The Pajamas Tickling Memorial

Todays stakes event at sunny Rhode Island is for the youngsters, with 9 fillies out to get some early black type against their name. These early season stakes races can lay the foundation for an assault at the Breeders Bowl races later in the year so lets have a closer look at the these ladies.

1. I’M INDY ARMY NOW (sjmeola3) – First foal from the moderately performed mare Ralphie Boy. Has a tonne of speed and rattled off a blistering 1:11 2/5 over 6 panels last time out leading from the outset. May bounce off that great run but a repeat performance here will string the field right out and see her salute again.
2. FOREST COPY (jasong) – Handy pickup for the jasong stable 2 starts back in a $7500 maiden claimer. Rewarded her new owner last time out winning an allowance over 4.5 furlongs in handy time. Will be a big test to go from maiden claimer to stakes winner in 3 races but she has some claims. Form in her last race may be a bit dubious with the small field.
3. TACTICAL RAT (edenridge) – Well bred filly out of the group winning mare Rubbing from Rat. Started the year off with a bang strolling home in her maiden in quick time but she has been on a downward slope since then, failing last time out in stakes company. May be one of those frustrating sim youngsters that promise a lot but never go on with it. Will be the acid test today.
4. DIXIE DEW (deajai) – Young filly flying the flag for her sire Civilisation, who only has the 3 runners so far this season with Dixie his only winner. Another speedy filly that won her maiden well leading all the way. Will find it tougher to get on the pace here and may wilter down the stretch but she has scope for improvement and could find a piece of the purse.
5. SIMPLY STAR (devineequ3) – Saarland filly out of the stakes winning mare Simply Devine. Broke her maiden in her first and only race day start in a small field leading wire to wire. This field has a tonne of speed, which may be her undoing. If she is able to settle just behind the leader she should be able to keep enough gas in the tank to make a bid for the race in the stretch. Will have the services of G. Skaggs to help rate her out in front.
6. HICKORY STUMP (blackswan7) – Lovely bred filly by Pleasantly Perfect out of the Grade II winning mare Bean’s Luck. Could not have been more impressive breaking her maiden first time out over 5.5 furlongs. Over the same trip today look for her to sit just behind all the speedsters and then unleash a powerful run in the stretch. Looks to have plenty of potential and the running style to take this out.
7. ROMAN CAT (milkshaker) – Ealry market favourite for todays event on the back of some strong runs in restricted allowances. Another filly that packs plenty of speed and some good numbers to back it up. Likely to get caught up in a battle for the lead here and be a sitting duck for the 6. Looks the pick of the swarm of horses that will try for the lead and with top jock B. Scott aboard she should be in the mix of things.
8. THE ROAD WARRIOR (giantputz2) – Promising filly by Grand Slam out of the very well performed mare Every That Tempest. Has had an odd preparation so far this year. Broke her maiden first up in slashing fashion over 6 furlongs on the dirt, leading all the way and kicking strongly in the stretch. She was then switched immediately to the grass where she ran a great second in good time. Tried stakes company last start on the turf in a small field, wiltering in the stretch for a slightly dissapointing 3^rd. I like her chances here back on the dirt, while she has shown ability on the turf I think her future may lay on the main track. One of the main dangers and should find herself in the finish.
9. EXALTED CAT (1917sox) – From an impecable dam line this filly by Storm Cat’s son Vision and Verse has already tried graded company with some success. Ran a great race last time out in a Gr III over 4.5 furlongs, just failing to reel in the winner by 1 length for a solid 3^rd. Should be suited by the extra furlong of todays race and the amount of speed that will be out in front setting up the race. Look for her to make a run at the leaders down the stretch in a great duel with Hickory Stump.

Bigkev’s Verdict.

I am leaning towards the two backmarkers, Hickory Stump and Exalted Cat. I really like the look of the 6 and think she can use this race as a stepping stone to bigger things. Exalted Cat is out of a beautiful mare and looks to have picked up plenty of her ability. May be looking for 6 furlongs already. I think Road Warrior is the pick of the speed horses and will be suited back on the dirt today but like all these early 2yo races anything can happen and there isn’t one horse in the race without some chance.