Big Race Preview 2748

Only two grade I races this week and only two grade II races so they all get covered this week. For the grade I races we have a pair of turf miles and the grade II races are a dirt sprint and a dirt classic.

Race: 2748.5415 Sexy Muffins Classic – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Jolie’s Song will try to get back on track against her own sex this week. She spent most of the last year facing males at the top level in turf miles. While competing well she has not won in almost a year. Her last four races have been horrible for her. Even so she faces a pretty solid bunch of runners so will need to be on top of her game for a win here.

Three runners share the honor as second favorites. Alberta Gold seems to be the runner who potentially will get a dream trip. She is a stalker that can hang off the pace and will have the jump on Jolie’s Song. Spice Girl likes to be near the front. She ran a couple of big races capturing a grade I and a grade II at this distance not too long ago. A Gold City is a very interesting entry. She has done very well at longer distances and cuts back to a mile for the first time in more than a year and a half. She has the class but may not care for the distance.

With several older well raced mares seeking one last glory run a young up and coming runner like Thirteenth Date really stands out. She is a fresh face but there may be a bit of doubt in her because she never faced older runners all of last year her three year old season. She is a grade I winner at the distance and seems on the rise while a lot of the runners in here appear in decline.   

Race: 2748.1515 Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes – Grade I – $450,000
Track: Arizona
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Turf

I am at a complete loss with this field. You look at the runners top to bottom and it makes you want to run through your stables because you know somewhere you have a runner that would have fit here. One of our favorites, Roman Conquest, has never run on the turf. He has won three of four on the dirt with solid speed figures and has the pedigree that would suggest he can run on the turf. Still he seems vulnerable. The other favorite Speightful has won two listed stakes races at a mile on turf. He is clearly the most accomplished runner in this field however his speed figures do not really separate him from the pack.

Swift Drift has finished first or second in seven of eight turf tries. He has the look of a runner that will get better with age and could be ready for a big improvement. Vindictive Tales is a serious threat on the pace. He took the field gate to wire in a stakes last time out his second stakes win. Azroc Red N Yellow is an interesting runner. He started his career off on the turf finishing second in two maiden tries. He moved over to the dirt and has won an allowance and a stakes on dirt in his last two starts. Now he switches back to the turf and could be a factor.

The rest of this field is full of well bred runners all running a mid eighties speed figure, any of which could step it up this weekend. Print out the list of entries for the race. Tape them up on a dart board, blind fold your self, turn your back to the board, grab a dart and throw.

Race: 2748.6815 Wicker Sofa Stakes – Grade II – $225,000
Track: Taiwan
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt

The speed of Atakachaw will be on display as your morning line favorite. He ran strongly in the Breeder’s Bowl sprint being run down by the best sprinter going Casterly Rock (IRE). He has the kind of speed you fear and may have found a spot to get back into the winner’s circle. He is the most accomplished runner in this field and holds a class edge over the field.

Da Dentist is the second choice on the morning line. He ran huge winning a grade II race several races back but has not won since. He is a closer and there is a bunch of speed in this race so he could be ready to rebound. Kung Fu will be adding to the pace of this race. He is a solid front runner that has put up good speed figures. His last was a grade I try and it was not good but before that he won a listed stakes in solid fashion.

Sherbet Dip is fresh off a 111-speed figure going gate to wire. He was on the pace there and that will not be easy here. He seems in good form and that speed figure was no fluke. American Pride II has been doing very well at the allowance level and against this bunch he looks well placed to hit the board in only his second career stakes try.   

Race: 2748.2115 Toilet Scrubbers Anonymous Handicap – Grade II – $250,000
Track: Michigan
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three sixteenths on the Dirt

Two very impressive win streaks go on the line in Michigan. While not the morning line favorite, Wisdom Tooth (IRE) seems an obvious choice. He is on a seven race win streak that includes stakes wins in his last three races. He is a deep closer but always seems to be there at the end of the race.