Study Guide: 2020 Mrs. Revere Stakes

Nov 11, 2020 J. Keeler Johnson

Graded stakes action returns to the Churchill Downs fall meet with the $200,000 Mrs. Revere (G2), a 1 1/16-mile grass race slated to take place on Saturday. The race has drawn a small but competitive field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Hendy Woods
Total 6 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning the Indiana Grand S.
Wins: 3 Total Earnings: $203,100
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Stonestreet Stables Sire: Uncle Mo
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings Dam: Separate
Trainer: Mark Casse Color: Bay
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Winner of the Indiana Grand S. over a yielding turf course during the summer, Hendy Woods has been competing admirably against tough competition in recent months. Two starts back, the accomplished bay filly finished second with a troubled trip in the Edgewood (G2) at Churchill Downs, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths by 2019 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Sharing. Most recently, Hendy Woods finished sixth in a deep renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), just 3 1/4 lengths behind future Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) third-place finisher Harvey's Lil Goil. Hendy Woods is slated to face easier competition on Saturday while picking up hot jockey Tyler Gaffalione, stamping the daughter of Uncle Mo as a formidable contender. 

Positive Danger
Total 5 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning an Indiana Grand allowance race.
Wins: 2 Total Earnings: $45,288
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Beverly S. Anderson and Edward A. Seltzer Sire: Uncle Mo
Breeder: Edward A. Seltzer and Beverly Anderson Dam: Preemptive Attack
Trainer: Anthony Granitz Color: Bay
Jockey: Brian Hernandez

The second daughter of Uncle Mo entered in the Mrs. Revere field, Positive Danger is 2-for-2 racing 1 1/16 miles on turf, posting gate-to-wire wins in an Arlington Park maiden race and an Indiana Grand allowance event. As the lone front-runner on paper, Positive Danger has an opportunity to shake loose on an easy lead and take this field a long way on the front end. But with a career-best 82 Brisnet Speed rating to her credit, Positive Danger will need improvement to factor at the finish.

Stunning Sky
Total 11 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (93) when finishing fourth in the Dueling Grounds Oaks.
Wins: 3 Total Earnings: $304,825
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: Paradise Farms Corp. and Parkland Thoroughbreds Sire: Declaration of War
Breeder: Stephen J. McDonald Dam: Sky Walk
Trainer: Mike Maker Color: Bay
Jockey: Ricardo Santana

A powerful stretch runner trained by Mike Maker, Stunning Sky is the most accomplished filly in the Mrs. Revere field by virtue of a late-running victory in the 1 1/16-mile Valley View (G3) on Oct. 16 at Keeneland. A competitor in eight straight stakes races, Stunning Sky also boasts runner-up efforts in the Lake Placid (G2) and Saratoga Oaks on her impressive resume. She's knocked heads with stakes winner Micheline and Harvey's Lil Goil this season, so we know Stunning Sky has the form lines to compete at this level. She'll also retain the services of jockey Ricardo Santana, a 30% winner when teaming up with Maker. If there's one chink in Stunning Sky's armor, it's the fact she received a quick pace to work with in the Valley View and may not enjoy the same perfect setup on Saturday.

Princess Grace
Total 3 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing second in the Valley View (G3).
Wins: 2 Total Earnings: $82,500
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Susan and John Moore Sire: Karakontie
Breeder: John Moore and Susan Moore Dam: Masquerade
Trainer: Michael Stidham Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Florent Geroux

A confident winner of her first two starts against maiden and allowance company, Princess Grace ran a big race when stepping up in class for the Valley View (G3), seizing command in the stretch before settling for second place behind Stunning Sky. The daughter of Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) winner Karakontie arguably moved too soon into a hot pace, so if new jockey Florent Geroux can work out a more relaxed journey in the Mrs. Revere, Princess Grace can potentially turn the tables on her Valley View conqueror.

How Ironic
Total 12 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Valley View (G3).
Wins: 2 Total Earnings: $129,367
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: G. Watts Humphrey Jr. Sire: Tonalist
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey Jr. Dam: Sarcastic
Trainer: Victoria Oliver Color: Chestnut
Jockey: Rafael Bejarano

The field's most experienced runner with a dozen runs under her belt, How Ironic took a meaningful step forward in the Valley View (G3), charging hard down the lane to finish third by a length against Stunning Sky and Princess Grace. But the daughter of Tonalist benefited from a fast pace and failed to crack the trifecta in her five previous stakes attempts, suggesting a slower tempo in the Mrs. Revere could compromise How Ironic's chances.

Pass the Plate
Total 10 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Tepin S.
Wins: 3 Total Earnings: $205,960
Place: 1
Show: 3
Owner: Silverton Hill Sire: Temple City
Breeder: Silverton Hill Dam: Pocket Gift
Trainer: Paul McGee Color: Dark bay/brown
Jockey: Joe Talamo

Although Pass the Plate could only finish seventh behind Hendy Woods in the Indiana Grand S., she may have been compromised by racing over yielding turf. The Silverton Hill homebred had previously finished a close fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs, beaten just 2 1/2 lengths by Harvey's Lil Goil. Placed three times against stakes company, Pass the Plate recently cruised to victory by 2 1/2 lengths in a slow-paced dirt allowance race at Keeneland. Returning to turf should suit Pass the Plate just fine, placing her in the hunt for a top-four finish.

Witez
Total 11 start(s) Top Speed Rating: (89) when finishing third in the Lake George (G3).
Wins: 2 Total Earnings: $215,235
Place: 3
Show: 2
Owner: Mary Ann Charlston Sire: More Than Ready
Breeder: Mary Ann Charlston Dam: Glamour N Glory
Trainer: Ian Wilkes Color: Bay
Jockey: Julien Leparoux

Without question, Witez is one of the most difficult Mrs. Revere participants to analyze. The daughter of More Than Ready has shown flashes of significant talent against graded stakes company, finishing second in the Jessamine (G2) and third in the Lake George (G3). But Witez also finished behind many of her Mrs. Revere rivals when coming home 12th in the Regret (G3) and fourth in the Valley View (G3). When she brings her A-game, Witez has the ability to factor against this caliber of competition. It's predicting when she'll run well—and when she'll misfire—that makes her hard to trust.

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