Looking to Take the First Big Ben

The inaugural running of the Grade III Big Ben Special lost a few of the top fillies to the Chestnut Stakes in nearby New York, but it did attract at least four who would have qualified for that more prestigious race.

Seven will vie for the $125,000 purse on a fast track going a mile and three sixteenths.

Here is a look at the field:

1. Guesss (Full Mandate x Prince Tenderfoot) has sufficiently modest breeding to qualify for and decisively win the Bargain Oaks last time.  Before that she split the field in the Grade III Go For Broke.  Also has two other stakes wins.  On the downside, the Albarace1 (7%) trained filly beat only small fields in her two stakes wins, and in fact the Go For Broke field wasn’t particularly strong.  In her only try beyond a mile and a sixteenth she never ran a step.  Main appeal is her underdog status.  6-1.

2. Theshellyshuffle (Generous x Temperence Hill) got her first stakes win last time in a four horse field.  She is third of four offspring of the Anthberg (9%) barn’s mare Sister’s Achievement, and the first to win a stakes.  She also owns a second and a third in earlier stakes efforts.  She was more prominent early last time and that may be a good sign in this field that lacks much pace, but she has never topped an 86 speed figure and her three prior graded tries were not good.  11-1.

3. Hose Blower (War Chant x A.P. Indy) has been showing big rallies as she has finished in the money in her last two races, both graded routes.  Last time’s finish behind Solutions was no disgrace, as that one would likely have been among the favorites had she entered the Chestnut.  Horn Blower has been in the money in seven of her nine dirt races, and is she can get a pace to run at, this Hansg (14%) trained filly should be in the money at least today.  5-1.

4. Suicidal Plane (Meadowlake x Sadler’s Wells) has been outstanding as a three year old.  Trainer SDMF7 (19%) patiently took her through her conditions until trying and winning the Grade III Go For Broke last time right here in Delaware.  She beat Guesss in that one as well as a couple Chestnut runners.  She is four for five this year and on a three race win streak. She just keeps getting faster, too.  I am speculating here, but it appears SDMF found an unused October mare to get this special one.  4-1.

5. The fillies that finished one-two in the Black Middle Flower are the heavy favorites in the Chestnut today.  The filly that finished third, Dixieland Deputy (Dixieland Band x Deputy Minister), is the favorite here.  The 99 speed figure she earned last time is the best here.  The Lurch (11%) trained filly is a graded winner with nine in the money finishes in thirteen routes.   She likes to come from well off the pace and may need some help on the front end.  Picks up dominating jockey H Ross. 2-1.

6. Capoeira (Theatrical x Sadler’s Wells) is out of the mare Denoira who already has two graded winning offspring – and this one will soon be her third.  She has two straight seconds in stakes routes, including a very fast one last time in the Great Fiddle Sticks. Stalker has not won a route yet, so this fairly long one may tax her, but she comes from a top tier barn in Noia (19%), so I wouldn’t put it past her.  She may find herself alone on a lead for the first time in her life.  It will be interesting to see how she runs if that happens.  Noia sends out the entire stable this week in an effort to top 200 lifetime wins.  9-2.

7. Somekindawonderful (Lemon Drop Kid x Nureyev) beat a fairly strong field in her stakes debut last time, and now has four wins in her eight routes and eight in the money finishes in nine dirt races.  Very sharp right now, the Stacylg (19%) trained filly has looked better at nine furlongs than at eight, so this distance may well suit her.  She is yet another that likes to come from off the pace.  I wonder where that pace will come from.  5-1.

Morning line: 5-4-6-3

Timmn’s picks: 4-6-7-3

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