Thirteenth Date Looks For Three In a Row

Thirteenth Date Looks For Three In a Row

Victoria – Australia in the fall is just as nice as Australia anytime and other than the long flight, I was glad to be here to cover The Grade II Adelaide Mile, a $250,000 one mile turf event for older fillies and mares.  The weather is fine and the racing should be great!  Unfortunately due to what I believe is a glut of graded races, there are only eight entrants in this race and except for maybe three, most of these should be racing at the lower stake or allowance level.  Well, enough of my editorializing and lets look at the field.

In post one, down on the rail is Breed2sell’s 4 YO dark bay filly by Generous, Gretna (4/1).  Obviously one that was not for sale, this filly has five wins from 17 starts but her last win was five back in the Lookalike Orient where she earned a very respectable 104 speed figure.  She ran on to finish 4^th in her last two races, The Grade II, Arcade Handicap and the West Point Thoroughbreds Mile Distaff Prep, a Grade III.  She ran evenly in the West Point, 4^th the whole way, but lacked a needed rally in the lane and finished where she started, beating one.  Her trainer will be looking for a better effort this time.

Triple Crown Hopes (8/1) is a well-bred filly by Mineshaft and is trained by 3rdtry.  The big bay 4 YO filly has won four of 20 starts, including the Grade I, Rock Of Cashel four races back at seven furlongs.  She has improving speed figures and her closing style should see her get part of this one.

In post three is Sonic Brew (7/1) a dark bay daughter of Black Tie Affair who is trained by Soulbleed.  Another 4 YO, she has four wins from 21 starts and is definitely a solid allowance filly.  She did finish 3^rd of four in the Todd’s Two Miler at 13 furlongs on the dirt and was also third last time out in a Maryland allowance.  Trainer Soulbleed thinks she is better than that and stepped her up, shortened her up, and switched her to the turf for the first time, all in one fell swoop.  

From the center of the gate will break El Gran Golden (13/1) a dandy bred 5 YO bay mare by Seeking The Gold.  She is owned and trained by 88stud and has won four of 25 starts.  Unfortunately, her last two wins were at a level two steps down from this race.  She enters here after finishing last of five in the Star Out Of Men.

Post five will hold K’s Panache (6/1), a 4 YO, brown filly by Fusaichi Pegasus.  Trained by Kuovadis, she has won two of her last four including the Fuzzy Mammoth.  She is a winner at the distance and because of slow speed figures a person can get pretty good odds on her.  Definitely a contender.

Eightthehardway (7/1) has the class to take this race and trainer Alybobbob2 is hoping to see that happen.  The 4 YO filly has nine wins from 21 starts and won three in a row, including the Your Oak Challenge three back.  She threw in a clunker last time out in the Poorly Verify, but the copper chestnut daughter of Deputy Commander had her head turned in the gate so that race can probably be thrown out.

Thirteenth Date (3/1) must have been named after a memorable occasion for trainer Congie5.  One of the ones that definitely belong in this race, the blood bay, 4 YO daughter of Gone West is ranked # 4 and has won eight of 18 and over a million dollars.  She hasn’t been worse than second in her last six races and won four of them including two Grade I’s.  Two back she won the Grade I, Sexy Muffins and backed that up with a win in the West Point Thoroughbreds Mile Distaff, a Grade III.  She is looking for her third win in a row and should get it.

On the outside is the slight favorite, Goodbye Kiss, a 5 YO mare by Sadler’s Wells.  Conditioned by Donut, she is ranked # 37 and has won a third of her 24 starts.  Her last win was four back in the Fisher Stakes but she was a closing third at seven furlongs in the Grade I, Frank Dettori during the Equinics.  She then split the field in the Light Cat and rebounded last time out at 7 1/2 furlongs in the Riff Tornedo where she made the lead before she was caught in the stretch to finish second.  She’s got some nice speed figures to go along with her talent but can she make the distance against the likes of Thirteenth Date?

Good Luck to all.