The CLASS BRUSHING Memorial

The CLASS BRUSHING Memorial
Stakes
Seven furlongs
Firm Turf
$50,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up

PP1  3/1  NIGHTHAWK LUST

CRYPTOCLEARANCE x KINGMAMBO x FORTY NINER

Trainer:  4nighthawk

Jockey:  R White ( 155 – 21 – 23 – 12 – 14% )

Leaving me scratching my head, Nighthawk Lust comes in as co-favorite but I’m sure that I agree.  Until her last race, this Cryptoclearance daughter had won three consecutive stakes races and finished ’05 with a graded stakes win.  However, looking at those races, you notice two trends.  One:  She seems to prefer the dirt course.  Two:  Other than that one graded win, she seemed to succeed more from a soft field and slow pace rather than a stellar performance.  However, she may just prove worthy enough considering the fact that again she faces an average field and has drawn the inside post.   She’ll once again have to prove that she can beat Herbalism who finished almost four lengths ahead of her last time out.

PP2  6/1  NIGHT OF THE GHOST

NIGHT SHIFT x SILVER GHOST x LOST CODE

Trainer:  swale

Jockey:  N Tate ( 50 – 6 – 3 – 5 – 12% )

Breaking from the second post, Night Of The Ghost has cashed more than her share of checks in her career.  Although she’s still winless in stakes company, she has shown a consistent level of performance that may just prove just enough to come out on top.  Jumping off the page is a 104 speed rating earlier this year.  This occasional show of brilliance warrants the odds and if you are looking for an underlay this may be your bet.  I’m not quite ready to place her on top she’ll get a place on my tri-ticket for sure.

PP3  3/1  HERBALISM

GONE WEST x NORTHERN DANCER x ALYDAR

Trainer:  ninerae

Jockey:   P Bick ( 30 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 3% )

After two mediocre races, Herbalism bounced back nicely last time out in the Las Vegas Handicap –G3 missing by just a head and may look to repeat that performance here today.  This lightly raced four year old looks like she is moving up nicely since the first of the year and stalking style seems to fit well.  That graded race found her sitting just behind our co-favorite Nighthawk Lust but when asked she responded nicely and with a half furlong more to work with she may just find the winner’s circle.  A questionable jockey choice may  deter some bettors though.

PP4  6/1   BE MY KITTEN

STORM CAT x BE MY CHIEF x FULL OUT

Trainer:  glenc

Jockey:  W Bennett ( 34 – 1 – 2 – 5 – 3% )

Any daughter of Storm Cat makes any competitor stand up and take attention.  This one is no different.  Be My Kitten is trying her second straight attempt on the grass and although that last attempt was restricted to horses who last ran at the same track, she looks to make it four wins in a row racing here in the Lone Star State.  I would have preferred a stronger jockey choice but with a wide open field she my just wire the field with the expected slow pace. 

PP5  9/1  RIDER KRISTEN

JOHANNESBURG x CARSON CITY x WOODMAN

Trainer:  marybarn

Jockey:  J Lucas ( 126 – 13 – 12 – 17 – 10% )

Two years ago you would have found trainer marybarn excited about her new filly Rider Kristen.  Winner of five of six races as a two year old including four stake victories, she showed all signs of a horse of year candidate.  However, as she ran in her three year old campaign last year the winner’s circle seemed to elude her and frustration ensued as she finished either second or third on nine occasions.  However, it’s the fact that she does like to run hard and she may have been placed correctly here that  I’ll have to give her the nod as my sleeper pick.  

PP6  21/1  CANTA EN ESPANOL

SOUTHERN HALO x HABITAT x VICEREGAL

Trainer:  oasis3

Jockey:  P Henderson ( 68 – 9 – 5 – 8 – 13% )

Needing a lot of help, Canta En Espanol is hoping to ride a recent allowance win into a win here.  She’ll be our pace setter as she love to grab the lead early on but can she hold it in a field full of closers?  Even with solid finishes in the lower ranks, I’ll have to pass as she just doesn’t seem to have the speed to finish the job here.

PP7  8/1  TURKOMOMENT

TURKOMAN x THE PRIME MINISTER x TIMELESS MOMENT

Trainer:  camry

Jockey:  C Shoemaker ( 299 – 69 – 50 – 47 – 23% )

For many bettors, if top jock C Shoemaker likes a horse then so should we.  Old Shoe may have his work cut out for him today as his ride, Turkoment has only cracked the 90’s once in her last four outings.  However, it seems as she has been placed nicely in the past by consistently finishing in the money.  In question though is her recent form and trainer camry is hoping that with an experienced jockey on board she may return to the form she found last year.

PP8  5/1  CAPE PHYLLIS

CAPE TOWN x NIGHT SHIFT x NATIVE ADMIRAL

Trainer:  billgulch

Jockey:  J Frame ( 52 – 7 – 5 – 4 – 13% )

Known mafia boss, billgulch, enters his four year old filly Cape Phyllis looking to upset the favorites.   In two restricted allowance wins earlier year, she showed some signs of maturity and has a nice closing style.  I’m not sure if the drop in distance will play a part as she may prefer a bit more track to run with.  Again though, it seems that a slow pace may develop and the gap may not be that much for her to make up.  Not wanting to find some guy named Vinny knocking on my door in the morning, this is my pick for the race.  Bet across the board and cash in nicely.

PP9  9/1  BARB’S DOG PEN

MARIA’S MON x END SWEEP x STORM BOOT

Trainer:  barbstable

Jockey:  J Chapman ( 144 – 24 – 16 – 16 – 17% )

While at first seeming overmatched, Barb’s Dog Pen deserves a second look.  Against her is the fact that she’s never won at this level and second that she’s never posted a race over a 100 speed rating.  While she may be better suited in the allowance ranks, she has found an equal level of skill today.  Look for her to stalk the pace but a career best may be needed to find the winner’s circle.  If you like a big payoff in the exotic bets, then you should include her on your ticket.