The assumption Wednesday’s starter allowances for fillies and mares going a mile on turf appears indisputable. Knowing who will win is matter of who is the better horse. Does New York ship-in, locally sharp-working Wish Upon have an class edge over Tampa Bay win machine Crown and Sugar?
Wish Upon (2-1) brings a Tampa slate of (3) 1-1-0 into this and owns two wins at the distance. She races best as a close-range stalker but is classy enough to front-run and be in it to the end, as her gutsy second to Chad Brown’s stakes winning Fifty Five proves.
But Crown and Sugar (8-5) is something else, She has 13 wins in 28 career starts, is a six-time winner on this course, and victories in half her 10 starts at today’s trip. Normally, we opt for the fresher fillies but we think, based on her last race, Crown and Sugar has more to give.
See the Tampa Bay Video for yourself, and see if you agree. It’s available on the HRI homepage. See if you agree that there’s something more in the tank. We believe there is.
On JAN 17, RACE 3, note that while sitting a perfect trip it was a lively pace that had the field strung out going down the backside. Yes, she saved all the ground but also had a rival nibbling on her.
Nearing headstretch, Antonio Gallardo dropped his hands and the mare set sail. Gallardo did just enough thereafter, riding her out to maintain her lead by keeping the closers at bay. She was tiring a bit late which indicates that start two should spell improvement; it was a good race to build on.
We’re taking Crown and Sugar to win, no price restrictions, and an exacta key boxes with Wish Upon and Distinctive Flower (4-1), the pacesetter in that event, an extra ticket with Crown and Sugar on top.
