It is pretty rare that we get eight horses from a race face off in their subsequent race, but that is the case with the Grade 3 Mamzelle Stakes attracting an octet from the Limestone Stakes plus six others and three also-eligible horses for the 5 1/2-furlong turf dash at 5:27 p.m. EDT Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Shisospicy won the Limestone gate-to-wire after setting a fast pace, and I do have her as the most likely winner here still as controlling speed still seems a potent weapon against this familiar group.
Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.
One thing to keep in mind with her, though, is all three also-eligible horses have the ability to race forward, so any scratches could hurt Shisospicy’s chances.
I am most interested in It Ain’t Two, who I thought stalled a couple times in the early stretch before fighting gamely to be in a dead heat for fourth, beaten by just a length. She should improve second off the layoff after racing last year in Europe.
If jockeys overcorrect from the Limestone, then closers figure to most benefit. Abientot closed well to be third in the Limestone, surging past our top pick late. Funnily enough, Frankie Dettori was aboard It Ain’t Two in the Limestone and now rides Abientot.
Civetta is one of the few who did not contest the Limestone last out and shows up here cutting back in distance with a similar style to Abientot. I expect It Ain’t Two to be the value in the win pool, but with Shisospicy the likely favorite in a 14-horse field, be prepared to play some exactas using all of Abientot, Civetta and top pick It Ain’t Two.
Coverage of selected Kentucky stakes races at Horse Racing Nation is done in partnership with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund.
