International Stallion Stakes Quintet Cast For Filly Trotters Aiming At Titles

The Breeders Crown list of eligible frosh-filly trotters is 140. Though that number won’t be divided into as elimination races (do the math) as would accommodate every one, those names dropped into the entry box will account for a good number of elimination races and a great final.

The International Stallion Stakes (INTSS) may be a deciding reasons many freshmen enter the championship races. This week, five INTSS for frosh-filly trotters are the highlight at The Red Mile on Friday, Oct. 6. These essential races are the focus of this week’s Breeders Crown Countdown with few editions left until it addresses elimination and final events.

Seven fillies race in division one ($57,000), two still holding maiden status. Lily Stride should be the favorite, having not been off the board (four wins) in eight starts. She is one of two Muscle Hill gals here and the other, Sherrys Lady, could easily be the second choice.

We will stay with Dashanay, a filly we have followed this season (2-1 last week in a Bluegrass, finishing sixth) who has every right to put in an effort that could topple those. She is a Manofmanymissions filly that caught trainer Ron Burke’s eye for the same reasons we followed her—the sire’s product is blossoming. As a beaten favorite she should go off a decent price for us.

Eight for $58,000 are in the second INTSS division, with Manchego versus the division, so to speak. Jimmy Takter’s nine-for-nine filly towers over the rest and even from post 8 there is little reason the Muscle Hill heroine should falter. Two of her foes are maidens and the others have only won a pair with more chances to do better. To key her in exotics is one avenue, to pass is another. However, beware of an upset from Defiantsnowfashion. Trainer Jim Campbell has his stock firing big time in Kentucky.

Last week, Ciao Dolce was second to the mighty Manchego at 88-1. Her place price didn’t do what any ordinary 88-1 would do finishing second but the performance, as we forecasted, was terrific. No such foe faces Ciao Dolce in division three ($58,000) beyond Basquait and she will be hammered under the price she deserves. Per Henricksen’s daughter of the great Pizza Dolce won’t be 88-1 here but could win at a price far less than her chances.

The penultimate division has three maidens, one we backed last week, Swing It Cathy. She finished second to the favorite and has only to overcome the 8 hole here, or maybe the effort need be bigger? Looking For Zelda has presented six wins for eight starts and will draw the attention of a lot of bettors. We like Swing It Cathy but also have an eye on Consuela Fashion, another Jim Campbell filly fireball. Watch the board and act accordingly.

Finally, the nightcap ($58,000) division offers a chance at a big price with Wish I Was There. The success of her sire, Wishing Stone, has been somewhat surprising and this is a chance to take advantage of his progeny. Though she is the lowest earner so far, the Charlie Norris trained-and-driven gal is at least as good as the best in this field and worth the backing for the price.



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Follow major 2017 BC hopefuls on their road to the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park at the Breeders Crown Countdown blog and the TwinSpires harness blog weekly, with archived reports on the results at the Hambletonian Society web