2012 Spinaway Stakes betting preview

The Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes will help set the stage for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. The seven furlong race saw last year’s winner, Grace Hall, turn in a second place effort at the World Championships. This year’s field looks to have even greater potential.

#1 Teen Pauline (Tapit x Effectual by Carson City) 7-5: This lass produced what is arguably the most impressive performance of the meet when she won first out in a track record time of :56 2/5 for five furlongs. She went fast early, in between and in the end. Jockey Julien Leparoux never stepped on the gas and won “ridden out”. Steve Asmussen has her working very smartly and a recent move in 1:12 4/5 B for six furlongs tells us that she has exited her race well. Clearly, this is the horse to fear.

#1A Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy x Dream Rush by Wild Rush) 7-5: As if Teen Pauline wasn’t good enough, Stonestreet Stables has also entered this tremendous bay filly. Together, they will form perhaps the most formidable entry in a juvenile race in the past couple of years. The Todd Pletcher trained racehorse went wire to wire and won under a vigorous hand ride from John Velazquez in her unveiling. She stopped the clock in 1:16 2/5 for 6 ½ furlongs. In preparation for this race she sports a five furlong drill in :59 2/5 B.

#2 Corail (Indian Charlie x Meteor Miracle by Twinning) 12-1: Second runner from Todd Pletcher produced a nice late kick to win going away by 3 1/2. We say it was a nice late kick even though she went wire to wire, because she ran the fastest part of her race near the end.  As the “other” Pletcher horse, she will offer plenty of value. Christopher DeCarlo, a long time go to guy for Pletcher, is listed to ride.

#3 So Many Ways (Sightseeing x Happy Scene by Dehere) 3-1: Scored a nice win in the Grade 3 Schuylerville over this track. Sent off the favorite, she waited in fifth before exploding late to pass the field. JJ Castellano stays up for trainer Anthony Dutrow.

#4 Sweet Shirley Mae (Broken Vow x Joyful Chaos by Rahy) 15-1: Was hard ridden to a first out win at Belmont over a sloppy track. They bet her down to 7/2 in the Schuylerville and she failed to fire while checking in fifth. Wes Ward has had an awful meet (2 for 48), but is undeterred. Kent Desormeaux picks up the ride.

#5 Baby J (J Be K x Lavender Baby by Rubiano) 8-1: Purchased privately after winning her debut, this female is from  the quick sire J Be K. Look for her to streak to an early lead and try to hang on for the win. Ramon Dominguez picks up the mount for trainer Richard Dutrow.

#6 Seasoned Warrior (Majestic Warrior x Saoirse by Cure The Blues) 5-2: Ran very well in the debut, which is rare for a Bill Mott pupil. She was defeated that day by Baby J, who finished a ½ length clear. The bay produced a huge effort second out to win by an easy 3 ¾ lengths over this track. Junior Alvarado retains the mount.

Check out our Buy Picks page to get our selections for this race and all of the big events this weekend!