Stange Things In New Mexico
At first glance, it could be very easy to dismiss the field in the Grade III Bringing Up The Rear Classic as mediocre. Running a week after some of the biggest classic races, these ten girls must certainly feel as though they are bringing up the rear. However, delving into the list of entrants brings to light what could easily be overlooked. Many in this field have either never run in a graded stakes or have tried a few but have not found success. This race provides an opportunity for several of them to get a little bit of that spotlight.
The Bringing Up The Rear Classic is run over a mile and three sixteenths on the dirt in enchanting New Mexico. As anyone who has ever lived in New Mexico is surely aware, strange things have a tendency to happen here for no apparent reason. This race includes both an easy looking pick to win and a long shot with every potential to come out with a big run. And, there are eight other girls, ages 3 to 5, who would love to get a piece of this one.
Breaking on the rail is kyladar4a’s four-year-old filly I Dream Of Debbie. She has won at this distance before, but at the allowance level, and her last start was a ninth place finish with her lowest speed figure since a lone start on the turf. This Chief Seattle daughter will make a run for the lead, although she will not be the only one doing so. Her racing career seems to come and go in waves, and looking at her history she is due for another good run. At 10/1, some think she may be able to improve.
In post two is Rotonda, a four-year-old from the sansabas stable. From the beginning of her career this filly has been pointed in one direction: she has never sprinted. There seems to be no need to as she has 7 wins in 22 starts. She won her last two starts, an allowance and a stakes over nine furlongs. Her only really bad start recently was a Grade I mile; this Alysheba filly will probably like the added distance here and goes off at 6/1.
Springing from gate three will be Copenhagen Again, wistful3’s five-year-old mare. She has finished first and second in allowance races at this distance, and will be fighting I Dream Of Debbie for the lead. This Danehill filly has tried Grade I’s several times with little success, and hopes for better in Grade III. She is 10/1 in the handicapping.
In post four is the lone three-year-old filly in the field, Too Close. This daughter of Menhal has not done well in graded company, but is up for another try this week. Too Close has never run this far before, but she did win a nine furlong stakes race. Ocanada will probably instruct jockey D. Klein to wait for any speed dual to burn itself out, as this filly likes to be just off the lead. The one big issue working against her is that she ran in a Grade II last week to finish seventh, and many question whether she can bounce back so quickly. At 30/1, she is the long shot of the field.
Dawgpound sends out Congressional from post five. The five-year-old Storm Cat mare is ranked 29th in her dirt classic division. She appeared to be winding down her career, moving from graded races to stakes to allowances, but is now back for another run. Congressional looks more successful when rating behind the leaders, but she has tried going to the lead herself before. Her only recent out of the money finish could potentially be blamed on an off track, giving her odds of 5/1.
Royal Green breaks from post four. A four-year-old Royal Academy filly, she will be right at home at a mile and three sixteenths. She has had one poor finish in a Grade I, but lip’s filly has won on both surfaces, over several distances, and on off tracks. She has done whatever is asked of her so far, and has a good chance in this race at 8/1.
In post seven is rharfo2’s filly Hannah’s Boo Boo. The four-year-old Storm Cat filly’s last two races dipped into the 90s in speed figures, ending a six race streak of figures over 100. The height of the streak came when Hannah’s Boo Boo ran a 108 in the Grade III King Ranch Special over ten furlongs. At 4/1, the opinion seems to be that she can jump right back on that streak.
In the eighth spot is the favorite, Tricky N Clever. This five-year old is ranked 48th in her dirt classic division. She won her last two starts, stakes races over nine furlongs. Ontheline’s Woodman mare has run in the money in graded starts, but has never won one. She is a deep closer, so her supporters should get discouraged to see her drop out of the picture entirely at the start as she has been known to come from 14 lengths back to win. At 3/1, many agree that she has a legitimate start here.
Coon’s Dog (IRE) starts from post nine for tigereyes. This five-year-old also comes racing in from far back and appears most comfortable in the nine to ten furlong range. The daughter of Theatrical (IRE) has won stakes races at this distance before and has a good shot at adding a graded victory to that list. She will be listed at 5/1.
On the outside post is another long shot, Jhiqui. This race will seem like a sprint to her, as khalasar’s entry has been running marathons. She has won stakes up to distances of sixteen furlongs. This will be her first try at a graded run. The four-year-old Point Given filly may not have as impressive speed figures as some of her competitors, but this may be accounted for by the distances she has been running. Stranger things have happened, and Jhiqui looks ready to take a huge step forward in this race. At 18/1, she could pay off nicely if she does.
Tricky N Clever looks poised to win this one. But although she is the favorite, she is by no means comfortable at the top of this list as Hannah’s Boo Boo, Royal Green, or Congressional could very well give her a run for it. And let no one be surprised if long shot Jhiqui shows up at the end.