Lone 3yo filly takes on 10 elders in G1 $500,000 SSgt. Reckless Memorial Stakes

So Korea (SKO)  Saturday, November 15, 2014 — 2:20 PM EST  Race ID : 1012066

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SSGT.  RECKLESS  MEMORIAL  STAKES   –   Sponsored by emmyrhys and jdrhys

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Grade I / Group 1 –  Purse : $500,000  –  3 Years and Older, Fillies and Mares

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9 Furlongs | ~1800 Meters | One Mile and and One Eighth    Turf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We continue our global circumnavigation,  stopping this weekend in Seoul,  South Korea for the sponsored stakes race,  The SSgt. Reckless Memorial Stakes.  This event will be contested at a mile and an eighth over what promises to be a firm turf course,  as the local weather forecasts see clear skies through Sunday.  The international field of ten older fillies and mares and a lone three year old filly,  representing four continents,  will battle for the winner’s share of the $500,000 purse and for the right to star in the trophy presentation following the race.

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I  was able to get some information from one of this stakes sponsors,  emmyrhys,  to find out what the event is all about.   As Emmy tells it,  in her inimitable way,

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“My dad fought in Korea.  So I heard the story from him sooooooo many times when I was growing up. My dad was in the Army, not  the Marines, so he wasn’t with this horse’s regiment, but he fought very close by, so she was a legend. EVERYONE knew about Reckless.
See, she was a S. Korean race horse, for a brief time. And the local guy who owned her during the Korean Conflict, well, his sister needed a prosthetic leg. So he sold Reckless to the American Marines, for $250, I think.

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She was a tiny, little mare…maybe 14 hands high. She weighed only 900 pounds, so she was very tiny. They needed her to carry ammo to the trips (those mortar shells, heavy things, or whatever they’re called).

 

So she would make these trips to the front lines from the base camp. Loaded down with artillery, sometimes they would strap the injured guys at the front, on her back, and she would bring them back to get medical attention. So many times, the firing was so intense, they couldn’t send people with her, and because these “Reckless” guns were mobile, they were moved them around a lot, so the N. Koreans couldn’t get a bead on their positions.
But she would find them, alone, on her own…no kidding. It’s all true. The whole story was on HR-TV. I thought my dad was making all this up, or exaggerating, but it’s all true.

 

So, anyway, she would drink beer with the guys, eat scrambled eggs, drink coca cola….everything.  Sometimes they couldn’t get her oats, or other horse food. So they fed her what they ate, basically. They loved her. She saved many lives.   If it was cold, they would wrap her up and put her in the tent with them. If the shelling got too intense, they would strap THEIR flak jackets on her, because she was too valuable to lose.

 

Then, when the war was over, she was going to be left behind, but her story became so legendary, that the Marines passed the hat, and they brought her back to the USA after the war.  So, she ended up at Camp Pendleton, in CALIFORNIA, I think it was …  Her sire was a Japanese race horse, because at first she was partially owned by a Japanese guy (I think), who sold his interest  in her to the Korean guy.  One of those free breedings for half interest kind of deals, because the Korean guy couldn’t afford the stud fee. And her dam was a Korean race horse … 

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(This) means so much to me, because it meant not only so much to my Dad. He would tear up sometimes, at the end of his life, when he was talking about it….and he wasn’t even stationed with her, being in the Army, and she was in the Marines. He said all the service guys fighting over there used to tear up when they talked about her.

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Anyway, we have sponsored the race for three years running, since we joined the game in 2011, and we plan to keep doing it every year. There’s even a fund people can donate to, because they built a statue for her.   I heard it’s not all paid off, so they’re still accepting donations.   She died in the 60s, I think it was…not sure about that. She had a few babies while at Camp Pendleton, where they eventually made her a Staff Sargeant. No kidding. LOL. They loved that mare.”    

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Thanks for sharing Emmy.

 

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So,  let’s take a closer look at the field in post position order and see if we can spotlight the contenders and maybe even select the winner.  And if anybody would like to find out more about Reckless,  send me a PM and I’ll share the links and other info Emmy shared with me.  
 
 
 
 
1
OXFORD  STREET               AUS                     9/1        equality
 
 
Seeks her fifth straight win in her initial grade/group attempt.  Bay four year old filly won the Tete High Moon listed stakes at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 105 SP# in an off the pace effort.  This Excellent Art miss out of the sim-mare Best Profile took the Spooky Ballet listed in one prior,  posting a 105 SP#  in a stretch running try.  Equality trainee won two restricted allowances before that,   coming from off the pace and scoring 103 & 102 SP#’s.  Will be tested for class in this affair;  should be gaining nearing the stretch,  will hope to hold off the deep closers if she can catch the early speed.  

 2
SEIOBO                                     KY                         5/1        gladiator
 
 
From the clouds closer is the lone G1 winner of this field,  though both of those G1 wins (one of them at this distance) came last year as a three year old.  Brown scratch bred Street Cry filly (by Giant’s Causeway) makes her third start off a ten week layoff.  Last out she was 11th in the G2 Mother Stakes at a mile,  her late run came too late to get close to the leaders when earning a 100 SP#.   Gladiator trainee’s late run fell well short one back when 6th in the G1 Princess Di Cap at this trip,  posting a 104 SP#.  She took that layoff after a furious stretch run fell short when 3rd in the G1 Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff earning a 106 SP# at at this distance.  Her last win came before that in the G2 Saint Ana,  also at this trip,  coming from last and scoring a 115 SP#.  Look for her late in the lane,  can surprise with top try.  
 
 
 
3
IF  YOU  LOVE  ME           AUS                       8/1        redhill27
 
 
Trainer redhill27 sends out this Encosta De Lago lady,   out of the sim-mare Candy Kisses (by Monsun),   off a fast closing 2nd in the Prix Marcel Boss at a mile,  notching a 108 SP# in her first grade/group stakes try.  Bay four year old has a streak of eleven straight exacta finishes going.  One back she won the Triangular Inn listed stakes at a mile,   earning a 99 SP# in a stalking trip.  She won an open allowance at 8.5 panels in one prior,  scoring a 107 SP#  when coming from just off the pace.  Versatile runner owns 3 wins at this trip,  another who can benefit from an effective jockey ride.
 
 

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 IXTAB  CACI                          GB                         22/1         daniel2

Makes a huge class jump here in her first stakes appearance.  Bay four year old Cacique scratch bred filly (by Diesis) comes off a front running 2nd in a state bred allowance at 12 furlongs with a 98 SP#.  She won one back of that,  wiring the field at 12 panels in a restricted state bred event with a so-so 89 SP#.  One prior she was never far off the lead,  pulling away from another restricted state bred group at 10 furlongs,  earning a 92 SP#.   She posted her only 100+ SP#  one before that at 8 panels,  stalking the pacesetter and settling for 2nd in a restricted allownace with a 102 SP#.  Runner from the daniel2 barn should be a part  of the early pace,  but highly unlikely to be around at the end without significant improvement.  
 

 
  5
INDOCTRINATION        IRE                           6/1        depark
 
 
Front running Shamardal filly out of the sim-mare Bocalendar (by Montjeu)  just failed to last when 2nd in the G2 Flight Mile,  notching a 109 SP#.  One prior she also got caught late when 2nd in the Firm King listed stakes at a mile,  earning a 108 SP#.  One before that, this four year old bay won a restricted allowance at a mile,  posting a 107 SP#.   She was a back pedaling 4th one prior in the Best Alice listed with a 104 SP#,  also at 8 panels.  Runner form the depark racing group is the clear early speed in this event;  consistent SP#’s of late,  should be in front as far as she goes.  
 

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GIMME  A  BOTTLE        JPN                         8/1        gowans
 
 
Scratch-bred four year old Tanino Gimlet miss (by Sadler’s Wells)  comes off a rousing victory in the G2 Bickerbocker Handicap at this distance,  scoring a 107 SP# in a stretch running performance.  In one prior,  she was an awful 12th in the G2 Malobar Handicap at 8.5 furlongs over a “yielding” course.   One back of that she just failed to last when 2nd in the G3 Humble Handicap at 9.5 panels,   earning a 106 SP# in  an on the pace run.   One before that was a late closing 3rd in the G2 Whole Time at this trip with a `107 SP#.   Runner from the gowans racing operation is another versatile performer who can benefit from the correct tactics – though what they might be is the big question.  
 

 
 7
TIFFY  TIME                           ENG                       9/1        marsattack
 
 
She returns to the weeds after an unimpressive restricted allowance try on the dirt last out,  finishing 5th with a 98 SP#.  Brown,  four year old Dansili miss from the stakes placed sim-mare Tiffany Lynn (by Storm Cat),  tired to 9th one prior in the G2 Malobar Handicap at 8.5 furlongs with a 100 SP#  over a “yielding” turf course.  One back of that she tired to 9th in the G1 Maybe Johnny Handicap at this distance,  earning a 100 SP# while close early.  Her last win for owner marsattack came in one before that,  a wire to wire score in a restricted allowance  at this trip,  posting a 99 SP#.    Seems up against it in this field,  may be a part of the early pace but unlikely to be around at the wire.  
 
 
 
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POLARIZING  FIGURE        KY                   10/1        mtk76stc
 
 
Light grey five year old Tapit mare out of the sim-mare Miss Informed (by Dynaformer),   settled for 2nd after gaining the lead in the G2 Molson Export at this distance,  earning a 104 SP#  in a middle of the pack run.  One back of that she also settled for 2nd after leading in the Dem Bones listed stakes at this trip,  scoring a 105 SP#  while much closer to the early pace.   Her run before that was a stalking trip win in a restricted allowance,  also at 9 panels with a 98 SP#.    One prior was a poor effort 10th in the G3 Hill Side Challenge at this trip.  Runner from the mtk76stc stable should be near the early pace,   another who can  benefit from a clever jockey ride.  

 
 
9
DURAKHANI                          IRE                      6/1        angelpooh

Daughter of Dalakhani out of the Grade 2 winning, million dollar earning sim-mare Duroble,  was a disappointing 8th last out in the G1 Vermillion Stakes at 12 furlongs,  tiring late to post a 101 SP#.  One before that,  this brown four year old filly was a nice 3rd in the G1 The Friendly Wager at 10 panels,   earning a 104 SP# in an even trip around the course.  One back of that was a tiring 4th in the G2 The Corridor at 10.5 furlongs,   scoring a 103 SP# after leading most of the way.  One prior was a closing 2nd in the G2 Hannah Barbera Cup,  notching a 110 SP#.   Versatile runner can benefit from a crafty jockey ride in first try over this strip for trainer angelpooh.
 
 

10
NINIANNE                                IRE                      10/1         dog
 

The sole three year old in this affair is by top sire Sea The Stars,  based on the grade 1 winning,  million dollar earning sim he-mare Jumping Down (by Zabeel).  Last out,  her stretch run came up just short at at mile in the G1 Queen Ascot Stakes,  scoring a 110 SP#  when 2nd in her second try against older.  One before that,   this runner from the dog racing group flattened out late when an even 5th in the G1 Don Quixote at 10.5 panels with a 94 SP#.  In one prior she closed well to get 2nd in the G2 Gerry Cooney Handicap at a mile,  notching a 108 SP#.  Before that she was a non thretening 4th in the G1 Foul Mouth Stakes at a mile with a 104 SP#.  Been keeping top company of late;  this distance may be better suited to her running style,  stretch threat.  
 

11  
 DEW  DROPS                          ENG                     5/1         secplp
 
 
Our last entrant makes her first start of this year on the turf.  Bay four year old Dubawi filly out of the stakes winning sim-mare Counterfeit Crown,  comes off four solid grade/group stakes runs on dirt,   all at this distance.  Last out she was an OK 3rd in the G1 Great Dame,  scoring a 112 SP#  coming from the middle of the pack.  One back of that,  she just missed when a late running 2nd in the G1 Go For The Gold Stakes,  notching a 111 SP#.  In one prior she was a stalking 2nd in the G1 The Very Vane with a 110 SP#.  She won the G3 Poor Mona Lisa  one before that,  stalking the pace and winning narrowly earning a 111 SP#.  Trainer secplp is hoping current SP# consistency can hold in return to the weeds;   will be looking to pounce before the deep closers get there.  Oddsmaker likes her chances,  making her the morning line co- favorite with Seiobo
 
 
 
 
SELECTIONS: 

In what looks to be a jockey/trainer tactics contest,  who will choose wisely and gain the advantage ?  Tough to pinpoint a winner,  but I really like three year olds facing their elders this time of year … soooooo

NINIANNE
TIFFY TIME
IF YOU LOVE ME
LONGSHOT:
My top choice is 10/1 sooooooo…