Sunday, August 23, 2020

Mast Cove has the most career wins (4) on grass of any horse in the field including at this abbreviated trip last spring and summer. She hadn’t won since December until romping in her last start on 6/24 by nine lengths and how that she’s back in top form moving to the turf and running as well shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a good sign Graham gets on and her last race 79 Equibase figure is the second best last race figure in the field. The best last race figure (80) in the field belongs to Que Sera Sera, who, along with Shape of You, Love My Honey and Now That’s a Benny, all being need-the-lead types, should battle on a significantly above average early pace and tire so set up a stalker just like Mast Cove.

Dichotomy should also benefit nicely from the hot early pace. She enters the race off a win at this distance on the Ellis Park turf last month. Although in a new trainer’s care via a claim, jockey Morales rides back and the 78 figure fits well for another big effort for a filly with a strong 5 for 15 career record. 

Proudly Fought finished second to Now That’s a Benny last month when that one coasted on an easy lead from the start which is unlikely to occur today. Proudly Fought was making her turf debut last month and should be stronger in her second start on the surface not to mention the early leader(s) will be much easier to run down late than in her last start. 

Miss Pinkerton has an outside shot and as she opens at 15/1 should be considered. She won three races in a row at short sprint distances on turf last spring and summer then was away from the races for nine months, returning in June. Her comeback was on dirt then she improved two later to finish fourth in the same race Dichotomy won so she could get into the exacta at the least with just a bit of improvement off that effort.