This year’s Camilla Urso Stakes attracted an overflow field of 14 horses, 10 are in the body of the field and there are 4 AEs. It is scheduled to be run at 5f on the turf, but there is supposed to be some rain overnight and into the morning. Hopefully the race stays on, but it is something you’ll want to monitor closely. Click here for the hourly weather forecast
The Camilla Urso is for Fillies and Mares 3YOs and Up going 5f on the turf for a purse of $75,000. R8- 4:23pm Post Time.
#1 Tomlin (Specht/ Frey): The 2018 Golden Gate Debutante winner makes her way back to Golden Gate Fields after finding the waters too deep at Santa Anita on May 17th– she ran 6th beaten 7 lengths behind multiple G1 winner Bellafina. Was outpaced early, made a brief move on the turn, and flattened out. She fits much better with these types and will be making her first start on the turf. Her pedigree doesn’t really scream turf at all, but she is a 1/2 to Strike it Rich who is a G3 winner on the grass. She ran 4th by 1/2 a length to many of these (Ima Happy Cat, Gotham Desire, Vronilla Parfait, and Mother of Dragons) 3 back, and won by a nose against Mother of Dragons and Coco Bee 2 back. Has tactical speed and could sit a good pocket trip. Can she handle turf?
#2 Coco Bee (Wright/ Hernandez): Is coming off a 2nd place effort behind Tomlin on March 1st and a 3rd place effort behind Left Alone on March 22nd. This is going to be her first try on grass, but should have no problem with it being by Richard’s Kid. She has always shown the ability to run on late, so hopefully the blinkers can sharpen her up a bit early. See her sitting a stalking trip in here. Her numbers fit and goes out for strong connections.
#3 Ima Happy Cat (Markle/ Gonzalez): While she was runner-up in last year’s Camilla Urso and doesn’t have to face the likes of SY Sky, she is still going to have her hands full in this spot. Has one-way to go and is going to be on the engine in here. Her speed is her best weapon and horses with early speed seem to have an advantage in turf sprints. Her figures fit in here and has been knocking heads with many in the field. In her last race she was 2nd to Left Alone but that was at 6f (she seems to prefer 5-5.5f). Her trainer Dan Markle has not gotten off to the best of starts this meet and is 0/6 at the Spring Meet. Red Livy has a lot of early speed and will be sending too, but I think Ima Happy Cat is going to try to take them all the way (especially being drawn inside of her).
#4 Left Alone (Badilla/ Antongeorgi): The daughter of Reckless Abandon is searching for her 3rd straight victory. She had always shown talent, but did start to tail off a bit during the summer of last year. Her trainer Manny Badilla has done a great job turning her around as she has gone from a 2nd level 20k claimer to wins at the 40k claiming level and at the open Allowance level. Last out she flashed a very strong turn of foot to run down Ima Happy Cat who was loose on the lead. She showed a lot of speed early on in her career but now she has learned to relax and finish off her races– her late pace figure have improved in her last 2 starts. Something to note is that the last time she sprinted on turf was at Santa Rosa and completely bolted on the turn. See her stalking in here.
#5 Princess Vivian (Ledezma/ Martinez): The Bear Fan Stakes winner is going for 3 straight victories. She has been very consistent in her 7-race career with 4 wins and no finishes worse than 4th. Last time out on February 22nd she showed a very strong turn of foot to run down Morning Cynn (who came back to win in a 1st level Allowance next time out). The layoff isn’t too much of a concern as she has shown she can run well off the bench. While her success has come over the tapeta, her career debut was on the grass and she finished 2nd by a head. She is going to have a lot of ground to make up but should get some pace run at. Her run is going to need to be timed perfectly at this sharp of a distance. Will come from the back.
#6 Fantasy Heat (Glatt/ Alvarado): Has shown an affinity for going 5f on the turf. In her 4 career tries at the surface/distance she is 3 for 4 with a 3rd. Was last seen running 10th in the Unzip Me Stakes in September at Santa Anita. That effort can be excused, as she has not been seen since then. The worktab coming into this race is pretty spotty. Last drill on May 23rd was a sharp 47.1 from the gate. Glatt is a strong 20% with shippers and can get them ready off a layoff (14% off 90 days plus). Her figures are a touch light, but her win 2-back at Del Mar was good and you can usually expect improvement going from a 3yo to 4yo. Has some speed and see her sitting just behind Ima Happy Cat and Red Livy.
#7 Storming Lady (Marquez/ Desormeaux): Ships up from Southern California for trainer Alfredo Marquez and is coming off a 2nd level Allowance win on March 1st at Santa Anita going 5.5f on the turf. I see her taking back and trying to make one run. Seems to be coming into this one doing well as she last worked 4f in 47.1 from the gate on May 23rd (same time, but didn’t work with Fantasy Heat). Her numbers fit and will have pace to run at. She is 9/2-3-3 going 5f on the grass in her career.
#8 Red Livy (McLean/ Gomez): Trainer Bill McLean has done a great job with this mare since claiming her for 8k back at Del Mar last summer. She rattled of 3-straight wins going 5f on the turf and then her form started to drop in her last 2. Got a freshening and hasn’t been seen since December 14th. The number she earned in her last win (10/31) fits with these in here, but she did get a perfect trip on the lead that day. Don’t see her getting that same trip with Ima Happy Cat in here. McLean is 10% off 90 days plus. Has one way to go and will be sending for the lead– she’s been in front at the first call in 9-straight races.
#9 Gotham Desire (Moger Jr./ Amador): Seems to handle the turf well and is also 1 for 1 at this trip. Last out she was stuck behind a slow pace and didn’t do much running late. However, her 2 starts prior to that were solid. Has been knocking heads with many of these in here and hasn’t really gotten the upperhand. Coming off a bullet 5f work in 59 flat in her most recent work. Moger is 9% off a 46-90 day layoff). Best numbers are slightly behind and is going to need to take a step forward. Will take back and try to make a run.
#10 Vronilla Parfait (Ledezma/ Monroy): The stablemate to Princess Vivian is going to get overlooked in here based on her last 2 starts. The run 2 back at mile can be dismissed, but last time out she didn’t show much run at all after being stuck behind a slow pace. Has been consistent throughout her career and could maybe wake back up off the layoff. Her best puts her in the mix, but so far in her 4 starts this year she hasn’t been at her top level. Is 1 for 4 lifetime sprinting on the turf. Will try to stalk and pounce. Could get a wide trip.
AEs
#11 Mucho Amor (Wright/ Frey): The 2nd of 2 runners in this spot for trainer Blaine Wright. Showed a ton of potential last year in her first few starts in this barn. Ran poorly in August at Emerald Downs going 1 1/8m and was given a 7-month layoff. Sat a perfect trip in that common Allowance race on March 22nd and showed absolutely nothing. Her top efforts would have put her right there but she was very cold on the board and ran like it. Maybe the route races took some of that strong finish out of her? Will try to wake back up on the turf.
#12 Mother of Dragons (Psarras/ Couton): If she gets in, she will be making her first start on turf. Has speed and will probably use it from the outside to get position. Don’t see her being on the lead with other speedsters in here, but think she will be sitting just off on the outside. Was on a slow pace last time and just got ran down by a nose to Tomlin. Will try to get first jump on the closers in here. Pedigree doesn’t really suggest turf. Has the numbers but not sure how this trip will suite her.
#13 Dearborn (Bonde/ H Herrera): Had some ok sprint efforts down south before shipping up to Golden Gate Fields for her last start. Was on a moderate pace going 6f and got ran down late. Ran 2nd 2-back at 5.5f on the turf at Santa Anita in a 35k claiming race. Has early speed and would expect her to flash that here. Probably won’t get the lead in here from an outside post, but should be sitting close. Numbers are on the slow side and hasn’t shown much finish in the latter part of her races.
#14 Bezzy (Trujillo/ C Herrera): Is going to need a lot of luck to even get into the field being 4th on the AE list. Victor Trujillo has had a great start to the meet– he has 4 wins from 21 starts (19%) and 15 of those have been in the money (71%). Her race on 5/16 was her first start since August and she might have needed one off the layoff. 2-back she was 2nd at Santa Rosa in an Allowance going 5f on the turf. Her numbers are definitely on the slow side and I think she would sit a very wide stalking trip in here. One random and useless fact as it pertains to this spot, but Bezzy is a 1/2 to the talented 3yo Indian Peak.
Pace Scenario:
The pace in here looks like it is going to be contested by 2 horses with a lot of early zip. I see Ima Happy Cat and Red Livy duking it out early on the front end. Fantasy Heat has some early speed and I think if she’s sharp off the layoff will be sitting behind them in 3rd. I have Tomlin, Coco Bee, and Left Alone sitting in the front of the stalking pack. Then in the back end of the stalkers is going to be Vronilla Parfait and Storming Lady. Princess Vivian and Gotham Desire will be sitting at the back of the field. (If the AEs get in) Mucho Amor has some speed and I could see her using it to get some early positioning behind the leaders. Mother of Dragons will probably sit in a spot just off of the speed too if she gets in. Dearborn has enough speed to go with the leaders but I doubt she does due to her post, she should be sitting really close though. Bezzy does not have a ton of early zip and will likely be sitting a wide stalking trip. The pace should be very honest in here.
Selections: 5-1-7-3 (On Turf)
#5 Princess Vivian (9/2): Is going to need a perfect trip from the back, but should get pace to run at. Has been improving and think she takes another step forward here.
#1 Tomlin (6/1): The class drop should help and I think she will like the distance. Turf is a question for her. Should sit a great pocket trip.
#7 Storming Lady (4/1): Has kept good form down south. Should get a good setup. Will be coming from off of it.
#3 Ima Happy Cat (6/1): Is going to be on the engine in here. Think she’s best going 5-5.5f. Showed last year she can handle the turf.
This is going to be a great race and it seems wide open on paper. Hopefully the insight and replays were able to help with your handicapping. Should have a preview for the California Oaks up sometime Saturday evening. Good luck!
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