Cup Spotlight- Guarana

Distaff, or Filly and Mare Sprint? I say, who cares? In Chad we trust.

It’s easy to dismiss a romping debut win in the slop. How many times have we seen a horse win for fun over an off track and then never duplicate that performance? Several. So draw a line through Guarana’s maiden-breaker back in April if you want. What you are still left with on paper and on video is an immensely talented 3yo who might be just as dangerous in Grade 1 company around one turn as she is around two.

Should Guarana land in the Filly and Mare Sprint, I’ll admit she’s going to have her hands full with Covfefe at the very least. That one is a monster. But the 7F distance of the F&M Sprint might be right up Guarana’s alley. The career debut came at 6.5F, and the Acorn win was a one-turn mile. So the 7F distance seems like it makes sense. And who doesn’t love a good turn back from a Grade 1 winner? I know I do.

Guarana ran big at Parx. That’s a quirky track, and they went lightning fast early with Guarana not too far off the pace. It was the closer Street Band who benefitted the most, and Guarana didn’t exactly let that one draw off late. She lost nothing in defeat making her first start in 60 days. It was a really impressive effort that should set her up for a big run in the BC.

If they opt for the Distaff, now you have to contend with Midnight Bisou on a surface where she has three wins from four starts. No easy task. But you’ll get a price I think.

I’ll bet they run Guarana in the F&M Sprint, and I’ll bet she runs big. As big as Covfefe? That remains to be seen. But Guarana is certainly interesting in either spot. There is still a lot to sort out as far as who runs where, who draws where, etc. But at this point, I think Guarana is going to be on my tickets no matter where she ends up.