Two Year Old Fillies Battle It Out At The Eclipse, Who Wins

It may come as a biased opinion but My Miss Aurelia fighting it out with Stephanie’s Kitten and Grace Hall doesn’t seem the fairest of picks for any true filly and mare racing follower, especially if there is a major influence of the obvious Breeder’s Cup. And with that arises the need to analyse i detail the short comings of the latter two contenders against the current favourite, Smart Strike and My Miss Storm Cat mare, My Miss Aurelia.

Grace Hall, the first competitor nominated for the Eclipse Award Two Year Old Female, has started four times in her maiden season and slated to make a big opening this year as well. With a Breeder’s Cup second place to prime contender My Miss Aurelia, Grace Hall won the Spinaway Stakes by a length and 3/4th to Judy the Beauty. He second win coming from the Blue Hen Stakes, is a race not too paramount to being decisive for her contention for the Eclipse. Grace Hall leads the fillies ground at a score of 3 wins from 4 starts, finishing all in the money. Trained by Anthony Dutrow, Grace Hall is raced by Ramon A. Dominquez, a jockey who’s ridden great horses to victories. Out of Season’s Greetings and sired by Belmont Stakes winner, Empire Maker, Grace may bring in some surprise as she readies for her sophomore campaign.

Another not so strong but very much consistent contention to My Miss Aurelia’s chances for the win comes from Stephanie’s Kitten; a filly out of Unfold the Rose by Cateinus, sired by Kitten’s Joy, a specialist at grass tracks. While her maiden season was majorly clouded by doubts on whether she should be allowed to race on grass or polytrack resulting from pedigree or her great shape on polytracks during training, she raced on both surfaces exhibiting great comfort and confidence. Despite not competing against her fellow contenders for the Eclipse directly in a race, Stephanie’s Kitten threatened My Miss Aurelia’s Breeder’s Cup presence as she went on to win the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf. Earlier she finished third at the Natalma Stakes, a turf surface. She however responded beautifully to the polytrack as well at the Alcibiades Stakes, a grade 1 event. Soon followed was her turf win at the Breeder’s. Could she still pose a threat to My Miss Aurelia? Trainer Wayne Catalano seems very hopeful, owing to the fact she comes from the Ramsey brigade.

Talking about the strongest contender here, My Miss Aurelia may sound partial but by not doing so, would be an act of unnecessary rebel. If you remember the great filly, Rachel Alexander, also belonged to the Steve Asmussen’s bandwagon. My Miss Aurelia started four times as a two year old winning all of them. Winning her maiden special weight as early as her first start and continuing the trend with Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes which she won by a neck over Millionreasonswhy. She later won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes, leading the field of six by five lengths and a half. Stopshoppingmaria, jockeyed by John Velasquez finished second displaying no match to the race lead. To establish her dominance over the fillies’ category, My Miss Aurelia made a quick comeback with Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies winning it from the recent Spinaway Stakes race lead Grace Hall in second and Wemissfrankie in third.

With three wins each for Grace Hall and Stephanie’s Kitten, My Miss Aurelia clearly wins, hands down with four. Even if the count doesn’t play a decisive factor in drawing the results, she definitely stands a more solid chance of winning the title compared to her contemporaries. So while we all wait to see how the cookie crumbles, explore your horse’s skills when casted against its prime competitors, right on your gaming consoles, at your fingertips.

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