Covfefe arrives as the warm favourite having easily landed the odds in a prep-race at Churchill Downs though the front-runner has drawn the inside post and will be pressed for the lead by both Danuska's My Girl and Selcourt. A cut-throat pace could play into the hands of a couple of these including Grade 1 winner Come Dancing, who races outside of New York for the first time, and SPICED PERFECTION. The latter won a Grade 1 here on Boxing Day last year and won again at the highest level when successful at Keeneland in April. Peter Miller’s filly gets the vote given Bellafina has plenty to find with Covfefe and the rest are upped in class.
Covfefe (USA) 1-5fav (8-10) Drew off, ridden out, won at Churchill Downs 7f stks fst in Sep beating Bell's The One (8-8) by 8l, 6 ran.
Danuska's My Girl (USA) 19-2 (8-10) Bumped st, some gain, 6th of 9, 4 3/4l behind Spiced Perfection (8-12) at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct.
Heavenhasmynikki (USA) 1-20fav (8-10) Drew off, ridden out,, won at Thistledown 6f stks fst in Oct beating Magna Rose (8-4) by 5 1/4l, 4 ran.
Come Dancing (USA) 1-4fav (8-13) 3w,lug in 3/16-1/16pl, won at Belmont Park 6f stks fst in Sep beating Minit To Stardom (8-8) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Lady Ninja (USA) 13-5 (8-11) Came out str,bid 2w,up, won at Santa Anita 6f stks fst in Oct beating Selcourt (8-13) by shd, 5 ran.
Bellafina (USA) 13-2 (8-12) Off slow, lead, fade, 4th of 11, 9 1/4l behind Street Band (8-10) at Philadelphia Park 1m stks fst in Sep.
Selcourt (USA) 6-4 (8-13) Fought back rail,game, 2nd of 5, shd behind Lady Ninja (8-11) at Santa Anita 6f stks fst in Oct.
Dawn The Destroyer (USA) 10-1 (8-8) Rallied str,not enough, 2nd of 9, hd behind Spiced Perfection (8-12) at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct.
Spiced Perfection (USA) 4-1 (8-12) Stbld st,split 1/8,hld, won at Keeneland 6f stks fst in Oct beating Dawn The Destroyer (8-8) by hd, 9 ran.
