The Wedding Godzilla Handicap
North Dakota plays host to ‘The Wedding Godzilla Handicap,’ a 6 furlong race over the firm turf for 4 year olds and up. All entries will be trying to bring home the bulk of the $30,000 purse as they come down the stretch Saturday. Ok, here we go.
(PP1 – 7/1) Yokel Acting(GB), of the Redmarilyn stable, is the most experienced horse in the race. This Steinlen(GB) X Afleet X Dominion(GB) 8 year old has run 64 career races. Of his 64 career races, Yokel Acting(GB) has run 62 races on the turf, winning 9 and hitting the board in 24 of those 62 races. Of his 64 career races, this 8 year old has run 48 sprints, winning 7 and hitting the board in 18 of those 48 races. Yokel Acting(GB) is a consistent 90 SP # horse, but has only finished up with a 3rd place finish in his last four stakes entries. In this short field, he could hit the board easier than in his last attempts, but I don’t think he will take the winner’s circle.
(PP2 – 7/2) Izaaq Hollandia(IRE), of the Rosemont stable, is another entry that easily fires mid 90 SP #s, but does have the capability to fire off a 100+ SP #. This Noverre(IRE) X A.P. Indy X Jim J. 4 year old colt is currently the # 49 ranked Turf Sprint older horse, amassing 80 stakes points. One thing in Izaaq Hollandia(IRE)’s favor is he is shortening back up to his preferred 6 furlong turf distance. The last time he ran 6 furlongs, he fired a huge 103 SP # wiring the field. Look for him to gun for the lead early and try to hold on down the stretch. In a short field like this, I expect a dogfight for the top three spots. I expect this one to hit the board somewhere.
(PP3 – 13/1) Storming Tate, of the Bigstate02 stable, is the long shot of the race. This Crowning Storm X Barkerville X Imperial Fling entry is the only filly in the race. This four year old filly has won 3 of 24 career races and has won 8 of the 24. Although this won’t be her first race against the boys, it doesn’t bode well for Storming Tate. In her three career races against the boys, even though all three were on dirt, she has failed to finish in the top five. She tends to fire in the mid 80 SP #s, but can fire up to a high 90 SP # when she is running right. That just won’t cut it in this field. She may upset someone in this field, but Storming Tate won’t hit the board.
(PP4 – 3/2) Nail Roger, of the Thefifth stable, is the morning line favorite of the race, but will not win the race and for good reason. This Plain Dealing X Caro(IRE) X Tarboosh 8 year old horse has won 7 of 22 races and hit the board in 14 of 22 races. Nail Roger is currently ranked # 281 in the older horse Turf Sprint category. He typically fires upper 90 SP#s but in the past has fired as high as a 108 SP # in a turf sprint. In his LTO and first race of 2006, Nail Roger won The Denny Triangle Stakes with a 99 SP #. He looks to repeat that form today.
(PP 5 – 2/1) Tiger Nation(IRE), of the Plunk stable, will dominate this race and will upset the favorite, Nail Roger. This Theatrical(IRE) X Shahrastani X King Glorious 5 year old is currently ranked # 8 in the older horse Turf Sprint category!!! He has won 13 of 31 races while amassing over $700,000 in career earnings. Tiger Nation(IRE) has run in more Graded Stakes races than some of the other horses have run in the lower level stakes races. Tiger Nation(IRE) consistently runs in the 100 SP # range. This is the winner of this race and I can’t see an upset, not even by Nail Roger. Look for Tiger Nation(IRE) to be flying down the stretch and end up in the picture gallery today.
(PP6 – 9/1) Xxxtra Fast, of the Emb2 stable, is the only mare in the race. This Belong To Me X Polar Falcon X Darn That Alarm 7 year old mare has won 12 of 48 races, all of those races in the sprint category, and has hit the board in 25 of 44 sprints. She has won 7 of 30 turf races and has hit the board in 17 of those 30 races. Xxxtra Fast is also ranked # 178 in the older female Turf Sprint category, but today she is running against the boys. Not to fear says Emb2, she has run against the boys three other times in her career and has a win, 4th, and 6th place finish. And that win? Well, it was only The Longchamp Sprint (G2) against a full field. She went off in that race at 30 to 1. So if you are looking for a long shot bet, I would go with Xxxtra Fast.
Bigbaba