in this filly that day due to her strong dam-side turf pedigree, and I believe she confirmed that grass is her preferred surface. They tried going a route distance for the first time on dirt in the New York Oaks last month, and she actually put in a decent rally despite going extremely wide around the far turn. She appears to be coming into this race in good form, and she figures to be a price once again.