G1-Winner Nob Hill eyes Massachusetts purse
Massachusetts– Grade 1 Winner and Breeders Bowl starter Nob Hill commands 8/5 favorite status in this week’s rich Massachusetts feature: the $80,000 Jess Shark Special for sophomore turf fillies. Five other females will try to upset the heavily credentialed fave.
As her final Breeders Bowl prep last autumn, novanora’s Nob Hill convincingly bagged the Grade 1 G.S.R. Stakes for turf freshmen fillies. The Miesque’s Son daughter graced that Longchamp mile in 1:37 flat, slow but pretty standard amongst the starlets last year. Alas, Nob Hill ran a clinker in the BB Juvy Turf Filly and wasn’t really good either in two subsequent outings. The filly did finish 2005 winning 4 of 8 starts, with over $440,000 in the bank.
Top jockey Silvio Blade is off to a great start in ’06 and he gets the call to pilot Nob Hill from post 4. He’ll have to shake the filly awake and beat five other gals over a grassy mile — all have roughly the same 75-85 SP#s:
- Ajr14’s Cryin’ Shame(IRE) (7/1) breaks from the rail. A stakes winner last year, the Street Cry(IRE) daughter struggled home dead last in the BB Juvy Turf Filly. She likes to sit near the front and there figures to be a scramble for the pace here. Could be a good opportunity for her to finally break the 80 SP# barrier. Jockey Gregor Garbaccio off to a hot start. Decent chance for a breakout run if favorite falls.
- In post 2, plunk’s Fusaitariat (2/1) makes her grass debut after going 1 for 4 over the main track. the Fuasichi Pegasus royal bred has the green stuff lines with Blushing Groom(FR) as damsire. Speedster showed some flashy speed, stakes-placed LTO. Has ability, good spot to see if she can take to grass. Interesting. No surpise if she upsets.
- At 13/1, tonno6’s Spongeslug precociously wired a 9f MSW in her first start. The bargain bred then weakened badly despite setting a lonesome solo pace in her stakes debut over a grassy mile. This field won’t let her get away this time around and she comes in here on a short three weeks rest. Factor for board.
- Sudden T Winner (6/1) from highc stable breaks from post 5. She’s got a royal bred Kris S. female family, but an obscure sire (Sudden Thunder). Filly was a stakes winner over 6f turf last year and stakes-placed afterwards. She makes her route debut and will likely join the pace fray. Pedigrees suggests that she’ll enjoy two-turns much beyond a flat mile. Interesting to see how she’ll take to the route…. maybe a board placing could signal better things to come.
- Finally, epcotlen has the best chance of upsetting Nob Hill with his Theatrical(IRE) daughter, Theatrical Fog(IRE) (7/2). The filly broke her maiden in her second try over turf sprints last year and was stakes-placed afterwards. After a few decent dirt efforts, she returned to the green stuff to finish competitively over a mile. Should shadow fellow closer Nob Hill closely and make a run down the stretch. Might want more ground though. Still, I like her in the place spot and maybe the win too.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Win: Nob Hill or Fusaitariat
Place: Theatrical Fog(IRE)
Show: Fusaitariat or Cryin’ Shame(IRE)
Good luck to all.