Preview: Gr.1 Ogden Phipps Stakes 2018
Is Abel Able To Ogden Phipps??
Abel Tasman is the most accomplished filly in the Ogden Phipps field . But she has a sub-par performance to her name although she finished a respectable fourth in the Gr.1 La Troienne Stakes.
Trained by Bob Baffert, the daughter of Quality Road won three Gr.1 races in 2017, including the one-mile Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park, and finished second in three other Gr. 1 events to stamp herself as the clear-cut champion three-year-old filly of the season.
Most certainly she is the filly to beat. And Todd Pletcher trained Unbridled Mo might just be the lady to do it. She has won seven of her ten starts and the graded stakes winner really raised her game when she upset Unique Bella in the 8.5-furlong Gr.1 Apple Blossom Stakes. She has enough tactical speed to work out a good trip while saving ground from her inside draw, and if Abel Tasman fails to fire her best shot, Unbridled Mo should be ready to take advantage.
Other main contenders for the title include, American Gal, Ivy Bell (runner-up in the seven-furlong Gr.1 Humana Distaff) along with the Chad Brown-trained Pacific Wind.
Full Runner List:
1.Unbridled Mo(T. Pletcher,J. Velazquez), 2.Ivy Bell(T. Pletcher,J. Castellano), 3.Highway Star(R. Ubillo,L. Saez), 4.Pacific Wind(C. Brown,I. Ortiz, Jr.), 5.American Gal(S. Callaghan,J. Ortiz), 6.Abel Tasman(B. Baffert,M. Smith), 7.Unchained Melody(B. Lynch,J. Rosario), 8.Berned(H. Motion,J. Bravo)
Full Winner List 2017:
1stSongbird(J. Hollendorfer,M. Smith), 2nd Paid Up(C. Brown,J. Castellano), 3rdHighway Star(R. Ubillo,A. Arroyo), 4thCarina Mia(W. Mott,J. Leparoux), 5thVerve's Tale(B. Tagg,L. Saez), 6thFactory of Faith(J. Sharp,J. Ortiz), 7thBar of Gold(J. Kimmel,J. Rosario)
Race Type & Conditon:
Distance:1 1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs), Surface:Dirt, Track:left-handed, Qualification:Fillies & Mares, four-years-old & up, Weight:Assigned, Purse:$1,000,000 (2014)
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretaristworld.com