Legit Boss looks set for Restricted Stakes redemption

LEGIT BOSS should frank the form of INSPIRE FORCE by landing Saturday’s Restricted Stakes at five and a half furlongs, taking on five runners including speedy AWESOME ANTHONY.

Last time out, LEGIT BOSS looked all over a winner a furlong out but was caught by a flying INSPIRE FORCE, who won in a fast 1:06.2, which he not only returned to frank two weeks later by beating hat-trick seeker MAJOR DANGER, but also placed third behind GOD OF LOVE and LURE OF LUCY at six furlongs a week ago.

LEGIT BOSS started as a promising two-year-old last season, part of a fillies trio that looked set to dominate the colts and geldings in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, her signature victory being a 13-1 upset in the Pick 3 Super Challenge Trophy at seven furlongs.

BIG RUN

However, MOJITO emerged to crash the fillies’ party in the Jamaica Two-Year-Old Stakes, beating LEGIT BOSS by two and a half lengths, a big run by the filly behind the colt who went on to win four consecutive races, including the Kingston and 2000 Guineas as a three-year-old, before he threw a clinker in last Saturday’s Jamaica St Leger.

Unlike the other top fillies, MAMMA MIA and THALITA, who won the 1000 Guineas and St Leger, respectively, LEGIT BOSS disappointed in back-to-back races when returning as a three-year-old this season.

First, she ran out of steam after getting into a speed duel with AWESOME ANTHONY on March 4, allowing her stablemate, G T BOY, to mow them down at five and a half furlongs. Stretched out to seven furlongs a month later in the Thornbird Stakes, LEGIT BOSS was run off her legs by BOOTYLICIOUS, putting away THALITA and MAMMA MIA.

Given a two-month break, LEGIT BOSS showed she preferred a cut in distance, putting on a game show but not good enough to hold off INSPIRE FORCE, who showed how much he relished removal of the visor by winning his next race against tough MAJOR DANGER, followed by last Saturday’s fair third behind GOD OF LOVE and LURE OF LUCY in overnight-allowance company.

AWESOME ANTHONY will again try making all. However, the filly’s trainer, Anthony Nunes, has thrown in speedy VOLATILITY to ensure AWESOME ANTHONY doesn’t have things his way on the lead or drag LEGIT BOSS into an early dogfight.

Jason DaCosta’s foreigner, IS THAT A FACT, has been working well for his return, not raced since January after two decent runs as a two-year-old at the back end of last season. Similar to AWESOME ANTHONY, the Palace Malice colt is a speedy sort, suggesting he could also be burnt by VOLATILITY running kamikaze for stablemate LEGIT BOSS.

Stalking the speed and pouncing off the turn, as she did when caught by INSPIRE FORCE, should again be LEGIT BOSS’ game plan, but against weaker rivals, a strategy which should land her her first win since the Pick 3.