Hawksmoor Looks For Elusive Grade I in Gamely

[Wandering Eyes]

Lael Stables’ Hawksmoor (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) has tried on seven occasions to get a Grade I/Group 1 victory. Time after time, she’s come tantalizingly close without tasting victory.

There was the third by a head after leading past the sixteenth pole in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S., her North American debut. There was the second after leading for most of the GI First Lady S. There was another runner-up effort after widening past the eighth pole in the GI Matriarch S. Saturday, the bay mare will get another chance at that fleeting prize as the likely heavy favorite in Santa Anita’s GI Gamely S.

Victress of the GII New York S. and GIII Beaugay S. last spring, Hawksmoor comes into this affair off three straight second-place runs, and will need to bounce back after disappointing as the 3-10 favorite in Laurel’s Dahlia S. in her seasonal debut Apr. 21.

Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables’ Uni (GB) (More Than Ready) also ships in from the east coast. Winner of last September’s GII Sands Point S., the chestnut closed her sophomore campaign with a fourth in the QEII, and was sharp in capturing the Plenty of Grace S. upon return Apr. 14 at Aqueduct.

The top local hope appears to be Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing’s Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}). Just missing when second by a nose in last summer’s GI Del Mar Oaks, the bay picked up her first graded tally when closing from last to take the GII Royal Heroine S. here Apr. 7.

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