Will Someone Pounce on the Opportunity

A mile and five sixteenths          $50,000      Fast Dirt

Fillies and Mares           4 years old and up

The third running of the California Tiger Memorial Stakes brings together a group of five fillies and mares.  The event was moved to the distance of 11 furlongs last year and LA FAUAER holds race record with a win at 2:11 2/5.  CALIFORNIA TIGER is a 12 year old mare that won fourteen of 56 career starts for over one-half million in earnings.  Her record is less impressive as a broodmare, with no three offspring having won one of twenty-six starts.

As for the field for the running of the 2006 The CALIFRONIA TIGER Memorial:

Storm Car x Rahy

A New York shipper that comes in off of a second place finish in the Yev Niner Stakes.  She prefers to be close to the pace, and should have enough company for an honest pace to occur.

Tale of the Cat x Seeking the Gold

The morning line favorite is stepping back to out of the graded stakes room for this event.  After capturing the Anne Oakley (GrIII) and rallying to finish third in the Fair Warning (Gr.I), she has encountered some stiff competition in her last three outings.  She is a late runner that will may be sitting behind a very moderate pace.  This race lacks any one that likes to jump out on the lead, so the four “stalkers” may juggle the early lead among themselves.

Lord Carson x Lit de Justice

The race long shot that has struggled in her recent outings.  The distance does not look to favor her breeding or past performances. 

Vindication x Pulpit

The track’s leading jockey selected this mount and that is a positive sign.  She is coming off a very impressive 3 ¼ length win at 10 furlongs (restricted allowance).  The lack of any early speed may force her to assume the front position earlier than preferred.

Geri x Loft

Comes in from a tiring trip LTO.  She likes to run close to the pace, so in the field, she might find herself being the one chased.  Ownership is hoping for a performance to her convincing stakes win in the Unbridled S. Memorial Stakes.   Since then, she has shown signs of backing off in the stretch.

A tough race to call because of the question of who will assume the early lead.  I suspect that the field (except for BERENGUELA) will be tightly bunched down the backstretch of this inner course.  Grim may choose to keep BERENGUELA  closer to the leader(s) than in previous races. BERENGUELA  appears talented enough to overcome a easy pace, but runners like ABSOLVED and GEO FLIRT will not give up the chance for the vase without a fight.

My selections are:   BERENGUELA               ABSOLVED               geo flirt

 -deajai