Flying Phoenix will Rise up in This Race
The Shirley Smith Stakes
Seven Furlongs on Fast Dirt
$150,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
There is nothing like a winter day in Mexico and we are enjoying the sunshine and warmth as we are getting set to run down the SHIRLEY SMITH Stakes Grade III Race. This seven furlong $150,000 turf Stakes race for fillies and mares four years and up should have some wonderful times as the track here has been lightning fast all week. We’ve got a nicely matched field and I can’t wait to watch this race. Let’s take a look:
1 – BERZERK GOLD ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 5/2 FutureStar 32.9% M.Olson 12% 109.8 103.5 42
(SEEKING THE GOLD x A.P. INDY x DANZIG) The Morning Line favorite is a four Year old filly that has been a bit off her game lately. She hasn’t won a race in over six months and hasn’t finished better than 4th in her last four. Early last year she was pickin’ em up and putting ‘em down when she won the Sweet Nanette GI but the end of last year and beginning of this she has slipped somewhat. Now she is moving back to seven furlongs when she seems to like the mile better. Trainer FutureStar has the win % to know where to put this filly, but I have to wonder.
| 2 – GREENMASTER(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/2 | Johnno | 11.3% | B.Brown | 5% | 104.5 | 100.4 | 126 |
(FLYING SPUR(AUS) x HIGH KICKER x CAPOTE) Consistency is so important in the racing game and this five year old mare has her picture in the dictionary next to the word. She has run four in a row and six of seven in triple digit SPF and finished in the top three all but one time. She is moving up in class to the GIII but has the history to do it easily. This Australian bred mare finishes with a flourish and just needs to make sure that she doesn’t get caught inside. Brown, up in the stirrups will have to make sure she is open at the top of the stretch for her fantastic finish.
| 3 – BABY TROY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/2 | TheProfit8 | 14.3% | S.Colon | 7% | 106.7 | 99.3 | 54 |
(CAPOTE x DEPUTY MINISTER x ELEGANT PRINCE) This six year old mare looked as if she was about done with triple digit speed figures when she hit the 100 mark last time out and won an allowance race. She looks to be on the down side of a wonderful career and this will be her 41st race. Trainer TheProfit8 has more than paid for the oats with this nice looking lady as she is nearing half a million in earnings. She will need another really good effort to challenge here.
| 4 – GUETARIA | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | Mindiearte | 14.4% | D.Blalock | 40% | 103.7 | 98.8 | 39 |
(PULPIT x THEATRICAL(IRE) x KAMPALA(GB)) Four Year old filly out of Government Dandy that is running her very first graded race. She has been hovering on the periphery and has a strong finish that just might do some damage in this race. Trainer MindieArt has Blalock up in the saddle and he knows how to get the most out a horse. I would watch out for this one coming down the stretch and put her on a couple of my tickets.
| 5 – FLYING PHOENIX(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/2 | Black | 9.4% | M.Buck | 18% | 108.1 | 99.7 | 31 |
(BEL ESPRIT (AUS) x OCTAGONAL(NZ) x THE MINSTREL) Australian bred four year old that has really been flying lately. She’s finished in the top three in six of her last seven and her SPFs are up getting up above the 105 mark. She won the Stupidly Star Stakes in her last outing with a 107 and looks like she might be the one to beat here. She is another come from behind finisher and we might see a calvary charge down the stretch.
| 6 – HIDE AND CHIC | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/1 | 2ToTango | 20.9% | B.York | 22% | 103.4 | 94.5 | 543 |
(SEEKING THE GOLD x IN REALITY x BOLDNESIAN) Only six runs for this very lightly raced four year old but she won four of them. Granted, the wins were all in allowance class races but this little lady can move. Her only poor race was at a mile which she apparently did not like. 2ToTango has to like what he sees in this little filly and with York in the stirrups she may do some damage. I would put a shekel or two on this one at the ML odds.
| 7 – SKIPPIN PLEASURE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/1 | KindOne2 | 6.7% | J.Lynch | 0% | 96.8 | 90.2 | 1069 |
(MENIFEE x SKIP AWAY x FOOLISH PLEASURE) This pretty grey five year old looks to be in a bit over her head in this class. She has four wins in this her 30th start and I don’t expect her to add to that total this outing. Jockey Lynch is looking for this years first win.
| 8 – NUN COLDER | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/1 | YoYo36 | 5.1% | O.Eatman | 0% | 104.0 | 93.1 | 275 |
(BEHRENS x STORM CAT x LOVE THAT MAC) I love the name on this four year old filly but not the record. She has one really nice triple digit speed figure in all her races and came in second there. She is not ready for prime time but that is why they run the races. One of the horses I counted out last week won her race. You just never know on the track!
Morning Line = 1-2-5-3
Yoss Tipsheet = 5-1-2-4
Paz Picks = 5-2-4-1
There are two distinct groups in this race. I like BERZERK GOLD to finish fourth and may go back to her distance next time. Blalock has enough magic in his hands to bringGUETARIA home on the board. It could probably go either way between the top two but I like GREENMASTER to just miss and settle for second. That leaves Aussie FLYING PHOENIX to make the trip to the winners circle. She’s on her game and I don’t see anyone beating her.
Good luck to all runners!
Paz