Bumblebee Classic Tops New Jersey Card

Bumblebee Classic Tops New Jersey Card

New Jersey – The Grade I Bumblebee Classic is another in a long line of graded events that I have covered for the BTB that does not have a full field.  Not even it’s Grade I status, or being run at the middle distance of one mile, being run over the main track, or it’s purse of $500,000 could get trainers to enter.  The race for three and up fillies and mares drew a paltry field of nine and some of those being entered have no business even being in a graded affair – much less a grade I.  Okay, enough of my ranting – here is a look at the field by post position and the opinions expressed here are only my own and not necessarily that of the Black Type Bugler.

The inside post will hold Classic (7/2) a lovely 4 YO, bay filly by Tabasco Cat.  She should be dear to the hearts of the hunch players since she is running in the Bumblebee ‘Classic’.   Ranked in the top 100, she is owned and trained by Sunkitten and has earned six wins from 14 starts.  She could be the one to beat as she clearly loves the distance and won the Grade III, Boquet o ‘Daisies at a mile two back with the highest speed figure in the race, a 111.  While she beat several of the other entrants in this race with that effort, she turned around and threw a real clunker last time out in the Grade II, Wizzer where several turned the tables on her.  She could be in real trouble if it was the track she didn’t like in that race as it was run here in New Jersey.  Her connections are hoping it was the rider and are making a change for this race.

Otto History (5/1) is a dark bay, 4 YO filly by Deputy Minister.  She is ranked number 10 and has won six of eight starts which is hard to argue with in anyone’s book.  Otto is conditioned by Capsized, who is no stranger to good horses, and she is pure speed.  With over a half million in the bank there is no reason to change her running style and she has carried it over far longer than a mile.  She is the winner of the Grade II, Help, Mike’s Fallen, the Grade I, Long Live Kentucky, and the Mike’s Hometown Cap a Grade II.  Her best recent speed figure is a 107, which isn’t quite as good as Classics’ top number, but she has one of the top jockeys in Jerry Benisz and they are going to have to run her down which she has proven in the past, is very hard to do.

Oostende4 will saddle Jumbo Hollandia (5/1) and any horse that carries the Hollandia name can not be taken lightly.  This 4 YO bay filly by High Chaparral has visited the winner’s circle six times and although her last two wins were at the allowance level, this trainer has been known to fool a few people when he enters one that doesn’t seem to belong.  She split the field of 14 in the Grade II, Mike’s Hometown Cap behind Otto History and earned her top recent speed figure of 107.  Does she belong in this race?  I can’t say for sure but a relatively weak and a short field would be hard for this top trainer to pass up.

Sacer (18/1) is the first of two Danzig fillies in this race.  Owned and trained by Spqr, this blood bay, 4 YO filly is the least experienced in the field but she has done everything her trainer has asked of her and done it well.  She has won three of her five starts before moving up the class ladder.  She ran a most respectable third last time out in the Grade III, Cubic Zirconia at longer, but she is going to need a big jump in speed figures (her top is only a 97) to win this.  That said, she is such a capable filly who should continue to improve, that I think she will step up to the plate and surprise a few folks.

The other Danzig filly will start from post five and is a well-balanced individual trained by Saravaoz.  Miss Brewtality (10/1) has fallen on hard times recently and has not visited the winner’s circle since way last year.  She has won three of 14 starts but not at this level.  The big bay filly lost the photo by a head last time out in a heart stopper at 6 1/2 furlongs when she finished second.  This is huge class jump and although her top speed figure is a 98, she will need a lot of luck if she wants part of this one as she appears to be in well over her head – at least on paper. 

Violent Storm (12/1) is the wise old lady of the group and could probably tell all the young’ins a thing or two – especially about jockeys.  Trainer Slammin was unable to be present at the draw and picked up a bad one looking for only his sixth win of the year – that’s about one a month.  Violent Storm has won 11 of 61 starts and would probably rather be out on the farm raising babies than in this Grade I race.  Her last win was eight races ago in a 14 furlong allowance but she has been close recently.  She finished 2^nd in the Pinkie’s Seattle and the Grade II Disco Inferno – both at much longer.  There might still be some life in her old bones but she will need a lot of help.

Gran Fern (99/1) is a 3 YO filly being thrown to the wolves.  Originally part of the Fernando empire she has changed hands twice since then and has not improved.  The poor thing has a top speed figure of 76 which is at least 20 points below most of the horses running and one that would fit nicely with low level claimers.  She has beaten a total of only four horses from the 79 she has competed against in her last eight races.  A bay daughter of Hansel she would benefit from a big drop in class if for no other reason than to get her confidence back.  Only 2 % rider Dave Wuerful would take the mount for trainer Bigtate02 and I doubt he thinks she will bring him his second victory of the year.

Futurestar will send out Berzerk Gold (5/2), a well bred 4 YO daughter of Seeking The Gold.  She has won four of 23 starts and her last win was four back in the Grade III, Shirley Smith at seven furlongs.  She stopped badly in the Boquet o ‘Daisies but Futurestar upped the lasix and she closed well in the Grade II Wizzer to finish third.  This is a fast filly and she doesn’t duck the competition.  If she runs her best she will be one of the ones to beat.

On the outside is Suffragette City (7/2) a daughter of the speedy Carson City.  She will be saddled by Sdmf5 and has won four of 15 starts.  She likes to come from well off the pace and will need to get in gear earlier to stay in the hunt but she is certainly capable of doing just that.  She finished second in the Grade II, Astroturf Sprint and picked up a few in the Grade III, Trail Mix to finish 7^th.   She holds the second best speed figure in the race with a 110 and if she runs close to that she will be just fine.

Good Luck to all and I will see you when the BTB returns from after our break.