This One’s For The Girls: BB Distaff Complicated Battle Of Youth Versus Experience
“Overture/Curtain, lights/This is it/The night of nights/No more rehearsing/And nursing a part/We know every part by heart…”
Picture it:
“Overture/Curtain, lights/This is it/We’ll hit the heights/And, oh, what heights we’ll hit…”
It’s Breeders Bowl Fever. The Sim Message Board has been busy with some super BB trash-talking, but while many eyes focus on the Turf and the Classic and the Juvenile, a fascinating storyline has been developing beneath the radar. It’s youth versus experience, a saga that worked best in “All About Eve” and is bound to entertain here as well. It’s also the battle for sophomore superiority: who’s got the best three-year-old filly? Is it the speedy Empire Reef, the stalwart stalker Swift Kick, or the ingénue Donner, or maybe even the hard-luck Dubai Prospector, who has battled back from injuries to loom a threat? Lastly, is Squall Is A Storm as good as her trainer says she is? Or will she be surpassed by the determined Glass Heart, who has bent but not broken and looked stronger than ever at times? In about 110 seconds, the answer will be foretold, in Saturday’s Grade I, $2,000,000 Breeders Bowl Distaff. The track will be fast, the conditions pleasant enough, and the racing incredibly complex and contentious.
“On with the show, this is it!”
Game on.
The field, in post position order:
#1: SWIFT KICK (8-1)
Classic division ranking: #1 (among three-year-old fillies)
Pedigree: Summer Squall x Crafty Prospector
Jockey: P Harzheim (694-174-129-110, 25.1% win, 59.5% on the board)
Trainer: sdmf2 (165-38-25-19, 23% win, 49.7% on the board)
Career highlights/Major 2005 wins: Grade I Bluegrass Oaks, Superfilly Handicap, Birmingham Stakes
Major 2005 flops: 5th, Grade I California Oaks
What the trainer thinks: He’s licking his chops, with two entries from his various stables in the field, but even as he’s high on his filly, he’s a little concerned: “The only downside so far is Swift Kick came up RTG after five weeks’ rest. She runs great with a little extra time between races, (but) not coming up sharp was a shock…beating older fillies last race gave us a boost of confidence for the BB, but now we’ll have to see how she acts up in the paddock. Bigger things are expected from Swift Kick, for sure! Her three-year-old filly championship campaign should be locked up if she can win the Distaff.”
What the jockey thinks: “She’s the top filly in the Sim for a reason, and that’s consistency. I’ve seen her races on tape, and she strides with beauty and confidence. I’ll try to nurture her kick as she goes ‘round the oval, but I don’t think she needs no directing…she just goes when she sees that it’s time. That’s what champions do.”
What the competition is thinking:
- “Who is the main threat? There are horses which I am worried about…the top three-year-old Swift Kick. If she gets a nice run and not pressured, she may be the one.”—opposing trainer.
- “Swift Kick could be the most pure nine-furlong runner in here.”—another opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “She’s amazing going long. I think she could be a real keeper if she is sitting just purdy as a picture off them in the Bowl.”—anonymous clocker timing a morning workout on the
Preview: She’s a very formidable foe from the rail. She’ll have a prime location on the inside, and whatever pace duel develops shouldn’t impact how she goes about her business. She prefers a stalking trip, and with the pace breaking outside of her, she can keep an eye poised to her right and calculate how far she has to get. She’s gotten dream trips this fall; sitting chilly and then outkicking the late traffic has definitely worked to her advantage. She beat older fillies last out stalking a rather easy pace in the Superfilly, and has won against the best of her generation when it counted (with a distinct advantage against Empire Reef), and she’s had five weeks to prepare, the same layoff she had between her last two races, so she’s certainly ready. To consider a downside, she does break from the rail, and she’s 0-for-2 from that position. It should also be noted that her speed figures do fall behind a few other of the top contenders, although her last tends to imply a lot of developing potential against older. Lastly, she did only come up as “ready to go”. It’s a matter of semantics between that and “sharp”, but the intangibles make the difference, sometimes.
#2: TECHNICALLY T(
Classic division rank: #10 (among three-year-old fillies)
Pedigree: Theatrical(
Jockey: D Findlay Jr (570-95-61-83, 16.7% win, 41.9% on the board)
Trainer: youngnhung (690-66-79-72, 9.6% win, 31.5% on the board)
Breeders Bowl résumé: 6th, 2004 Juvenile Fillies
Career highlights: Won Grade I G.S.R. Diamond
Major 2005 Result: 2nd, Grade II Sleepy Fan Stakes
Major 2005 Flops: 12th, Grade I Sweet Nanette Stakes
What the trainer thinks: While youngnhung was unavailable for comment, a groom who wished anonymity stated that “She’s the type who likes to work all the time. She’s a demon in the morning, and she’s always eager for something to do, whether it’s a walk on shed row or a five-furlong breeze. Lately, she’s been very hungry after she hits the track, so that’s a good sign. I think she’s an autumn horse—when it gets colder and blustery, she’s at home.” Another source indicates she’s been working with a shadow roll and blinkers to try and get her to relax and concentrate.
What the jockey thinks: “I’m psyched to get the mount. She’s training well for this, she’s coming into form at the right time, and she won late in the year last year, so if I can get her to rate, relax and rally, I think that I’m going to have a handful of filly when we turn for home. I’m just happy to be here this weekend.”
What the competition thinks: “She’s talented, without question, but maybe she’s just someone who blossoms at 4 and beyond. I look forward to seeing her around these parts next year, and when she does, we should seriously watch out.”—assistant to the racing secretary for
What the railbird thinks: “Technically T(
Preview: Technically T(
#3: CADDILAC MOON (9-1)
Classic division rank: #6 (among three-year-old fillies)
Pedigree: Unbridled’s Song x Kris S.
Jockey: B Child (588-77-68-74, 13.1% win, 37.3% on the board)
Trainer: blackswan (106-22-11-21, 20.8% win, 50.9% on the board)
Career highlights/Major 2005 wins:Won Grade II Mellow Breeze Handicap
Major 2005 flops: 8th, Grade I Bumblebee Classic
What the trainer thinks: Trainer blackswan has declared a media blackout regarding his filly, but one of the hotwalkers on condition of speaking anonymously says, “Boss is concerned that if there’s a statement made to the press, some of the other trainers will take offense, or, worse, laugh out loud in a forum. She’s a good filly, very quiet and unassuming, but a diva on the track. She needs TLC when they load, and then she goes all fierce when they open the gate. In the mornings, she comes back from training, and it’s like she’s a My Little Pony, all cute and approachable and girly.”
What the jockey thinks: “She’s been so close in the division, but ‘Moonie’ is I think in a world of her own. She’s always got her ears pricked when I watch her races on TiVo, and she’s got a lot of weapons. Either she’ll go to the front, or she’ll sit back and watch the other ones beat each other silly, but no matter what, she’ll be in close throughout. The post isn’t concerning to me, and that last was a monster, and it taught me a lot. So, don’t be surprised if you see us making a move late.”
What the competition thinks: “I should probably be worried about Caddilac Moon, who is going to get the exact same trip as (my horse), but I’m hoping that 110 last out was a fluke, so we’ll see.”—opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “The highpoint of her brief career could have been the Grade II Mellow Breeze Handicap win. Many people would consider nine furlongs one of Caddilac Moon’s best distances.”—official
Preview: At 2, she developed a mild case of “woulda-shoulda-coulda-itis”, when she couldn’t catch a break in four maiden tries. Not only did all the breaks fall her way this spring, they raised her game and made her a threat in the division. In her first six starts this year, she earned a maiden win, two allowance wins (and a third in another), and two stakes wins. On that alone, it’s enough to think her talented. But the last win in that streak (turns out, it’s also her last win this year) was pretty impressive, where she was eighth early chasing a hot pace, but passed the collapsing speed scenario en route to a hand-ridden half-length win in the Mellow Breeze. An ensuing third in the Black Middle Flower verified her as a competitive force. Recently, she’s developed an acute case of seconditis: she’s been third in each of her last three, each a graded race: the Grace Kelly and the Sister Hen—Grade I’s—and the Grade
#4: DANGEROUS REWARD (8-1)
Classic division rank: #4 (among older fillies and mares)
Pedigree: Kingmambo x Storm Cat
Jockey: P Cadigan (628-90-71-78, 14.3% win, 38.1% on the board)
Trainer: futurestar (854-263-163-120, 30.8% win, 63.9% on the board)
Breeders Bowl résumé: 9th, 2004 Distaff; 7th, 2003 Distaff
Career highlights: Won 2003 G.S.R. Oaks, Players Club National Oaks
Major 2005 wins: Grade II Help…Mike’s Fallen & Can’t Get Up Stakes; Grade
Major 2005 flops: 7th, Grade I Superfilly; 7th, Grade II Larry Laffer Stakes
What the trainer thinks: “Dangerous Reward has been a dream to train for the last several years, and this will mark her third straight appearance in this race. She was in better form the last two years, but failed to deliver her best race in the big one unfortunately. After her BB run last year, she went on a nice little streak, taking four graded races in a row in handy fashion. Inexplicably, she went badly off form after that. Perhaps age was catching up to her a bit. In any case, her campaign has been light by design this year. As she is 5, there was no need to overrace her. Everything was done with the intention of running in this race for a third straight year. She has shown some sparks of life in her last three races, and hopefully that leaves her ready for a big race on Saturday. Admittedly though, she will need some luck to do any damage. The field is as tough as they come, and the three-year-old’s especially look very dangerous. But she loves the track, having won several graded races over it in the past, and we’re lucky enough to get a rider who has had success on her. She will likely sit midpack as usual, and try to pick them up down the stretch. This is probably her last go at the BB, so hopefully she makes it a memorable one. But no matter what happens, she’s had an unbelievable career, and the fact that she can run in this race three times is an accomplishment in itself.”
What the jockey thinks: “I know that to win a big race like this, it takes a very special horse. This filly…she has true class, something you can’t make up in any story. She’s all business, all the time. And I had the chance to ride her in the Three Smokestacks, and she came up very easily for me when I needed her to. It stunk on ice I couldn’t get her motivated to catch Deputy Paunchi until it was too late, but she was better than I’ve ever felt her when I’ve ridden her before. I have a bit of history with her, winning a race last year, so I remember what she can do with a good run on the turn. I look forward to getting Dangerous Reward to her reward Saturday.”
What the competition thinks: “You have to give credit to Dangerous Reward. Here I am happy to have a BB starter, and Dangerous Reward has made this race three years in a row. Great job by both filly and trainer.”—opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “futurestar‘s rejuvenated Dangerous Reward had turned some heads in her morning workouts of late, signaling a return to her old form.”—snowchief, BTB recap of Go For The Gold, August 1
Preview: The trainer more or less said it all. She’s the grande dame of the field, who likes to come from the back of the second flight of runners and make her best run in the stretch. There’s going to be a lot of kicking in this race, though, so much so that one might assume the Rockettes are in town. So, she’ll have company late. And at this most elite level, she has struggled, with two previous Distaff tries falling far short of expectations. On the other hand, she’s been training for just this time, and is one of the most lightly raced runners in this field in 2005. Her numbers started off the year on a hot streak, before falling back to more reasonable terrain, and now, they’re on the upswing again as the wintertime approaches. Her last, second in the Three Smokestacks, showed her in fine form, and as this mare enters the main stage of the Sim for what likely is the final time in a successful career, she’ll need to rely on her back class and vast experience on the scene to bring her back into the money.
#5: SQUALL IS A STORM (6-1)
Classic division rank: #1 (among older fillies and mares)
Pedigree: Summer Squall x Storm Bird
Jockey: N Lawton (730-149-122-82, 20.4% win, 48.4% on the board)
Trainer: meguire4th (313-30-25-22, 9.6% win, 27.8% on the board)
Breeders Bowl résumé: Won 2004 Distaff.
Career highlights: Won Grade II Fast Feline Stakes; Grade II Cotton Handicap
Major 2005 wins: Grade I Go For The Gold Stakes; Grade II Original Margarita Invitational; Grade
Major 2005 flops: 6th, Grade I My Girl handicap; 7th, Vermont Is 4 Lovers
What the trainer thinks: To the surprise of everyone, he’s laughing. Out loud, no less. “I am confident—my gut feeling hasn’t been wrong yet— Squall Is A Storm will win it again this year, and one of the reasons is that she is coming off a three-week rest which in the past has proven that’s when she is at her best. And she is hitting the same form, maybe a bit better this year than she was last year when she won it. I feel in this race there will be enough speed for her to show what she can do…I would be surprised if she isn’t in the top 2…Her tactics will be the same as any race she runs in; that is, she’ll try to stay in touch and not to get too far back, then storm home to win.” (He laughs. Out loud, again. Then continues:) “She has done more than met my expectations. There isn’t anymore she has to prove.”
What the jockey thinks: “I know this sweetheart inside out, and I thought she got the best possible trip in the Go For The Gold this summer. I try to keep her off the lead, because I know she’ll try to engage them if I let her run. And if she gets too far back, like ten, twelve lengths away, she gets pretty discouraged and it takes the whip to keep her mind on her job. I’ve been blessed to ride her—I think it’s the fifth time this weekend, and every time I get on, it’s like driving a sportscar. She’s got a lot of muscle on her, and I just let her do all the talking. I don’t go to the whip unless I need to, and good thing for me, it’s only been needed a handful of times. I expect that the three-year-olds will challenge her like she hasn’t been challenged in a year, and that only the speedy one, that Empire one with all the early leads, will be tough to get a handle on. I like the way she moves.”
What the competition thinks:
- “Squall Is A Storm is a monster.”—opposing trainer
- “Squall Is A Storm is the champ until she’s beaten, and she’s the one I want to beat most badly. No disrespect to her trainer, but there was a report in the Bugler about how happy he was with Squall after finishing second to (Glass) Heart in the Rose Garden, as Squall was only at ready to go. I think if he had as much confidence in his filly as he claims, he wouldn’t have ducked us in the Superfilly.”—another opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “That was just a great, great stretch drive she had late in this race. She didn’t even flinch when Dangerous Reward came to her in deep stretch, and even under a few late cracks of the whip, she had enough late foot to hold her off. That’s class for ya. She’s back, and what a masterful performance to start the drive for October.”—anonymous bald-headed ESPN commentator on a review of the Go For The Gold in early August
Preview: The trainer clearly has a supreme amount of confidence in his charge. And he has no reason not to: she’s provided the wins for him in a number of impressive performances this year. Plus, she’s the defending crown holder, kinda like an equine Miss America, only she might not have to give up her title this time around. It’s incredibly difficult to repeat in this race, with Rakida’s Road the one who came closest, with a third in 2001 after winning in 2000. She’ll be in midpack, and wait to make her move on the turn, which has worked for her before, just like last year. Her numbers are very solid, and she’s run with the best this year, so she should be ready for the penultimate test. If you are looking for a chink in her armor, there’s this: her final prep (the Grade I Could Be History In The Making), while she was closing for second, came up a rather mediocre number for a Grade I race, a 99. Could that race be an omen, or just a track bias? Nevertheless, she is three-for-six over the strip, and the pace should be setting up the right way for her stretch charge.
#6: EMPIRE REEF (12-1)
Classic division rank: #2 (among three-year-old fillies)
Pedigree: Empire Maker x Mill Reef
Jockey: A Rolling (701-204-145-102, 29.1 % win, 64.3% on the board)
Trainer: lenny13 (134-18-23-13, 13.4% win, 40.3% on the board)
Career highlights/Major 2005 wins: Grade I Black Middle Flower Stakes, Sister Hen Stakes, Oak Grove Stakes
Major 2005 flops: 8th, Grade I Sweet Nanette Stakes; 6th, Grade
What the trainer thinks: “The Distaff is exciting because of the rivalries that have developed this year within the three-year-old division. I am a member of the GR Simsters, as are the trainers of Swift Kick and Donner. We’ve all butted heads throughout the year and will have some side action on the outcome, I’m sure. I’m especially excited about this BB race as she is the best horse I’ve had since starting the game early last year. Empire Reef ‘s won three Grade I’s this year, so a possible Eclipse award might be possible with a win. I also am anxious to see how Empire Reef handles older horses. My tactics are quite simple: send her to the front and hold on for dear life! She’s a frontrunner and will be (hopefully) the only pure speed horse running. I think that will work to her advantage as when she gets an uncontested lead she wins. She’s beaten Swift Kick twice at 9 furlongs with a similar setup, so I’m hoping for more of the same. It should be fun.”
What the jockey thinks: “Like my name says, we’ll be rolling. Yuk, yuk! Seriously I think our task is easiest of all. They’ve got to catch us first, and I think only one horse will be going with us early on. If we got the lead to ourselves, I think I can put the whip away until the sixteenth pole. Regardless, I have a fast and gutsy filly here, and I’m gonna make the trainer proud of me. If they can catch me indeed, it will be a victory they’ll deserve…but they gotta earn it first.”
What the competition thinks: “Empire Reef, I’d just like to beat because she’s owned by a fellow residency member, so I’d like to be able to hold that over him!””—opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “It appears that Empire Reef will be much happier at a mile and an eighth and trainer lenny13 will be happier with her as well.”—pazjazz, BTB recap of the Oak Grove, October 1
Preview: Will she be the only speed horse? The best guess here is “no”, but she’ll likely be the fastest of the early pace-setters. It is, however, the first start she’s had against older fillies, and she’ll need to bring her “A” game to this talented mix of youth and experience. Her numbers are consistent, if on the low end of competitive when compared to her elders, and she likes to be up where the action is; like her trainer says, being loose on the lead is the dream scenario, yet as mentioned earlier she’s only likely to be fastest from the blocks, and not the only one sprinting early on. It should be noted she’s unbeaten when she’s all by herself at nine furlongs, and when she has pressure at the distance, she’s 0-for-1. They’ll have to catch her, and that could prove tricky with the race coming up light on head-to-head speed.
#7: HOMECOMING DANCE (5-1)
Classic division rank: #3 (among older fillies and mares)
Pedigree: Came Home x Nijinsky II
Jockey: D Givens (732-150-135-92, 20.5% win, 51.1% on the board)
Trainer: baileybarn (802-154-139-110, 19.2% win, 50.3% on the board)
Career highlights/Major 2005 wins: Won Grade I G.S.R. Mares, Grade II Wizzer Stakes
Major 2005 flops: 13th, Grade I Original Margarita Invitational
What the trainer thinks: “After going back and forth the last day or so I have decided to enter baileybarn‘s Homecoming Dance in the BB Distaff. It was a fairly hard choice as I will not enter just for the sake of having a horse in the race. This filly’s best distances are 8 and 8.5 panels but she’s tried so hard in her last three, I’m gonna give her a chance here. She was third in the Superfilly right here in NY last out so she likes the track well enough. Also in my decision was the fact that she’s a four-year-old with 30 starts and this is probably her only BB shot, so why not? With the right scenario she is an upset possibility. She is very sharp and ready to give her best effort. No pressure here as no one is gonna like her at this distance but you never know…”
What the jockey thinks: “I know that people are looking at me and thinking I’m nuts for choosing her over the fillies or the other great mares, but when I saw her heart in the Chubby Visa, and the way she battled to the lead on the turn, even though Glass Heart ended up winning nicely, I just thought that this filly’s really got some…well, I was gonna say something else, but she’s a filly, so…anyway. I think she’s got a nice stride, and a kick that puts her in any race, and with the three-year-old going to the lead, I think a closer is going to be the one to try and reel her in for the last half-mile or so. I’m going to keep everybody within reach, and then make my move by the quarter pole. I don’t trust New York’s track, it’s a bit sandy, but I think my horse’ll run on paper clips when there’s speed to catch.”
What the competition thinks: “I know (the trainer I work for) doesn’t like anybody who looks like they’re a traitor, but I was at OTB when the race from Maine came up, and I saw her grind away from the back and just wail on them in the stretch, and she come up the outside and picked them off one by one. I never forgot that day, and, don’t tell my boss, but she looked so much better than my horse was this summer, I think she’s got a good shot. I love my filly, she’s so nice and very talented, but…whoa, this one blew my mind, man.”—groom for opposing trainer
What the railbird thinks: “That race in Maine brought to mind what she can do when there’s a lot of speed up front and there’s not much chasing it. Gingivitis looked pretty home free up there, and I’m sitting with the owner of the track, watching her set some stressful fractions, and when Homecoming Dance was under the whip, she didn’t need to do much. It was like ‘1…2…3…you’re caught.’ And in a few strides she’s in front, and then they crossed the wire. She was a monster that day, and I expect that she’ll run big—I’ve seen her works, and they’re very good.”—Anonymous
Preview: She’s got a kick to her, to be sure. She chased down Gingivitis in Maine and flattered her 2005 debut win in Ontario with a strong number. Speaking of that Ontario win, it was another dream set-up for her: in the Grade
#8: CUPID’S DEAD (12-1)
Classic division rank: #9 (among older fillies and mares)
Pedigree: Event Of The Year x Sovereign Dancer
Jockey: R Harzheim (714-178-143-114, 24.9% win, 60.9% on the board)
Trainer: sdmf2 (165-38-25-19, 23% win, 49.7% on the board)
Career highlights/Major 2005 wins: Won Grade I Could Be History In The Making, Grade
Major 2005 flops: 4th, Grade II Beer Pitcher Handicap; 5th, Superfilly Handicap
What the trainer thinks: “Cupid’s Dead beat last year’s BB winner last time out in a Grade I, and we’re happy she made the race. She put up some nice numbers earlier in the year. Maybe Cupid can sneak into some purse money.”
What the jockey thinks: “My brother thinks his filly is tops. I think he’s mistaken. Mine got the best of the defending champ in the History last out. Has his filly done that? That Swift Kick one may have beat my filly in that Superfilly, but in order to be the best, you got to beat all the best. But that’s just sibling rivalry. His filly is good, but I think mine is just as good. She runs strong from the back, and she can go either way, either being close to the pace or dropping way out and flying from nowhere. I don’t think she’s got to be that far out to have a great chance. Everyone wants a piece of that speedy girl, and I think we can nab her. She’s getting ready, and so am I. I want this.”
What the competition thinks: “Is the trainer still PO’d about coming up short in the Smackdown against DelPenn? He must have been, because he got serious about his horse. She beat Squall, and that’s not an easy thing to do. When someone does that, you pay attention.”
What the railbird thinks: “They may not have been going terribly fast late in the Could Be History, but the way Cupid’s Dead held off Squall Is A Storm was pretty intense…Squall was driving, but Cupid was game, and held her off late. If they were going another furlong, the upset doesn’t happen, but this race might have exposed a flaw in the armor of the defending champion.”—Baltimore Sun racing correspondent, after the Could Be History… in Maryland
Preview: The upset win over Squall Is A Storm is indeed something one needs to remember. The pace was sharp that day, but Cupid’s Dead was closer to the pace that day, and though Squall was flying late, Cupid’s Dead had the jump on her. Thing is, the race doesn’t come up especially fast (a winning fig of just 100) and does that bode well for a horse who’s angling for an upset? In a season in which she’s flown more under the radar than her counterparts, she has risen to her challenges well, but those challenges were only moderate. A win in the Cubic Zirconia Path and a strong run in the Grade I Star Wars were very decent numbers, but against challengers whose esteemable talent isn’t quite on a par with this bunch. Her fifth in New York against many of these two back was a decent fig, but she was no factor in the stretch, and her numbers since the Cubic Zirconia Path have been off of what she can do. She needs to put all the things she learned this year together all at once. She’s got a leading member of the Sim’s reigning jockey family on board, and a solid trainer, and both have put up some strong numbers this year, and it’s up to the combined efforts of both to make a run. Her last notwithstanding, it’s a major class test here.
#9: STORMSHAFT (10-1)
Classic division rank: #4 (among three-year-old fillies)
Pedigree: Mineshaft-Swell Prospector, by Storm Cat
Jockey