Small Number Too Total

A mile and one quarter           Good Dirt        $75,000

Fillies and mares        4 years old and up

The forecast for Saturday morning is for showers during appear sporadically during the day, so an off-track is possible.  This third running of the MISSISSIPPI COUNT Stakes drew a small field of four veteran fillies and mares. 

Of the two previous running of the MISSISSIPPI COUNT Stakes, this will be the second one at the distance of ten furlongs..  Race record at this distance is:  2:02 by Bluebell(GB) (Mtoto(GB) x Dancing Brave in 2005.  As for the past sim runner by the name of Mississippi Count.  She was a winner of 5 of eighteen starts and accumulated over $250,000 in purse earnings.  However, she may be better noted for her ability as a broodmare. Mississippi Count is a 12 yr old mare with four offspring – with one (MORGADIO(IRE) x Galileo(IRE) a graded stakes winner.  Two others are stakes placed.

As for the field for the running of the 2006 The MISSISSIPPI COUNT:

Charismatic x General Meeting

She returns to stakes competition after stepping back for several runs in restricted allowance events.  This front runner has come up a bit short in her four trips in 2006 (3 seconds, and a third).  She has won going over an off track, but the victory was in a high price claimer, so she may find the conditions a bit more challenging here. Ownership is hopeful that this is the race that provides the opportunity for a post race photo and celebration. 

Akaaber  x Regal Search

She was ‘flat’ in her last outing, but being a grade III event, she may have just been a little out of her league.  She has not visited the winner’s circle in forty eight weeks, but may benefit from wet conditions.  She ran a strong race in the Soothingly View Bonanza over a ‘good’ track.  Expect her to be stalking the pace early on in the event.

Kingmambo x Saint Ballado

Won the Fried Mud(Eng) Handicap LTO in strong fashion at this distance.  She finished with a comfortable two length margin and comes in well rested.  Her one win on an off surface was on grass, but she does have a nice second-place run on a off dirt track.  She is a stalker that comes in with momentum.

Forty Niner x Nijinsky II

If the owner of FORTY WINX does like the ride that his filly get, he won’t have to look to far to find the jockey.  She ran a nice fourth in a grade III event and should find this group a bit softer.  She is appointed the race favorite after winning three of five starts with some solid running times.  She will most likely be fourth and last in the early stages, and if AKA GRAY T and COOKIE BARN can apply pressure to the expected pace setter-CL CHARISMA, then the table may be set for FORTY WINX to overtake the trio in the stretch.  If I could toss out one item of caution- she is untested on an off surface, but ran a second on the turf (in her racing debut).

My Selections:  FORTY WINX       cookie barn     AKA gRAY T

-deajai