Delpenn Distaff
DELAWARE DISTAFF (GR1)- Who Will be the One????
By Lilbitfarm
Race 2215 on Saturday looks like a very interesting affair to say the least. At least five or six of the fillies and mares seem to have a chance with the right scenario. Let’s get right into the field of 14 and see what we have!! The race is 1 1/8 on the main track with a $500k purse for fillies and mares 3 and up. The weatherman has given us a nice racing day, with temps in the high thirties and no chance of rain. All of the jockey and trainer win pcts. are for 2005. And here they are:
1) WAKI NOTION Looney1 (19.3%) I.Wimpy (10.4%) 6-1
Miswaki 4yo comes in from Ontario, where she came from 14th to win the G3 Lapel Pin Stakes @10f, posting a 102 SF. Today’s race is 9F so she’ll have a little less ground to work with. She certainly has a great shot if all the pieces fall into place. Solid trainer and rider combo helps. Jockey Ross on Empire Reef will be looking for “Waki” in the stretch! A fun to watch filly who is a definite factor.
2) SOVEREIGN MONARCH Acote (15.5%) W. Cisco (8.5%) 12-1
4yo Monarchos filly finished 3rd (2 back) in an open Alw at New Hampshire in her last-running the 8 1/2 panels in 102. Not really a great prep for a Grade 1 race. Her three finishes before that were 6-8-6. She really doesn’t appear to be at the top of her game righ now. I think a win here is too much to ask. A few others look better.
3) SMOKEY’S CHANT Kody (14.2%) C.Butts (6.2%) 9-1
4yo daughter of War Chant ships across the country from Washington after winning an owner restricted stake with a solid 102 for 9 furlongs. More impressively she is gunning for her 5th win in a row, including Grade 3 County BB Handicap two races back. I think in this field she has outside chance to take it all and a good chance to hit the board. Only sour note here is that Delaware’s 24th ranked jock is in the irons.
4) WESTEGEN (IRE) Tazzzdevil (5.7%) P. Fabre (8.6%) 29-1
4yo Generous filly appears to be over her head. She hasn’t won a race in 9 months and only 1 in the past year.
Her 3rd (2 3/4 back) at this track last race, posting a 94 SF,doesn’t bode well either. Just too much improvement needed to be competitive with this bunch. She is the longest shot in the race and rightly so.
5) EMPIRE REEF Lenny13 (18.0%) H. Ross (22.4%) 7-1
Speed!! That’s what this 3yo Empire Maker filly is all about. She will be on the lead and will try to go wire to wire in this race. Her last start was the BB Distaff (Gr1) in which she held the lead to the top of the stretch before tiring a bit and finishing 3rd to Swift Kick and Stormshaft,neither of which are entered here. Two races back in the Oak Grove (Gr1) right here at Delaware no one was able to catch her. Jockey in that race was Mr. Ross, Delaware’s leading rider and today’s rider. A very nice team along with solid trainer says Empire Reef has a great shot today!!!
6) DAYLIGHT T(IRE) Highbreed (8.8%) A. Thompson (8.9%) 16-1
3yo Daylami filly ships in from Minnesota where she finished 4th at 9 1/2 panels in the Control Roll(Ire) Bonanza. Her last two Graded efforts show a 13th and 11th at 8 and 8 1/2 furlongs. It’s not like “The Impossible Dream” but I think an on the board finish in this race would be quite remarkable.
7) GLASS HEART 4Stardave (13.8%) D. Silver (10.9%) 5-1
The #2 ranked filly in the Dirt Classic Division,Glass Heart has had two pretty dull efforts of late. Her BB run was a bit of a disappointment, checking in 11th. She followed that with a dull 5th in the Sterile Mile (Gr1). The Stormin Fever 4yo is the fav here in a much less than Breeders Bowl field. She could very well bounce back to her old form and take it all. Let’s see……..
8) SQUALL IS A STORM Meguire4th (10.5%) B.Ironside (15.6%) 7-1
Next we have the #1 filly in this division. (Dirt Classic)
Summer Squall offspring was in great form up to the BB Distaff (Gr1) in which she could do no better than 8th (14 back). Four weeks later she again came up dull in the 9 furlong Jump Town Handicap (Gr2) in Kentucky, checking in 6th, by 8. Swift Kick and Storm Shaft beat her in her last two. Neither are entered here. A rebound to her former level would make her a big factor here. A possibility, for sure.
9)GONE FISSION Gipper7 (18.2%) H.Wilson (9.7%) 12-1
5yo Gone West mare comes in from Missouri where she won the Full Assembly Memorial by a nose, posting a 104 for the mile. Good race but only the 2nd stakes win of her career. Two back she was entered in Grade 1 Three Smokestacks and finished 14th-22 lengths back. She just seems a little outclassed here. Too much to do.
10) K’S ESKAPE Pompeya (22.6%) G. Rodgers (9.9%) 14-1
An interesting entry, this 3yo daughter of Mineshaft had her 10 race win streak broken in her last when she finished 4th in the 8F Sarela Memorial at Ireland, beaten 4 1/4 lengths. She is now 10-11 but the question is the class of some of her races. To her credit she has won a Gr2 but that was at 7 furlongs. 3 races back she won a “T” Allowance with a $9900 purse (????)posting a 72 SF. Very hard to figure horse but I’m guessing that her best could put her on the board. (Perhaps…..
11) CADDILAC MOON Blackswan (20.9%) B. Dillin (5.9%) 7-1
This Unbridled’s Song 3yo last race was the BB Distaff (Gr1) in which she finished a not so bad but non-threatening fifth, posting a 107 SF. After a 7 week freshening she is back but there are some questions. She is 0 for six months and may not be ready for her best effort in this race. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her hit the board but a win would be a a bit of a surprise. 25th ranked jock doesn’t help, either.
12) COPENHAGEN AGAIN Wistful3 (19.6%) Z. Wylde (12.8%) 16-1
4yo Danehill daughter ships here from Washington where she won a Nw1t Alw with a 95 SF. Her last three Graded Stakes show finishes of 4th (by 3) 12th (18) and 10th (14). I think maybe she is a little past her prime. Taking nothing away from a nice career with $948K of earnings, a win in this race would be a huge upset.
13) MOGUER Platero (15.6%) T. Crow (10.7%) 13-1
Millionaire by E Dubai vans in from Maryland after finishing 2nd (2 1/4 back)in the Much Off The Cat Challenge 7 weeks ago, posting a 101 SF. Not a bad effort but her last three Graded runs show finishes of 6th,9th and 6th-nothing very exciting there. Adding to the bad news is the fact that she hasn’t won a race in 6 months and only one in 9. Hard to recommend here.
14) SEE JAY TEE Cjt4 (12.4%) T. Solomon (5.7%) 28-1
Hmm.. I’m afraid this 3yo Crafty Prospector filly is in way over her head here. Her top lifetime SF is and even 100-no way that will make a dent in this field. She did finish 3rd in the Three Smokestacks (Gr1) at 50-1 four back but third is not winning. Sometimes you have to walk before you run..
Awful rider doesn’t help at all. Some other day.
That’s the field in a very interesting race. Will Empire Reef be able to hold the lead wire to wire? Or will Waki Notion have enough distance to go by her in the stretch?
Or will Squall is a Storm or Glass Heart regain their old form. Smokey’s Chant is an upset possibility-maybe? Perhaps one of the horses that I’ve said can’t win will surprise us all-it certainly wouldn’t be the first time-Lol!!
Tune in Saturday for another great edition of the Delpenn Champions Day races. An early Christmas gift for us all!!!!