Politely Stakes: Lovable Lady, plus odds and analysis
Lovable Lady scored the upset in the Jameela Stakes. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Six weeks after earning her first stakes victory in her second try on turf, 5-year-old homebred mare Lovable Lady returns to the dirt looking to extend her win streak to three races in Saturday’s $75,000 Politely for Maryland-bred/sired females 3 and up.
The dark bay or brown daughter of Not For Love won a third-level optional claiming allowance on dirt June 18 at historic Pimlico Race Course, where trainer Mary Eppler is based, and came back to upset the Jameela Stakes at 10-1 as part of Laurel’s Maryland Pride Day program Aug. 20.
Both races came at the Politely’s six furlongs, a distance where Lovable Lady is 2-1-3 from six career tries. At Laurel, she owns three wins, two seconds and two thirds from seven starts.
“She does like Laurel. I don’t know why. I think that she likes Pimilco, too. She’s had races at Pimlico where she’s had to chase the pace laying second and the race just didn’t set up for her,” Eppler said. “I think any surface – mud, dirt, turf – she’ll be fine on all of them.”
Lovable Lady drew Post 3 in the eight-horse Politely field under jockey Horacio Karamanos, who has been aboard for 11 consecutive starts dating back to last March. They share highweight of 120 pounds with Candida H. and Outwithbigdaddy.
“She’s a very difficult horse to train and a couple of the times when she finished third, she was just too close to the pace,” Eppler said. “She had to chase the pace and then tired. She likes to be covered up and come from off of it.”
Bred by Mr. & Mrs. Samuel H. Rogers and owned by the family trust, Lovable Lady has finished worse than third just once in 13 career starts including five wins and five thirds and has banked $229,145. The Jameela victory came in her stakes debut.
“It was real nice because, unfortunately, the breeders died,” Eppler said, “but their daughter wants to keep her for a broodmare so getting that black type really helps.”
- Candida H. (5-2) — Alex Cintron/Mike Trombetta — This Lemon Drop Kid filly has never been worse than second in four tries at the trip and should appreciate getting back on the main track after getting thrashed in the All Brandy… First race since June, though she shows a forward work tab including two bullets… Previous six furlong efforts have shown a stalking style, and she owns a stake win versus similar at 7 furlongs…
- Street Cruizer (10-1) — J.D. Acosta/Larry Murray — Here’s a horse who offers a little bit of value: this runner was just 3-1 last out but had all sorts of issues before and during the race en route to a sixth-place finish; one prior, she ran into a solid group in the Miss Woodford… Here, back home among Maryland-breds, she has a chance to offer a much better effort… Note rider McCarthy jumps ship to #6 in here… She has a win at the distance, and both winning efforts came on the lead; rider Acosta adept at getting out to the front… Other speed types complicate matters, but an improved effort would be no surprise…
- Lovable Lady (2-1) — Horacio Karamanos/Mary Eppler — Not for Love mare recorded probably career-best effort in running down speed to win the grassy Jameela by a half last out; two to run back have won next out… Eppler puts up go-to rider on a horse he’s succeeded with before and at a distance she’s mastered: 6-2-1-3 record and $95k in the bank… Only career try out of the money came in a turf sprint in which she had a disastrous trip, and she’s six-for-six in the money on off tracks… She’s the only they’ll need to beat…
- Lexington Street (4-1) — Jevian Toledo/Gary Capuano — Talented runner gave an improved account of herself last out in first try with Lasix, and that may not have been the best day to try to come from fifth, and she finished ahead of #2 and #5 that day… Owns a stake win at the distance last year as a juvenile but is winless in three tries since… Curious to see a turf work since her last start, possibly a sign connections looking for better options than this.. Better efforts make her a contender here, and there’s speed enough that the race may come back to her…
- My Magician (10-1) — Victor Carrasco/Mike Trombetta — 2014 Maryland Million Lassie winner owns just one additional win since and finished well behind #4 Lexington Street last out after setting the early pace… With presence of other speed types here, she probably won’t be on the engine this time in first try with Carrasco in the irons… Rough trip two back in the Jameela, the second time she’s had major trip trouble in stakes company… Shows a bullet work since last and probably needs to hope for an early pace battle…
- Brenda’s Way (6-1) — Trevor McCarthy/Damon Dilodovico — This $15,000 claim has gone on to do good things for trainer Damon Dilodovico, winning the 2015 Geisha Stakes at Pimlico and placing in four other stakes… She hasn’t run less than seven furlongs since November 2014, and as one of several early types here, she may find herself scrambling to get to the front… Normal rider Toledo opts for #4 Lexington Street, but McCarthy in the irons is no consolation prize… Her three starts since running second in the Conniver in January haven’t been good, she’s been away over three months, and she has some history of not firing off the bench… Hard to endorse at 6-1…
- Deliver Me (20-1) — Francisco Garcia/Heather O’Hern — This Penn National shipper is winless in nine tries at the distance, working on a 17-race losing streak, and has never won in 13 tries on the main track: Pass…
- Outwithbigdaddy (12-1) — Daniel Centeno/Gina Rosenthal — This Outflanker filly won the Del-certified Tax Free Shopping Distaff last out in a front-running, 7-1 upset; the lone runner who has run back won her next start… She’s shown that kind of early lick before, but she’s also demonstrated the ability to stalk and pounce… Might sit the right trip breaking from the outside stall under Centeno, who has done well this year but is struggling at the meet (1-for-38)… She’ll be making her third start in a roughly 31-day period… Her speed figs don’t measure up, but we’re inclined to think you’re getting a square price here on a horse who may outrun her odds…
