Rich and Famous Grade II
RICH AND FAMOUS HANDICAP
GRADE II $150,000
FILLIES AND MARES 3+ 10F TURF
Welcome to California where the weather is hot and the fillies and mares are hotter. 7 mares will be battling today for theprestigious Rich and Famous Handicap crown. In the last 4 years, this race was won by K’s Masterpiece 3 times, who also holds the Stakes record of 2:00 4/5.That record could go down today as the track conditions are perfect and theturf is firm.
1.Phantom Mambo (KY) 9/2 Jk-R.Simcox Tr-Selurnivek Res- Testbarn $201,734
Looks like Selurnivek’s 5 year old mare is getting hot at the right time.Coming off a second place in the Dynamin Turf, Phantom Mambo is poised to keeprolling. This is her first Graded race and her first trip to Sunny California. Phantom Mambo has 5 starts at 10 furlongs with 3 wins and 2 places and if she comes close to the 111 speed rating she put up 2 starts back she will be close at the finish.
2. TheLabel Maker (KY) 6/1 Jk- A.Lewis Tr-xpletives2 Res- Hispano Parlante $241,069
The Label Maker ship in from India, where she finished 5th in theCase in Point Turf Stakes. Has hit the board 4 out of her last 5 starts,winning 2 in a row at this distance in Germany. She does very well in Allowance company and is looking to make the jump into the Graded Stakes arena. Will need some things to go her way to hit the ticket against this field.
3.Hotwire (KY) 7/2 Jk- F. Gossett Tr-Gored Res- GR Simsters $185,570
Has done well against Stakes company and has a streak of 6 starts in a row witha speed figure over 100. Hotwire won her last start, the $60,000 Dynamin Turf, in impressive fashion. Has been on the ticket 12 out of 15 lifetime starts andhas 1 win and 1 show in 2 starts at this distance. Frank Gossett picks up the mount as one of California’s leading jockeys. This will mark Hotwires first trip to California.
4.Heliocentrism (IRE) 3/1 Jk- C. Mecklenburg Tr- Commbank Res- NWRacing $368,474
Coming in as the 51st ranked mare in the Turf Classic rankings, Heliocentrism is the highest ranked mare in the field. Blew up the board 2 starts back in the Grade II Black Betty with a 110 speed rating. As the only non Kentucky bred mare in the race, the Irish bred Heliocentrism is poised for another great performance and should be flying in the stretch. The last 4 starts she has put up speed ratings over 100. Heliocentrism ran out of track in her last start at 9 furlongs in the Grade 1 Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff, so the extra furlong today may bring her home a winner.
5. TheQuiet Dane (KY) 5/1 Jk- O. Brim Tr- JDTrotter Res-N/A $687,510
No stranger to Graded company, The Quiet Dane comes into the race as the richest and most experienced mare in the field. She ran her fastest race on thefirm turf of this track 7 starts back in the Superhero Lass Stakes, where she put up a 110 speed rating. The Quiet Dane is a well traveled mare, shipping into Cali from Austria after 4 starts overseas. She is 2 for 4 at the distance and picks up O. Brim, a perennial top jockey. If you are looking for a price to round out your ticket, you may want to use this mare; she will be flying down the stretch.
6.Song Of Triumph (KY) 6/1 Jk- S. Quirrel Tr-MTK76stc Res- Blazing Saddles $232,693
Another mare that is getting hot at the right time. Song of Triumph’s last two starts have been her fastest, putting up a 106 and a 105 since coming off of a 2 month break. This is her first career Graded start but she may be just a little over matched in this field. MTK’s mare gets S. Quirrel as a pilot which doesn’t hurt her chances at all. She will have to keep her form from the last 2 starts to have a shot to hit the ticket.
7.Hokkaido (KY) 9/2 Jk- M. Staples Tr- Stormboot2 Res-Pastures Of Green $384,730
Looking to rebound after a disappointing last place finish in the Grade 1 Ugly Breeders Bowl, Hokkaido looks for old form to battle back against Graded company. With the lack of front runners in the race, this one could set up for Hokkaido to run off and hide. Stormboot’s mare has had some success in California in allowance races, but will have to tap in to the back class to have a shot to pull off the victory today.
Prediction
1- Phantom Mambo- Stalks the leader and blows by in the stretch, giving Selurnivek and Testbarn another Graded victory!
4- Heliocetrism- Will be closing fast but not enough to pass Phantom Mambo.
7- Hokkaido- Will have the lead turning for home but will falter in deep stretch.