Strong Field for the Lightning Ladies Sprint (Gr. I)

Race #11 in Pennsylvania, 6 ½ furlongs on firm turf for $1 million

A full field of 14 strong contenders will stride out on the turf for the 6 ½ furlong Lightning Ladies Sprint (Grade I) in Pennsylvania.  You can’t count anyone out in this field, which we’ll preview by post position:

1.      Breaking from the inside will be 3-year-old Lake Bemidji, a royally bred filly by Miswaki x Danzig x Damascus, at 12/1.  This 3yo turned into a turf monster after air15 claimed her for $20,000 and switched surfaces.  In fact, she’s undefeated in 7 sturf starts, and comes in today off 4 straight stakes wins vs. older fillies and mares, with her last 5 races run with speed figures in excess of 100.  Great claim, air15!  One caution, all her turf sprint wins have been closing victories at 7 and 7 ½ furlongs – this could be short for her.

2.      Another 3-year-old, millionaire Grass And She from the heythere stable, will load next door.  By Mt. Livermore out of Arctic Flag, by Rahy from a Hoist The Flag mare, she has won several graded stakes, with Grade I placements.  However, she’s already made 13 starts this year, and hasn’t won in her last 6 race, and recent speed figures haven’t matched those from the spring.  At 10/1, she could need a rest to be at her best.

3.      Cocoa (IRE), yet another 3yo, owned by nyrangers, has made only 9 lifetime starts, and has never been out of the money.  She’s won half her 6 stakes starts, including her most recent start, a Grade II.  This filly looks to have a bright future.  Today could be a tough spot for her at this early stage of her career, which is reflected by her 15/1 odds. 

4.      Seven-year-old Mother Bluff (IRE), by Pilsudski (IRE) x Royal Academy x Exclusive Native, is a good, solid stakes performer, including one graded stakes win.  Owner stormypik9 may have her in against a tougher group than usual.  She is at odds of 12/1. 

5.      Australian-bred The Aus Boss (AUS), entered by speedzone1, is well thought of at 6/1.  She has a strong, strong turf pedigree, being by Nothin Leica Dane (a son of Danehill) out of a Mill Reef mare, herself out of a Secretariat daughter.  She won three Grade I races earlier this year on turf, and another at a mile on dirt.  Those 4 were at the end of a 7-race winning streak.  She has hit the board in Grade I’s since then, but has been winless in her last 5 starts.

6.      From the sdmf barn, Tequila Shooter (and you’ve got to love that name), at age 3 is taking on the older girls again.  The daughter of Aldebaran x Dixieland Band x Unbridled ran an excellent speed figure in her last race, an ungraded stakes win.  She’s a Grade I winner against fillies her own age, and a two-time stakes winner on dirt.  If this talented filly runs back to her last performance, she could provide some tough competition.  10/1.

7.      Ghost Oftheyear, at 11/1, is the entry from ufsldowns.  You have to back up ten races to find a win in her past performances, then you hit two of her three stakes wins.  On her best day, she could score; but she hasn’t really had her best day this year.

8.      Bacchus has nominated K’s Addiktion, a well-bred daughter of Gulch x Northern Dancer x Raise A Native.  She has 3 wins in her last 5 races, including a Grade I in her last start.  She is at 11/1, and while her speed figures aren’t as impressive as some, she’s improved with age, and her last race was a good one.

9.      Red Tejas, who already has a race named for her, is a millionaire from texasace stable.  She’s at 9/1 in the morning line, coming in off an allowance win in her last start.  She’s a past Grade I stakes winner, capable of running very fast speed figures.  However, her recent form has been below par, and she may have passed her peak.

10.  Yet another millionaire, this time from peeps5’s string, Smackdown (IRE) a 3-year-old by Rock of Gibralter (IRE) x Peintre Celebre (IRE) x The Minstrel, has been off the board in her last 4 starts.  She’s a two-time Grade I stakes winner in the past, but both of those wins were at over a mile.  In fact, all her best performances have been over a mile.  My question:  Why is she here at 36/1?

11.  Am I the only person who actually remembers Don Poggio?  His great-granddaughter Fourteen Comb is rintintin’s entry; she’s by Danzig Connection x Sovereign Dancer x  Don Poggio.  She’s a 7-year-old with plenty of back class, multiple Grade I wins, over $1.5 million in earnings, and some spectacular speed figures…but not lately.  She may very well be the best $2,000 claim in sim history, but it may be time for an honorable retirement to the broodmare barn.

12.  Waki Alexis from the barn of manowar is an “only child” sired by Miswaki  from SW Alex Cheyenne, by Forty Niner x Star de Naskra.  This nice (though very closely inbred to Mr. Prospector) filly is a stakes winner, with a second in a Grade I to her credit, but this field could be tough for her, particularly as she seems to be something of a 7 furlong specialist.  She’s at 9/1.

13.  Lukewarm favorite Elsinore (Danehill x Pentelicus x Nureyev) is another “only child” out of 11-time stakes winner Mine Trader.  She’s coming into this race off 8 straight stakes wins, including 2 Grade I, 1 Grade II, and 5 Grade III’s, and 5 straight 100+ speed figures.  Owner/trainer wombat may be disappointed at her unfavorable post position, but she’s the class of the field based on recent form.

14.  Finally, derbyking’s Dash Around, who sports an old-fashioned (but excellent) pedigree, by Danzig Connection x Nashua x Round Table, comes into this race off a stakes win at this distance and surface at South Dakota.  She’s been very consistent lately, though against much softer competition.  At 10/1, you can’t count her out, but throw in the #14 post position, and she doesn’t seem a likely winner.

As always, I don’t “do” picks; that would be a sure way for me to make enemies, should anyone be silly enough to think I knew what I’m talking about.  This race looks like it will be a cavalry charge – and a fast one – and it will be fun to watch these tough ladies going for the glory.

– Novanora