Vahva and Sweet Azteca are currently the top two female dirt sprinters in the country. Who could emerge to potentially threaten them in next month’s Ballerina (G1) might be answered Wednesday at Saratoga in the $200,000 Honorable Miss H. (G2) over six furlongs.
One such candidate is Clearly Unhinged, who showed promise at three last season by placing in the Test (G1) and La Brea (G1), as well as the Chillingworth (G3) against older rivals. Privately purchased and transferred to trainer Steve Asmussen earlier this year, Clearly Unhinged is 2-for-2 in her third term, including a strong-looking win in the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Another four-year-old daughter of Into Mischief to keep an eye on is Juddmonte homebred Accede, who gamely dug in to win the Bed o’ Roses (G2) by a neck last month for her third win in a row.
“She’s come back this year a little faster and stronger after a rest after her three-year-old season. I really like where she’s at,” trainer Chad Brown said of Accede.
Munnys Gold earned minor checks in the Eight Belles (G2), Acorn (G1), and Test last season, but returned from a 10-month break on June 7 at Saratoga to dispense with entry-level allowance rivals as an odds-on choice.
Spirit Wind and Sterling Silver, on their best days, might be good enough to win the Honorable Miss but perhaps not the Ballerina, given their efforts against Vahva in the Derby City Distaff (G1) in May. Spirit Wind outclassed a minor stakes field at Lone Star last time, while Grade 2 veteran Sterling Silver was upset in a New York-bred restricted stakes most recently.
Hot Fudge plunked up for third in the Bed o’ Roses after falling back to last early on. She was good enough to win three stakes at Aqueduct last winter but is probably a cut or two below this group.
Forecasted midweek rain might put a damper on Thursday’s feature at Saratoga, the $200,000 Caress (G3) for filly and mare turf sprinters.
A potentially less-than-firm course in particular might affect morning line favorite Roses for Debra, who fared poorly on wet ground in the Turf Monster (G3) at Parx last fall. However, the gray does enter as the reigning titlist in the Caress and has shown at other times to be rather fond of the local course.
Future Is Now got the jump on Roses for Debra in last month’s Intercontinental (G2) and prevailed by a diminishing head while in receipt of two pounds. Both carry level weights of 124 pounds in the 5 1/2-furlong Caress as Future Is Now seeks her third consecutive stakes win.
Kaufymaker was only a neck behind at the finish of the Intercontinental after leading much of the way, while Danse Macabre and Dontlookbackatall are consistent top-two finishers. Zeitlos placed in her only prior start on the grass, but would look more interesting if the Caress happens to be moved to the main track.
