Several Fillies Ready to Take the Next Step in SC
The Woodpecker’s Edge Handicap Stakes
Grade III
One Mile on Firm Turf
$125,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old
We are ready to make the turn into the beginning of Summer here in South Carolina and some of these fillies are ready to make the turn in their careers that will advance them to Graded winners or prove that they may not be quite ready for Prime Time. Should be an interesting race so let’s take a look:
1 -TIGHTROPE WALK ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 8/1 Super29 7.5% V.Webb 24% 83.4 80.7 105
(SEEKING THE GOLD x PLEASANT COLONY x NIJINSKY II) This nice looking filly has been on the edge but hasn’t really jumped out and filled her nice pedigree yet. There is still that possibility and this could be the race. Trainer Super29 has one of the best Jockeys at the track up in the irons and she seems to like the inside post positions. Is this the week that she has a break out race? Stay tuned.
| 2 – SPECIAL GOLD | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | PG45 | 20.9% | M.Hartel | 11% | 83.1 | 80.3 | 261 |
(SEEKING THE GOLD x DANZIG x NUREYEV) Here is a chestnut filly that just moved to grass two races ago with nice results. She won her first Stakes race in her last outing after many near misses on dirt. It looks like trainer PG45 has found the right combination for his filly and we will see if the step up in class works well for both of them. Hartel in the saddle is having a nice year and will help out.
| 3 – BRAHMS AVENGER | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | Vigilante | 11.1% | N.Parsons | 7% | 87.8 | 83.3 | 219 |
(BRAHMS x ALYSHEBA x SEATTLE SLEW) It seems to be either make or break with this filly as she has won nearly half of her races and finished out of the top three in the other half. I’m a little surprised that she has moved back to the mile as she has seemed to liked the shorter distances better. Trainer Vigilante knows how tough it is finding Stakes races for turf sprinters and is giving her a try here.
| 4 – AZANCITA | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | Zalamy | 22.0% | W.Early | 12% | 87.0 | 85.5 | 257 |
(PULPIT x SEEKING THE GOLD x BEST TURN) One of our M.L. favorites and with good reason. She has finished either first or second in seven of her eight outings including the last three which were her only turns on the turf. It will be her first turf Stakes trip but her SPFs don’t need much bumping up to contend here. Trainer Zalamy is hoping that he has found a really nice grass filly and this race could be the one that tells that tale.
| 5 – JAZZ FEST | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/1 | Catullus | 4.2% | T.Brown | 8% | 83.7 | 75.3 | N/A |
(POINT GIVEN x DIXIELAND BAND x SHIRLEY HEIGHTS(GB)) With only a maiden win in her 12 starts, this filly looks to be outclassed here but looks can be deceiving. She has been running every two weeks this year which seems to be a lot but she has been fairly consistent. She finished third in a Stakes race three back but that was at a shorter distance. We will see how she does here with the step up in class.
| 6 – SLAMMIN SOV | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | BranRG | 32.5% | Be.Dixon | 13% | 95.8 | 88.4 | 160 |
(GRAND SLAM x SOVEREIGN DANCER x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE)) Since moving to the turf at the beginning of this, her three year old campaign, this filly has shown great improvement and has been on fire. She has won her last four consecutive outings which were all allowance races but threw out a nearly 96 SPF last time which would certainly contend here. Trainer BranRG certainly has to be happy he tried the grass and has a jockey up in Dixon who is having one of his best year in his 17 years of experience.
| 7 – RISKY BET | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/1 | Luminous | 29.6% | M.Mickson | 9% | 94.6 | 92.3 | 505 |
(KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT x NASKRA) There is no RISKY BET here as this filly is one of the hottest things going coming into this race. She is another that made the switch to the green stuff this year with wonderful results. She’s won all three on grass with increasingly better SPFs with a 95 last time out in the Proficient Memorial Stakes. Trainer Luminous has been working her well and she may be the one to beat in this race.
| 8 – VEGAS BEAUTY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/1 | KidVegas | 20.5% | M.Epps | 16% | 94.7 | 89.9 | 141 |
(SKY MESA x A.P. INDY x FORTY NINER) Here is a dream horse for trainer KidVegas. It doesn’t matter what surface or what distance he sends her out on, she comes back a winner. This Stakes veteran has has won four Stakes races, two on each surface. She may like the sprints a wee bit better but looks like the extra half furlong from last outing with a 94 SPF won’t hurt her. Jockey Epps is holding the reins and has been bringing them home in first at a 16% clip this year. This could raise his average.
| 9 – ALBORADA(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1 | Galicia | 21.3% | B.Woods | 4% | 86.6 | 78.1 | 297 |
(SWAIN (IRE) x SEATTLE SLEW x MR. PROSPECTOR) I know that trainer Galicia was praying for rain this weekend as this filly is two for two on off tracks including her last outing in the DIRTY RIVER Stakes. The weatherman isn’t cooperating though and this fill will need to push her speed up a little to hit the board. If jockey Woods didn’t have bad luck this year he would have no luck as he has really struggled getting to the circle. Could be a tough combination.
| 10 – NORTHERN GREY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | SexInALimo | 13.2% | C.Morrison | 13% | 90.9 | 81.4 | 116 |
(SILVER GHOST x GREEN DESERT x SEATTLE SLEW) This light grey beauty was wowing them at the allowance level but seems to have struggled a bit on the Stakes circuit. She has the speed but for some reason doesn’t put forth the effort in the Stakes races. Trainer SexInALimo has to be scratching his head and has picked jockey Morrison to bring her out of her funk. That appears to be a good move as Morrison is having his best year to date and is bringing home winners at nearly double his previous pace.
Morning Line = 8-7-4-6
Yoss Tipsheet = 8-7-6-3
Paz Picks = 8-7-6-4
A lot of interesting backgrounds at a young age in this race, with lots of surface and distance changes. Most are still trying to find themselves. I like AZANCITA to finish fourth. SLAMMIN SOV should contend in this her first turf Stakes Race but will finish third. That leaves two tough ladies to battle it out for first and I think that RISKY BET will come up just a bit short to VEGAS BEAUTY who will hold on for the win.
Good luck to all runners!
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