Dollplayer Price Stakes (Grade II)
The weather looks perfect for this weekend’s big race at the Berlin Hippodrome in Germany. A disappointing field of only six fillies have turned out for the main event over 10 furlongs on turf – The $250,000 Grade II Dollplayer Price Stakes. Racecourse manager Klaus Schmidt asked me “Vot do I have to do to attract more horses to my track – sing?”. I’m not sure if that will help, but here’s a look at the field for this good-looking race.
#1 – Lone Gunman (5YO – Fantastic Light x Alzao x Crusader Sword) trained by FOXON4 is the 7/2 second favorite. This good-looking horse is the top money winner in the race with over $900K in winnings from 41 starts. Lone Gunman won this event last year and has a good chance of winning again, although she hasn’t run in graded company for almost 12 months. Lone Gunman has been running well in Stakes Company with four wins and three seconds in her last eight starts. She should be capable of being right there at the finish of this race.
#2 – Going Long Again (6YO – Lear Fan x Icecapade x Cox’s Ridge) is trained by WAGKOMBI and is 5/1 in the morning line. This daughter of Lear Fan has earned over $500K in her career, but hasn’t won since week 2370. She is a nice horse but will probably find at least two horses ahead of her when she crosses the line.
#3 – Earth Angel (3YO – Coronado’s Quest x Doyoun(IRE) x Northfields) is tackling older horses for the first time and it looks as if trainer STRATEGY8 has set the bar too high this time around. At 57/1 this one will be hard pressed to compete here and will be lucky to avoid last place.
#4 – Raw Courage(IRE) – (4YO – Sinndar(IRE) x Troy(GB) x Caro(IRE) is another horse that looks out of her depth here. With one win in 24 starts this 62/1 stable mate of Earth Angel will be a long way back as the winners cross the line.
#5 – The hot morning line favorite at 1/2 is Dreaming of Love – (4YO – Sadler’s Wells X Mr. Prospector x Unbridled). Trained by the popular SNOWCHIEF, this well-bred filly should dominate this field. Dreaming of Love has been running against the best, registering impressive speed figures. She will enjoy this less competitive field and should be in fine form. Jockey T. Small will have her storming by the rest of the field as they come down the stretch. It will be a major upset if this daughter of Sadler’s Wells gets upset.
#6 – Mintiano – (5YO – Danzig x A.P. Indy x Vaguely Noble) trained by DREAMING is the 4/1 third favorite. She has won over $300K in her career and has been running well in allowance races lately. However this step up in class will be a challenge for her. Mintiano could surprise this writer and push Going Long Again for third place.