Los Alamitos is the only place to go for Graded-stakes action on US Independence Day, and the feature G2 Great Lady M Stakes shines a spotlight on the up-and-coming speed filly Becca Taylor, beaten just once in nine starts and deservedly moving up in grade now.
Great Lady M Stakes
Grade 2, $200,000, 6 1/2f, 3yo+ fillies/mares
Horse-players who need a distraction from the Fourth of July festivities get their wish with the Great Lady M at Los Alamitos, the only Graded stakes on the holiday schedule and likely to provide its fair share of fireworks.
The clear favorite on the morning line is the fast-improving Becca Taylor (7-5), who is eight-for-nine lifetime and comes here off the back of a career-best in the G3 Desert Stormer over six furlongs at Santa Anita last month. She was soon on the lead and drew off nicely in the closing stakes for a comfortable victory, and had six and a quarter lengths to spare over Samurai Charm (12-1) in third.
That came after two stakes wins – also at Santa Anita – and she only misses out on a perfect record because subsequent G3-placed Eddie’s New Dream nailed her at the wire in yet another Santa Anita stakes and beat her a nose. She’s fast and getting faster.
Phil D’Amato sends two fillies with something to prove to the gate, headed by Ain’t Easy (7-2), who failed to make it stick in Kentucky Oaks preps at Santa Anita and was then beaten every which way in the G2 Eight Belles at Churchill Downs, finishing last of nine. That was a hot race but Ain’t Easy really needs a decent performance and the cutback in distance may help.
Her barnmate Elm Drive (4-1) ran two shockers last fall in the G1 Del Mar Debutante and the G2 Chandelier at Santa Anita – won by Ain’t Easy – but looked as though she was on the way back when victorious last time out, coming off a seven-month layoff. It was only a minor stake at Santa Anita over seven furlongs, but she wired the field and kicked clear and could be able to build on that.
Another on a recovery mission is Lady Mystify (3-1), who is zero-for-four since winning the mile-sixteenth G3 Remington Park Oaks in September, beating subsequent G1-winning filly Pauline’s Pearl. She wasn’t disgraced when fourth in the G2 Santa Maria at Santa Anita last time, beaten almost six lengths, but has never won at shorter than a mile and things might happen too quickly for her here.
This is a big step up for Brandon’smylawyer (12-1), who also has a new surface to contend with, trying the main track for the first time after winning a sprint allowance at Santa Anita in May. It may help, it may not. Cover Version (30-1) has finished plumb last in all her three starts in stakes, most recently in the G3 Santa Barbara over a mile and a half, and will likely be out of her depth again.
2022 Great Lady M Stakes Odds & Betting Prediction
Prediction The fast-improving BECCA TAYLOR ran a lifetime best last time out and has everything in her favor today as she bids for her ninth win from ten starts.
| Horse | Jockey | Odds by JazzSports |
| Lady Mystify | Edwin A. Maldonado | +225 |
| Brandon’smylawyer | Mario Gutierrez | +1200 |
| Becca Taylor | Juan J. Hernandez | +140 |
| Samurai Charm | Ramon A. Vazquez | +1200 |
| Ain’t Easy | Kyle Frey | +350 |
| Cover Version | Ryan Curatolo | +3000 |
| Elm Drive | Ricardo Gonzalez | +400 |
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