Field of 13 For Almost Whirl Memorial

Wow, have we got a treat for you this week in Ireland. Only one horse shy of a full field for the Almost Whirl Memorial, a 6.5 furlong test for 3 year olds on the dirt track for a purse of $70,000. We’ve got Storm Cats, we’ve got stakes winners, we’ve got a filly…heck, we’ve got everything but the kitchen sink. Let’s take a look at the runners.

Breaking from the inside at 14/1 is Lindahls Choice, owned by Ireland resident kronp. He is a royally bred and lightly raced son of Storm Cat based on a Kingmambo horse. After three failed attempts on turf, he showed his true colours in winning a 7f dirt maiden with a nice 90 speed figure. He took the lead in an allowance at a mile last time out, but was run down in the stretch. He lacks seasoning and is in a tough field here, but there is no doubt that he has ability.

In post two at 10/1 is Tell No Lies, owned by eclipce. He is a son of Cape Canaveral and is out of a Groton mare. He has made all eleven of his starts in dirt sprints, and has one stakes victory and two second place finishes in stakes. He has beaten more than one horse in this field, and looks like a good play at these odds, which are likely inflated by an unusually poor outing in his last appearance. He has run a top speed of 92.

In post three at 9/2 is Rock For The Ages(Ire), owned by marto. He is by Rock Of Gibraltar(Ire) and is out of a Noholme II(Aus) mare. He is ranked #48 in the dirt sprint division. He is stakes placed on both surfaces, and has one stakes victory on the dirt. He appeared in the Equinics, and ran a top speed of 96 last time out.

In post four at 10/1 is Tall Cool One, owned by kystables. He is by One Cool Cat and is out of a Sea Of Secrets mare. He has one stakes victory to his credit and has hit the board in four others. He’s run his top speed figure of 87 three times, and has drawn top jockey Z. Kentucky for this race. He likely would have an easier time of it had the track come up less than fast, though.

In post five at 6/1 is Lunar Cleansing, owned by studkenny2. He is by Awesome Again and is out of a Giant’s Causeway(Ire) mare. He has won three of five career starts, all but one of which were on turf. He just missed in a G3 on turf, finishing fourth only 1/2 length back, then switched to dirt for his last, winning easily with a 94 speed figure. He has stakes wins on both surfaces.

In post six at 11/1 is the filly Seekers Keepers, owned by scout3. She is by Seeking The Gold and is out of a Danehill mare. She’s done a little bit of everything, bouncing between turf and dirt, sprints and routes. Other than an 86 in the G1 Sky Beauty, in which she finished fourth only 1/2 length back, her next best speed figures have both come at a mile. She is stakes placed on both surfaces, and that Sky Beauty performance came on the heels of a turf race. She started on turf in the Equinics in her last outing, and could benefit again from the surface switch here.

In post seven at 16/1 is Greeley’s Indy, owned by overbrooke. He is by Mr. Greeley and is out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. He broke his maiden on dirt, then switched to turf, where he ran well, including winning a stakes, but he moved back to dirt after four starts and has been much better there, racking up three wins and a second, including two stakes. His top speed is only 84, but this is his first race since turning 3, so he should have matured since his last start.

In post eight at 12/1 is Idealist, owned by Ireland resident wahoo. He is by Aptitude and is out of a Chester House mare. He has done quite well in allowances, but has struggled a bit at the stakes level. He has been showing steady improvement, however, and finished third in a stakes last time out in his first turf appearance. He equalled his best speed figure of 85 in that race. The other time was right here in Ireland, and he has an allowance win here so he likes the track. A. Reed, who rode him in the Resident Dirt Futurity here, is a top notch jockey and will give him a shot here.

In post nine at 17/1 is Eagle Sword, owned by graywolf9. He is by Griffinite and is out of a Mr. Greeley mare. He has tried a little bit of everything, and other than a second place finish in a mile allowance, his best races have been dirt sprints. He is coming off an allowance win at 6 furlongs in which he ran an 88 speed figure.

In post ten at 18/1 is Nick N Nick, owned by moala. He is by Fort Wood and is out of a Kylian mare. He’s been a bit of a slow developer, but ran a very nice 90 speed figure in his first race as a three year old. He’s won two other allowances and looks to improve as he matures. His pedigree suggests he may get better with age.

In post eleven at 4/1 is Deputy Goldseeker, owned by fairway. He is by Silver Deputy and out of a Seeking The Gold mare. He is ranked #46 in the dirt sprint division. He was considered an early favorite to make the Bluegrass Derby field after a second place finish in the G2 High Roller’s Juvenile in his third start, but has been a victim of seconditis throughout his career. He has one stakes win, and six seconds in stakes. His top speed of 99 is top notch, though, and I’ve ducked him more than once.

In post twelve at 8/1 is Heavy Choice(Aus), owned by dkyoung7. He is by Redoute’s Choice(Aus) and is out of a Mr. Prospector mare. He began on turf, but showed real ability when switched to dirt. He’s won one stakes and hit the board in three others, and has run a top speed of 91 while still a 2 year old. He’s coming off a third place finish in a stakes and has one of Ireland’s best-loved jockeys D. Nickesy in the saddle.

Rounding out the field at 18/1 is the second half of the kronp entry, Stormy Swede. He is just as handsomely bred as his stablemate, by Storm Cat and based on a Deputy Minister horse. He is stakesplaced at a mile, and is coming off an allowance victory at 6 furlongs, where he equalled his top speed figure of 81. He has a lot of making up to do as far as speed figures here, but with such a pedigree anything can happen.

That is our field. What a mix of horses we have this week. I have no idea how this one will turn out. Only way to find out is to watch the race! Good luck to all the runners, and may they all come home sound.