FIVE TO FACE CHALLENGE
Six Furlongs Firm Turf $90,000
Fillies and Mares 3 years old
All five of the entries into the SIAN CURAD Challenge will be looking at this race as an indication of what is in store for them during their three years old campaign. As for the field of runners:
PP1 | blue SMOKE | Owner- | Comer | Jockey- | F Oxon | Odds | 2/1 |
Smoke Glacken x A.P. Indy
Her close in the DelPenn –Red Tejas Handicap was impressive and she may be “smoking” the last eighth of the mile on Saturday. I would expect her to be flying down the short stretch of this inner course toward the front. The early pace and the distance that she has to overcome may influence her final finish.
PP2 | RIDING to the RIDGE(IRE) | Owner- | gosome | Jockey- | T Campy | Odds | 5/1 |
Indian Ridge(IRE) x Sadler’s Wells
Ownership may be struggling to find her niche. She has been tested at various distances, surfaces and classes, and comes in with a seven race losing streak. She was impressive in her debut (winning at 5.5 furlongs on the turf), but has not progressed as much as one would expect since then.
PP3 | sun in action | Owner- | Sjmeola3 | Jockey- | D Hogin | Odds | 7/5 |
Bahri x
She may be the most versatile runner of this short field. A winner four stakes events on the turf from six furlongs to a mile, she ran a respectable fifth at one mile and a sixteenth in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly (Gr. I). She can be expected to be pressuring the early pace and has credentials to earn her morning line favorite role. One question that handicappers may have on SUN IN ACTION is whether she can adjust to a “shorten” trip after several runs at longer distances. My guess is that she is loaded with talent and has the speed needed to handle quick pace of this event.
PP4 | BRAHMS AVENGER | Owner- | Vigilante | Jockey- | Bo Ryan | Odds | 7/2 |
Brahms x Alysheba
She ships in after winning the Grey Croc Bonanza Stakes at this same distance. She likes to settle a few lengths off the early pace and this small field may enhance her chances of avoiding any traffic problems. She comes in off of a two race win streak, but, more importantly, she is improving with each trip.
PP5 | Owner- | denveru | Jockey- | C Wall | Odds | 5/1 |
Miesque’s Son x Atticus
She won her lone turf start (Zig My Mill Stakes), but ownership has mainly focused on keeping her on the dirt. After a few mediocre trips, she is returning for another stakes event on grass. DENVER DOLL has a tendency of breaking quickly out of the gate, and may be the one that the other four runners are chasing.
DENVER DOLL will most likely set the pace out of the gate, with SUN IN ACTION pressuring for the lead. If the pace is quick, then the chances of late runners like BRHAMS AVENGER and BLUE SMOKE will be enhanced.
Selections: SUN IN ACTION BRHAMS AVENGER BLUE SMOKE
-deajai