Happy New York Stakes Day! 

Today we have a huge card with six graded stakes and four Grade Is. NYRA has truly made this a racing festival by having such strong cards leading into Belmont Day. It would have been nice to have had Thorpedo Anna in the Phipps today – but she was poor in the La Troienne and now appears to be on an extended break. What we do have is an excellent renewal of the Ogden Phipps where you can make a case for almost all the entries.  

Trivia Question: Four mares have won the Ogden Phipps Stakes twice – who was the most recent two time winner of this Grade I? 

Race 11 – The Ogden Phipps – Grade I 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt 

For Fillies and Mares Four Year Olds and Upward 

1.Dorth Vader: Was a decent fourth in the La Trioenne (83 Beyer) where she hugged the rail the whole way and was in for a chance but got in tight. Will try to maintain position from this post like the last race. Johnny V stays up. Possible slice. 

2. Dazzling Move: Last out in the Dupont Stakes at Pimlico she set the pace and dueled in the lane but was bested by Candied (90 Beyer) as that last furlong may have been too much. But she comes back again here at 9 furlongs again. Bullet work on May 30th. Water is too deep.
3. Leslie’s Rose: Just missed while sprinting in the Vagrancy last month at the Big A (94 Beyer) as she was third by a neck. I’ll assume that was a prep for today as she stretches back out to two turns. She was a good second to Thorpedo Anna in the Acorn last year. Second off a long layoff. Will need her best. Irad stays here. Zero for three at nine furlongs. Lean against.
4. Raging Sea: Excellent five year old mare for Chad Brown defeated Thorpedo Anna and Randomized in the La Troienne where she stalked and then out finished the field (85 Beyer). Five wins from eight career starts at nine furlongs with seven exacta finishes. Look for her stalk her stablemate. The Pick
5. Candied: Won the Dupont Distaff at Pimlico like an odds on favorite should (94 Beyer). Has hit the board in ten of eleven career starts but only has one win in the last six efforts. Has hit the board in all four career starters at nine furlongs. Capable.
6. Tarifa: Ran a nice second in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland where she was last early after having early trouble (89 Beyer).  Consistent performance for Brad Cox with Beyers in the upper 80s and low 90s each time she suits up. Exotics.
7. Randomize: Finished a good third in the La Troienne as she was out finished by her stablemate (83 Beyer). May have needed a race as that effort was off an eight month layoff. Defending champion of this race and almost always hits the board. If she gets back to last year’s level, she might get loose on the lead and take them all the way. Dangerous.

Picks 4-7-5-6 

Race 12 – The New York – Grade I 

One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Mellon Turf  

for Fillies and Mares Four Year Olds and Upward 

1. Forever After All: Consistent performer for Brendan Walsh enters her off a nice score in the Bewitched over a bog at Keeneland where she led for most of the way and drew off (97 Beyer).  In The Very One two back she sat behind a slow pace and came running in the lane – there was too much to do (89 Beyer). Faces tougher today.
2. Immensitude: Has not won in eight career starts for Bill Mott since shipping from France last year but has been competitive hitting the board in six of those races. She appears to lack a turn of foot in the final sixteenth of races that would get her to the top spot. Lean against.
3. Gimme a Nother: South African bred won seven in a row in her home country before shipping over to the U.S, Both starts for the Graham Motion barn (Hillsborough and Modesty Stakes) have been strong as she has finished second each time with low 90s Beyers. Exotics.
4. Miwa: In her first race on this side of the pond she broke slow but gathered herself came running late for a fourth place finish in N2X company at Keeneland. Moves to Grade I company off that prep. Tough task today.
5. Edict: This Argentinian bred has not won in three America races – but was a strong second in the Beaugay where the leader blew the turn and took advantage from her pocket position to grab the lead – but was nabbed at the wire (92 Beyer). Not today.
6. Bellezza: Won the Grade III Sheepshead Bay at eleven furlongs in her first start in the U.S. after coming over from Ireland. That day she got a perfect pocket trip and then the space on the inside opened up and she skimmed the rail all the way home (95 Beyer). Cuts back today. Looks like firm footing will suit her. Value play – the Pick.
7. Beach Bomb: Graham Motion runner is in great form having won two of three starts this year. Last time she was just out finished in the Sheepshead Bay (94 Beyer) by Bellezza. In her two other starts this year she went right to the front in The Very One and in the Orchid (92 Beyer) and took them the whole way.  Contender.
8. She Feels Pretty: Runs here on a three race win streak with the most recent occurring in the Grade III Modesty Stakes at Churchill (96 Beyer) as she kicked clear late. Today’s distance should suit her as she has won at ten furlongs in the Grade I American Oaks. Pace presser type is very dangerous. Has never been off the board in nine career starts. Most likely winner.

Picks 6-8-7-3 

Trivia Answer: Clairiere won the Ogden Phipps in 2022 and 2023 for Steve Asmussen with Joel Rosario up.