Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland Race Course
Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 3 Appalachian Stakes Presented by Japan Racing Association goes down this Thursday, April 18 from Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky. Three year old fillies will be after their share of the $100,000 purse when they go one mile on Keeneland's turf track.
A group of 10 sophomore females has been confirmed for the Appalachian - race 8 on Keeneland's Thursday schedule. Post time is 4:42 PM. Here is a look at the past performances of all 10 entries for this Grade 3 stakes.
2013 Appalachian Stakes Race Favorites
Watsdachances - Irish bred filly started her career in Europe but it wasn't until she hit North American soil that she emerged a contender. Watsdachances won her first two starts in America - the P.G. Johnson Stakes in her debut and the Grade 3 Miss Grillo at Belmont Park October 8 and then followed that with a very good second behind Flotilla in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November. This will be her first start since that race for trainer Chad Brown. Javier Castellano who has been aboard Watsdachances in all three North American starts will get the mount once again.
Midnight Ballet - has five career starts for trainer Tom Proctor with two wins - an impressive upset score in the Sharp Cat Stakes November 11 and a MSW in her debut. Her last two starts have been disappointments - a seventh last time out in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds February 23 followed a fifth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet December 8. Gary Stevens gets the mount Thursday.
Appalachian Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
To My Valentine - Wesley Ward trained French bred filly had a so-so career in Europe before shipping to North America. In her debut here she was second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream January 31 and was a good second by a head last time out to Gator Zone in the minor Allen LeCombe Memorial at Fair Grounds March 2. She has placed six times in eight career starts.
Overheard - Malcolm Pierce trained filly has four career starts with two wins - a MSW in her second career start - at Woodbine in November and an Allowance Optional Claiming two back at Fair Grounds December 13. Last time out was a third behind To My Valentine in the Allen LeCombe Memorial March 2.
Rusty Slipper - H. Graham Motion trained filly has three career starts and two wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming at Tampa Bay Downs January 20 and a MSW score December 1 also at Tampa Bay. Last time out she rallied for a respectable fourth place finish in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks also at Tampa Bay February 2.
Appalachian Stakes betting at Keeneland Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com
Rutherford Rd - enters the Appalachian as the most experienced of the fillies - 11 starts all at Woodbine. She is coming off an OK third in the Ontario Lassie Stakes December 9 after an Allowance score November 24. She has raced in graded stakes company before - an eleventh place finish in September in the Grade 2 Natalma.
Bethany Belle - has eight career starts with three wins and a third place finish. She had a two race win streak at the end of 2012 in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races but has raced to a fourth in an Allowance at Turfway Park March 2 and a third in an Allowance at Hawthorne March 24 so far this year.
Eden Prairie - has alternated fourth place finishes in wins in her four race career for trainer Neil Pessin. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Fair Grounds March 20 after a fourth in a similar race December 13. If the pattern follows suit, count on her finishing fourth this week!
Unbelievable Dream - Barclay Tagg trained filly has two wins in three career starts - a MSW score in her debut at Aqueduct in November and an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out at Gulfstream March 3.
Fadeintoinfinity - British bred filly had four races in England with her only win coming in her last start there. She made her North American debut March 15 and finished fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Santa Anita.
