Georgia gathers excellent turf distaffers group
Georgia– The $45,000 Red’s Speed Demon Bonanza boasts a wide-open field of 12 older turf fillies and mares. Flower Pot(G1) victoress Leprechaun Hunt leads the way at 5/1. A sweet quartet go off as the 6/1 co-second choice faves. Even the longest shot on the board at 19/1 has a chance.
Grimreeser’s Leprechaun Hunt (5/1) peaked late summer when she took three straight turf stakes, including New York’s celebrated Flower Pot(G1-10fT). The Seeking The Gold stalker then appeared ready to continue on the graded stakes schedule in autumn. However, a poor effort in the Bickerknocker(G3-9fT) put that idea on the backburner. Leprechaun Hunt managed just one win from 3 starts by the end of 2005. She seems to have tanked a bit after 30 starts. We’ll see if wear and tear has finally caught up to her. She’s won over $1.5 million in her career.
We have a superb group of 6/1 second choices:
- On the far outside, corza6’s Apple Carbon won the Mrs. Cleaver(G2). The 8.5f turf romp was quite a surprise for the then 7YO Marks Mill mare — she went off as a longshot with a recent stakes-placing as well as a pair of ALW and Starter ALW scores. Apple Carbon closed from last to first to win with a 104 SP#. She did cough it up when misplaced in her next start versus males on DelPenn Day. Apple Carbon hasn’t tested the full nine furlongs recently, so we’ll see if she can scale the extra sixteenth. At 8 years old, you gotta wonder how much she has left in the tank, but the old gal can still pick up her feet from off pace.
- On the rail, pazfour’s Prospector Villa has a great shot off of three straight turf stakes scores. Crafty Propsector mare was bred for speed, but she adores short routes and even wired a 10f race LTO. The speedster managed a G2-placing last year as well and makes her 20th career start. Her 90 SP#s aren’t tremendously flashy and could indicate a bow to a more talented filly. However, this 5YO gal’s getting better and better. One to watch on the pace.
- In ideal post 4, pandrews’ Firm King(IRE) hopes to recover from an awful drubbing on Del Penn Day. The 5YO Desert King(IRE) mare was a graded performer in ’05, winning the Other SPA BB(G3-8.5T) last summer and finishing 2nd in the Demona Handicap(G1-9fT). She makes just her 14th career call to the post. Loves the distance and gets hot jock Denny Post(33%) in the irons. Midpacker has a great chance if fully recovered from DPCD Day.
- Lacrima stayed the ground in last year’s Rippleschip(G2-12fT), but was beaten pretty badly in the BB Turf Distaff. The Forty Niner filly faced the best of her sophomore division last year with honest results. She did follow up the BB debacle with a nice runner-up performance over 10.5f, making up heaps of ground in a 101 SP# effort. Did score over 9f late last season so the cutback in ground shouldn’t be a problem. Talented closer needs something to run at. Good shot at a board placing at least.
Erasmus’ Iron Shoes (7/1) competed against the best miler turf sophomores last year. By Fantastic Light, Iron Shoes placed in the QE2 Challenge(G1-9fT). Don’t really know her best distance — it appears to be a mile, since she kind of “hangs” when asked to go 9f-10f. I wonder how the closer would do though in a full field 10f-11f race, even 12f. She’s bred for that kind of stamina. Talented filly, but need to pinpoint her best trip. Capable of the win here, but maybe a placing at best.
The rest of the field:
- At 19/1, Barb’s Little Lion punched the clock honestly last season versus the sophomore filly division. The Vindication royal bred spent a lot of time over 10f and even finished 3rd in a Grade 1. she’s fare over a mile too — 9f might be right up her alley. Must recover last-place drubbing LTO. Outside chance for closer from sprintbarn stable.
- Former claimer Not A Moo Cow (12/1) rewarded trainer markan with a splendid class step victory in the Panhandle Oaks(G3-9fT) last year. The Luhuk bargain bred competed in Knightmare’s Bargain baby championship and hit the board in her next couple of starts. Stalker finally returns to her best 9f distance. Don’t know if her Panhandle self will show up, but if she does…. could be a mild upset. Interesting.
- Jpcrazy’s Certified Laser (15/1) makes stakes debut. Miswaki daughter recently exhausted ALW conditions over 8.5f turf. Game filly on the upswing, but must bring her absolute lifetime best so far to the table if she’s gonna upset the graded performers. Would prefer to see a 100 SP# before the stakes leap. Not much of a chance.
- The 5YO mare Aim For Paradise (11/1) was an ALW winner over 9f two back, and it was her turf debut too! Awesome Again mare has been honestly average over the dirt. Would like to see the closer win another turf ALW before the stakes leap — can’t tell if it was just the short field that she dominated on class. Still, always makes for spice when a dirt horse wins for first time on lawn. Will most probably finish average against this group. Races for sparadise stable.
- Highstakes sends out ALWer Yankee Wells T (11/1). The 4YO filly paid her dues last year in ALW ranks with lowball type SP#s. Royal bred female family. Honestly, outclassed against this bunch. Little chance.
- Old grey mare Smart Bride (12/1) from baldone stable managed a Grade 3 placing last season. The Storm Broker 7YO makes 37th career call to post. She’s a specialist over these short turf routes and can earn the cheques when well spotted. Toss out 10.5f debacle LTO. Possible for some purse money from off pace.
The field navigates nine furlongs over a firm turf course.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Win: Prospector Villa
Place: Lacrima or Iron Shoes
Show: Firm King(IRE)
Good luck to all.