Yuugiri , a daughter of Shackleford , takes aim at her third win in four races as the favorite in the six-furlong Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes (G2) Oct. 7 at Keeneland.
Fresh off her three-length win in the Open Mind Stakes less than a month ago at Churchill Downs, Yuugiri hopes to repeat her success at the same distance, this time on the dirt in Lexington. She has more starts (seven) to her credit at the distance than any of the other six fillies and mares in the field.
Just as important is the five victories and where they happened. Her two losses at six furlongs came on the all-weather track at Presque Isle Downs in the Satin and Lace Stakes and on the Belmont Park turf in the License Fee Stakes.
In other words, when the 4-year-old runs this distance on dirt, she wins. Equally impressive is that she’s won all of them by no less than 2 1/4 lengths.
With a $350,000 purse, Yuugiri will likely leave Saturday’s race a millionaire. She’s 6-2-1 from 13 career starts with $979,010 in earnings. This year alone she is 3-0-0 from six starts and $359,300.
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Her biggest challenger may be Wicked Halo , who was 8 3/4 lengths back in the Open Mind. The daughter of Gun Runner has a knack for hitting the board. In 16 career starts, she’s finished worse than third once—the 2019 Dixie Belle Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. Wicked Halo won the 2021 Adirondack Stakes (G2) and in 2022 the Prioress Stakes (G2) and Raven Run Stakes (G2). She has seconds in the Derby City Distaff (G1) and Bed o’ Roses Stakes (G2)—both this year—to go with a third in the 2022 Eight Belles Stakes (G2) and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).
BY THE NUMBERS
2—The number of entrants sired by Not This Time . Currently sitting ninth in overall progeny earnings on the general sires list, Not This Time will be represented by Fire On Time and Last Leaf .
4—The number of entrants who have won at Keeneland. Wicked Halo, Fire On Time, Static Fire , and Be Like Water have each won there once.
100%—Static Fire has not lost in her two starts at six furlongs. She won an allowance race at Churchill Downs and an allowance optional claiming race at Keeneland, both last year.
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