Milady BC Handicap

It's too bad that this one isn't a part of the PW contest, because on paper this one looks like it should be a really good one. A case could probably be made for any of these to win. So, let's get to it...

• Clever Critter: The senior member of this group. Has had a very nice career with 9 wins from 22 tries. She's probably best at a mile, but she's certainly capable of getting the extra half-furlong. She's went sub-1:41 for 8.5 furlongs twice in her career, including last year when she won this race. Her best time this year for the distance is 1:41.41 (102 PSR). Has tried this distance in her only two starts this year. Unfortunately for her, the horse that won both those races (Mystic River) is also in this one. We know she likes this track. We know she's capable of running a fast time at this distance. The question is does she have enough left in the tank to run a fast enough time to beat this field. It might be tough.
• Diabla: The only 3YO in the field. She's the PSR star of this one. Her lowest PSR of the year is 111. That came in her last outing, which just happens to be her only defeat of the year (in 3 starts). So far in her young career, she has 8 win from 15 starts. This will be only the second time she's ever tried more than 7 furlongs. She tried this distance at the end of her 2YO season, going 1:41.91 (94 PSR) at this track. At 7 furlongs and under, she's a load. She holds the world record for 6 furlongs and at one time held the mark for 4.5 furlongs. I don't think she'll be able to carry it over to 8.5 furlongs though. She has run a respectable time over the distance, but respectable won't be good enough in this field.
• Fly So High: This 4YO has made 22 starts in her career, winning 8 times. This will be her first try at the distance this year. In fact, this will be her first try at this distance since she was two. Don't let that fool you though, she's had some very impressive performances at this distance. She's gone sub-1:40 twice (amazingly enough, she finished second both times) and she's gone sub-1:41 another time (at this track in a win). Gave Scenic Sheba all should could handle last time out in losing a close one, so that should tell you on what level this one is at. Faced Mystic River early on this year at 7 furlongs, and finished second by less than a length. Her ability to carry her big time speed makes her a good possibility.
• Girl Talk: Probably the least accomplished horse in the field, which means that she's "only" won 4 times in 14 tries. Told you this one looked really good on paper! Has tried this distance twice this year getting 102 PSR's both times. Her best time this year is 1:40.88. She's also gone sub-1:41 one other time in her career. Might be better served if this one was about another furlong or so further. Still, I think she'll show nicely. I don't think she can beat all of these, but I'm looking for her to grab a minor piece of it.
• Mystic River: 7 wins from 23 tries so far in her career. She won her first 3 starts of the year, before a disappointing 5th in her last time out. Two of the wins are at this distance though. She beat Clever Critter in one of them, and Clever Critter, Girl Talk, and Smart Habit in the other. She's went sub-1:41 in both races with a best of 1:40.11 (114 PSR). She's also gone sub-1:41 one other time in her career. She has the maddening tendancy to mess around in the stretch. I think she's the one to beat in this one...if she doesn't let someone get her at the wire while she goofs off.
• Smart Habit: I know that I'm sounding like a broken record here, but another nice career...24 starts, 8 wins. She's tried this distance twice this year, winning once in the slop and finishing 5th to Mystic River. Her best time was in the loss, with a 1:41.61 (99 PSR). She's been sub-1:41 once in her career. Ran a huge one last time out, winning in 1:33.50 for a mile (114 PSR). Normally, I'd pick her to be right with Mystic River. But, not today. There's a big problem with that huge effort last time out...it came only 9 days ago! I have little doubt that it will affect her, and in this kind of a field that's trouble.
• You have to love fields like this. All of them are quality horses. I'm going with Mystic River to pull it out over Fly So High with Girl Talk taking third. Don't be surprised to see a big PSR number put up in this one.