With trainers of the top three year old fillies aiming their charges to peak for last weekend’s Bluegrass Oaks, the number ready for this Saturday’s graded stakes is limited.
Maine’s Grade III Great Fiddle Sticks Handicap attracted an eight filly field, and just as in the past two years, none possess a graded win – in fact, the field possess but a handful of in-the-money finishes in graded stakes. This presents a great opportunity for some lightly raced filly to ascend the class ratings. The field today is very competitive, with several promising sorts. The winner this Saturday will try to avoid the fate of the winners of the last two runnings of the Great Fiddle Sticks, who have thus far not won a second graded stakes.
Longshot hunters will have to look elsewhere, as the morning line odds don’t exceed 6-1 for any filly in the race.
Here is a look at the field:
- Lenny14 (21%) trains the favorite Lifeshaft (Mineshaft x Lyphard) in her stakes debut. She owns the highest speed figure in the field: a 97 earned last time as she pretty much exhausted her conditions. All three wins have come at 8 furlongs; she tired in her only longer try. Needs to avoid a speed duel with the outside filly – otherwise the race is hers to lose. Mineshaft has produced 11% stakeswinners. 7-2
- Silent Rush (Cat Thief x Forty Niner) is one of the four fillies tied for longest odds at a mere 6-1. She had a monster stakes win as a two year old in the Creepy Prospector when she got loose on the lead, and that has encouraged trainer Rman (9%) to keep trying some ambitious placings. She will be relieved not to see anything like No Apagues La Luz or Biter Hollandia in here, but she can’t be happy to see Quilty, who beat her last time. 6-1.
- Quilty (Galileo x Roberto) managed the trip from North Korea to West Virginia for her stakes debut just fine last time, winning the Oblivious S. Stakes. In her last couple races, she has learned to rate, and that style should fit well in here with a looming speed duel among the favorites. We also like how her speed figures have been improving lately. SeniorBarn (13%) appears to have bred her with turf in mind, but she has taken to the dirt. The barn makes a last minute entry into this. 5-1.
- Dixie Park (Dixieland Band x Gone West) finished second in the Grade II Walnut Tree Stakes shortly after breaking her maiden as a two year old. Trainer Ashworth (19%) has kept her in graded stakes ever since, but she hasn’t been able to repeat the performance. She has earned enough stakes point doing that to attract the top jockey in G Giant (27% in 2006). Dixie has been trying to mount rallies from well off the pace and hasn’t really come close as a three-year-old, but she has been facing better and if she is to win a graded stakes, this is her chance. 5-1.
- Queen of Mali (Kingmambo x El Prado) has finished in the money in five of her eight routes, and is coming off a rallying second as the favorite in the Kelly Bubble Special. The CMS424 (13%) trained filly has yet to hit a 90 speed figure, but likes the distance and always seems to be around at the end. 6-1.
- Capoeira (Theatrical x Sadler’s Wells) has seven finishes in the money in nine sprints, but only one for four in routes. That one time came last time, though, in the five-filly Saddle Tetecate Stakes. Crafty trainer Noia (19%) could give a clinic in how to find the right spots for your horse. The barn in closing in on 200 wins. When she fires, Capoeira does it from just off the pace. 6-1.
- As a two year old, Fantasmic (Unbridled’s Song x Seattle Slew) went for the lead on every try, winning her first two races. Trainer Alphonso (11%) has tried to teach her to relax in her three year old races, with mixed results. She owns a third in the Grade III Myocardial Infarction and a couple fourths. The last pair of races both came on just two weeks’ rest. The seven week freshening since then indicates that was just too much, and that perhaps she had more talent than the 87 speed figure last time indicates. If the seven week freshening has put her back on track, she figures to be a major factor here. 6-1.
- What would a graded stakes be without an entry from the Super stables? I’ve Met Barb (Empire Maker x Danzig) returns to stakes company after three allowance races. The Super30 (17%) trainee picked up two seconds and a win in those last three races, proving that she likes the distance. Jockey K Hennessy is in a tough spot. He has a filly that can rate, but letting Lifeshaft get an uncontested lead doesn’t look appealing, and no one else looks like they can run with her early. 9-2.
Morning Line Selections: 1-8-3-4
Timmn’s picks: 1-3-7-8
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