2015 Darley Alcibiades Preview
The Road to the Kentucky Oaks continues on Friday with the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland. A field of 11 two year old fillies will contest this race on Keeneland’s opening day.
The Darley Alcibiades will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the main track with a purse of $400,000. Not only is the race awarding points to the top four finishers to help determine the entrants in the 2016 Kentucky Oaks, but the winner also will be guaranteed a spot in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. That race will be at the end of October at Keeneland as well.
The winner will receive 10 points, second place will receive 4 points, third place will receive 2 points, and fourth place will receive 1 point.
Post time for the Darley Alcibiades is scheduled for 5:30 PM Eastern Time and is scheduled as the ninth of 10 races. Free past performances can be found here by going to Friday, October 2 and looking for race 9 at Keeneland. Entries are provided in the table below.
| Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gomo | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | 3-1 |
| 2 | Marquee Miss | Florent Geroux | Ingrid Mason | 15-1 |
| 3 | Put Da Blame On Me | Robby Albarado | Dale Romans | 15-1 |
| 4 | Decked Out | Keith Desormeaux | Kent Desormeaux | 20-1 |
| 5 | Ma Can Do It | Paco Lopez | Dale Romans | 30-1 |
| 6 | Little Cherie | Luis Saez | Mike Maker | 12-1 |
| 7 | Dream Dance | Brian Hernandez Jr. | Neil Howard | 12-1 |
| 8 | Lookout Sister | John Velazquez | Graham Motion | 6-1 |
| 9 | Dothraki Queen | Corey Lanerie | Ken McPeek | 5-2 |
| 10 | Princess Kennedy | Joe Johnson | Gary Hartlage | 30-1 |
| 11 | Just Wicked | Jose Ortiz | Steve Asmussen | 3-1 |
1. Gomo – She debuted at Santa Anita in early June where she battled for the lead before weakening slightly to finish third by four lengths. That debut race was built on in her second start going a mile on the turf. She went gate-to-wire after setting pedestrian fractions, but she won by 5 1/4 lengths as the heavy 2-5 favorite. After a slight break, she appeared in the Grade 2 Sorrento at Del Mar going 6.5 furlongs on the main track. She had a slow break, but came wide and closed to finish second by 2 3/4 lengths to Pretty N Cool. Her latest race was the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in early September. She sat off the pace in that race as well and had to go wide in the stretch. She closed stoutly, but could not hold on for place, as she finished third by 1 1/2 lengths. She should be able to protect her rail spot and get a good trip in this race.
2. Marquee Miss – She made her lone start in the Arlington-Washington Lassie and it was a winning one. She sat mid-pack early on and began to improve her position on the turn. As she straightened in the stretch, she was able to continue her run and she won by 3 lengths. It is hard to know if she will like dirt as much as she liked synthetic (her sire Cowboy Cal loved the synthetic tracks and turf), but she will be a solid price. She is worth a look underneath at a nice price.
3. Put Da Blame On Me – Like a few fillies in this race, she is exiting the Grade 2 Pocahontas. She did not run well that day after being close to the lead for the opening five furlongs. She showed speed in her first two races and and may try that again. She could improve in her second route race, but she has her work cut out for her.
4. Decked Out – She won her debut race by coming off the pace after a slow start and then shipped east to Belmont where she was second in the Astoria. Her last two races were at Saratoga in graded stakes competition in the Grade 3 Schuylerville (finished 3rd) and the Grade 2 Adirondack (finished 4th). She too exits the Pocahontas where she pressed the pace and did not have anything in the lane. This will be her second start going two turns, but like her foe to the inside, she has a long way to go to compete against the horses here.
5. Ma Can Do It – She debuted on August 29 at Ellis Park where she stalked the pace. She ended up going wide into the stretch and finished a well beaten second by 6 1/4 lengths. She then was sent to Kentucky Downs for a six furlong turf dash and once again she finished second. Like her debut, she stalked the pace and closed to get the place money by three lengths. This is a tough spot to make her stakes debut, her first route race, and try to break her maiden.
6. Little Cherie – She debuted here at Keeneland on April 15 with a closing move on the outside. She won by 1 1/2 lengths before some time off. She reappeared on August 1 at Mountaineer in the Mountaineer Juvenile Fillies. She tried to close again, but found some traffic trouble that affected her ability to kick it in and she finished fourth by six lengths. Her latest race was a non-winners of 2 lifetime allowance at Indiana Grand. She sat right behind the pacesetters and kicked past them in the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths. She is another making her two turn debut, but she has the pedigree and is the only filly to have a race (let alone win) over the Keeneland main track. Intriguing horse if she can stalk the pace once again.
7. Dream Dance – She started her career at Churchill Downs in June with a fifth place finish after a slow start. She rallied well in that race, but was no match to the top four. She broke better in her second race and was incredibly unlucky to win, losing by a nose. She got the job done in her third start with a stalking trip and three wide move in the stretch to win by a length and a half. She last raced in the Grade 2 Pocahontas where she rated behind the leaders. She was bothered in the stretch, but still closed to finish third by 2 lengths before a disqualification put her second. She should be better after her first start around two turns and is another longshot that deserves a serious look.
8. Lookout Sister – She made her debut at Delaware Park in mid-July going 5.5 furlongs on dirt. She was able to come off the pace and on the inside to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Her second race was the Grade 2 Adirondack where she tried to stalk the pace again. This time, she did not have any late kick and tired badly to finish fifth by 10 lengths. A return to Delaware in a restricted race put her back in the winner’s circle. She was ridden close to the pace and was able to pull away late to win by 1 3/4 lengths. This will be her first start around two turns, but her pedigree suggests there will be no issues. The only question is can she be good enough?
9. Dothraki Queen – He debut start was in July at Ellis Park going a mile on the good turf course. She broke slow and started her move on the far turn before engulfing the leaders in the stretch on her way to a 7 length victory. She then raced in the oft-referenced Grade 2 Pocahontas and made a similar move to her debut race. She went right around the field and was able to hold on for the win by a half-length. Both her races were impressive and she is deserving of being one of the favorites in this race.
10. Princess Kennedy – She made her first four starts in the Pacific Northwest at Emerald Downs. She was wide throughout in her debut finishing fourth in a field of 8 with a mild rally. Her second race saw her battle off two horses in her maiden breaking score by 2 1 /2 lengths. She stepped up into stakes company her next two starts. In the Angie C, she broke awkwardly, then steadied on the turn, and finished with a nice rally, but missed by a nose. She crushed in her latest race by 8 3/4 lengths with a nice trip behind the speed at 6.5 furlongs. Her race in the Grade 2 Pocahontas left a lot to be desired. She prompted the pace and weakened in the stretch to finish sixth by 6 1/4 lengths. She has to overcome a tough post and will probably need to be rated off the pace if she wants to contend.
11. Just Wicked – She ran 5 furlongs on turf in her debut, but missed by half a length after striking the front in the stretch. She moved to dirt in her second start at Saratoga where she broke on top and then found herself with a good trip behind the leaders. She won up the rail by 1 3/4 lengths while moving on to the Grade 2 Adirondack. She had another good trip off the pace set by Tonasah, but she had to battle down to the wire to finish her off and she won by 1 1/4 lengths. She tried to settle behind the pace in the Grade 2 Pocahontas and she looked like a threat on the far turn. However, she was never a threat in the stretch and finished fourth by 6 lengths as the 1-2 favorite. At 3-1, she is not very appealing given the fact she is wide and struggled in her lone route race.
Selections
This race has a nice mix of potential winning favorites and decent prices to round out the exotics, if not win outright. #9 Dothraki Queen has been impressive in both of her two career races and will probably be making a big move in the stretch once more. #7 Dream Dance finished second to Dothraki Queen last out, but she is a threat to finish in the exacta again with another stalking trip. #2 Marquee Miss has only raced once, but that was a victory in the ungraded Arlington-Washington Lassie at seven furlongs. She should like the distance. #1 Gomo cannot be left off the ticket as she will probably end up with a nice trip along the rail. #6 Little Cherie may also be worth putting on the trifecta or superfecta tickets at the 12-1 morning line price. If she takes to the distance (pedigree says yes) and gets a good stalking trip like her two victories, she could make some noise.
Top selection – #9 Dothraki Queen
2nd selection – #7 Dream Dance
3rd selection – #2 Marquee Miss
4th selection – #1 Gomo
Check back on Friday evening for a recap of the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades.