Top Filly Takes On The Lads In Ireland

Seven young three year olds have entered this week’s feature race, The El Glen Special. It will be run at six furlongs on good turf for a purse of $80,000. We have a graded-placed runner, a horse who just began his career, stakesplaced runners, and even one of the top turf fillies.

On the rail is SJ’s Silver Bridle at 7/2. He is by Silver Ghost and is out of the G2 winning Unbridled mare Unbridled Star, who has already produced one stakewinner. This handsome colt is stakesplaced on dirt, and ran a 92 in a dirt sprint allowance last time out. He has run well on turf, too, as two of his three career victories are on the lawn, including his maiden victory which was on a good surface. His speed figures haven’t been nearly as good as those on dirt, but he should be a main player in today’s race, especially with top jockey Z. Kentucky on board.

In post two at 7/1 is local Ireland horse North Of The Cat. He is by Tale Of The Cat out of a Gilded Time mare. He began his career on dirt, but showed little after breaking his maiden. Switched to turf, he has hit the board in all three of his starts. He likely will do better with more distance than he has to work with today. If he can get a good lead, he should place well though, and Mizzi Russell is one of the best jockeys to have here.

In post three at 25/1 is Raise The Keel. He is by Sandtrap (Irish River(Fr)) out of an Aquatic (Riverman) mare. With such a pedigree, it is no surprise that he prefers turf, especially with the close inbreeding to Riverman. He ran for a tag last time out, but ran third in an allowance the start before that. He will need to improve on his speed figures to be competitive here, but not by that much. D. Nickesy is certainly good enough to bring out the best this colt has to offer.

In post four at 9/5 is Mr. Bandito. He is by Mr. Greeley and is based on the stakesplaced Cat Thief horse Local Praise. It’s easy to see why this chocolate-coloured colt is the favourite. He’s won two stakes, placed in a G3, and ran fourth in the Equinics last time out. He’s run a top speed of 94. That’s pretty impressive! A. Ebert will be riding him today.

In post five at 16/1 is Reprehensible(Ire). He is by Fasliyev(Ire) and is out of a Timber Country mare. The most reprehensible thing about this race, is that of the two Irish-owned horses running, neither of them is Irish-bred. Fortunately, this fiery red colt shipped in from the Far East so that we at least would have an Irish-bred horse in the race. The long odds are likely based on lack of experience, as this lad didn’t even start as a 2yo. He ran second in his debut, then won last time out in his second race. This isn’t an easy spot to jump from maidens to stakes, but he has outrun his odds so far in his career.

In post six at 5/2 is the lone filly in the race, I’m Set(Aus). She is by Reset(Aus) and is out of a Forty Niner mare. This is one of those cases where we have a filly entered against colts who has a very likely chance to beat them all. If you read Theatrical’s great article on the top freshman sires of 2005, then you know that this filly is the top Reset(Aus) offspring in the sim. She broke her maiden in a stakes, and has won two others since then. She ran 90 or better in both of the last two, and, get this….they were both on yielding turf. A. Reed, continually chasing Kentucky for the top spot in the jockey standings, is sure to give this girl the ride of her life.

Rounding out the field is local Ireland horse A Real Cool Cat. He is by One Cool Cat and is out of a Sea Hero mare. He has only missed the board once in nine career starts. He started out on dirt, but really bloomed when switched to the turf. He is stakesplaced in his one start at a mile, and easily won a high-priced open allowance at seven furlongs last time out with an 85. He has shown an ability to win from just off the pace, which will serve him well here as there is plenty of front speed, and E C Doyle is an expert at bringing horses up from behind. His odds are 9/2.

That is our field. It should be an exciting race. Look for the two horses on the rail to go for the early lead, with I’m Set(Aus) and A Really Cool Cat on their heels, and Mr. Bandito coming up the lane in the stretch. I believe the three just mentioned will be your top three finishers, but what order they come in is left for you to find out on Saturday. Good luck to all the runners and may they all come home sound.