Claiming Jewel – The Diamond

Claiming Jewel – The Diamond
Starter Allowance  ($20,000)
A mile and one sixteenth
Firm Turf
$100,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

Claiming Jewel Day continues with the premiere race for Fillies and Mares in this year’s running of “The Diamond”.  When one considers the word claimer, many think of bargain bred horses but this year’s entries are anything but for the most part.  Glancing over the PP you notice many of the stronger sires are present as well as some that cost less in the breeding barn.  Many are former allowance runners still ready to show their younger competitors that they have something left to say and others are up and comers still looking for their place in the racing world.  What all have in common is the fact that they have all raced for a tag under $20,000 recently and are hoping to take home a share of the $100,000 purse. 

An extremely strong field has gathered here today, led by Undercover Angel and trainer simsters6.  Despite a couple of slow races lately, she’s the only one to consistently post SF numbers in the 90’s.  It makes it almost impossible not to bet on her.  If she falters though, the race becomes wide open and it’s almost anyone’s game.  Looking to taker her down will be horse such as Uber Alles, Spirax, Invisible Hero and Monica Mayhem(GB).  However, many are taking notice of a 10/1 horse named Steadman(IRE) who’s coming off a career best 98 SF which is the best of field.

This one will be fun to watch and bet as we pay respect to the bread and butter of every race course:  the humble claimer.

PP 1

9/2 SPIRAX

(MISWAKI x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE) x RIVERMAN)

Trainer:  1aussie    

Starting our line up today and breaking from the inside post, Spirax and trainer 1aussie is looking for her third win in a row.  Recently acquired for $10,000, she is making her second start for the 1aussie barn.  Her best performance to date has come at this distance and she shows a deep closing style which may set up nicely against this field.  In her career, she’s placed in the money nine times in eleven races which makes it hard not to include her on your trifecta ticket.  Although this race may be the pinnacle of her career, with nice breeding connections she’ll make a good breeding mare.  Look for her coming strong down the stretch.

PP 2

5/1 UBER ALLES

(SEPTIEME CIEL x COMPLIANCE x BLUSHING GROOM(FR))

Trainer:  pisanof

Even at six years of age, Uber Alles still shows what a competitor she is.  This mare has only changed hands twice in her career and has been running steady for the past couple of seasons.  However, it’s been nine months since she last visited the winner’s circle and will have to show a lot more to come out on top today.  She has incredible speed coming out of the gate and will probably look to challenge for the early lead.  What remains a question will be what is left in her in the last two furlongs as she has shown a habit of running out of gas when it counts.  Jockey T Peck will have to be skillful and try to hold some back for the last charge.

PP 3

3/1 UNDERCOVER ANGEL

(E DUBAI x A.P. INDY x RIVERMAN)

Trainer:  simsters6

Our morning line favorite, Undercover Angel is riding high on a streak of six wins in her last seven tries.  Very well bred, trainer simster6 is probably looking to hold on to her until the end of the year before sending her to the breeding barn.  Her recent success all comes from a surface switch from dirt to grass but closer examination does show some holes that her competition may take note of.  Her last five races, all wins, have come with shortened fields and the restricted condition of 4 year olds only.  Although she has put up some monster speed numbers to warrant her odds, she has shown twice in that stretch that she doesn’t always come with her best race in mind.  This was evident in her last start as simster6 shipped her across the pond directly to this track in preparations for this race.  She managed to come out on top but perhaps showing that the travel may have been too much for her, she only posted a 68 SF.  She’ll be facing a much stronger open field here today but still looks like the one to beat.

PP 4

5/1 VISIBLE HERO

(INVISIBLE INK x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x SEATTLE SLEW)

Trainer:  cbchief

Perhaps looking to take back some of the $50,000 he paid for this filly, cbchief  is hoping to revive some life back into Visible Hero.  Although she’s had a few mediocre races recently, her two best performances have come at this distance with a 92 and 93 SF.  That last race came very recently in April as she won a $35,000 claimer and last year’s performance nabbed her a NW1x Allowance victory.  She certainly has the tools to win this one and nails top jockey N Gardner who has an amazing 117 wins this season at a 25% clip.  With breeding connections of Fusaichi Pegasus and Seattle Slew, you have to think that this four year old is ready to show something big and this may be the race to do it.

PP 5

68/1 SEATTLE LION

(LION CAVERN x TOUCH GOLD x SEATTLE SLEW)

Trainer:  betmaker

Rounding us out at 68/1 odds, Seattle Lion has never lived up to her royal breeding.  She’s only managed to win one race in 50 tries and I’m surprised she hasn’t started her breeding career due to her connections.  Unfortunately it’s hard to give a lot of credit to a horse who’s last few races have been run in the 50’s and that also that her best performances seem to come on dirt not grass.  I’ll give an E for effort but it’s probably time to move on to a better life making babies for this one.

PP 6

10/1 STEADMAN(IRE)

(GRAND LODGE (IRE) x SAINT CYRIEN(FR) x EASTERN ECHO)

Trainer:  silkworm

Talk about a keen eye, it didn’t take much for trainer silkworm to stand up and take notice of our next entrant, Steadman(IRE).  This mare spent the first four years of her career filling in at the last minute for shortened fields in both Europe and Asia. Actually, her first year racing was with a now defunct stable and records do not indicate who owned her originally.  Finally getting her first start under a legitimate owner,  silkworm snatched this mare for $4,000 in a NW2n race where she ran a 51 SF in a two mile event.  Immediately silkworm bit the bullet and shipped her across the ocean and into a allowance company in a 8F NW3x where she destroyed the field with a 98 SF!  With by far the best speed rating lately of any of our competitors, the 10/1 odds almost make you salivate.  This will be her second start for the silkworm stable and I just can’t seem to take my eyes off the odds, so I’ll have to place my money here.  Look for a close stalking style and she’ll try to press the leader if not try to take the lead outright and wire the field. 

PP 7

7/1 PRIVATE SOOZ

(REPENT x PRIVATE TERMS x BANQUET TABLE)

Trainer:  cashmoney

As a living testament to success by repetition, Private Sooz has a story to tell both on and off the race course.  There has been much talk among the barn and paddock areas this week about the bond of trust that jockey S Ortiz has formed with this filly.  In a era where most trainers seem to ship horses each week from track to track, cashmoney has chosen to stick with Arizona with his horse the last nine months and getting the nod for the twelfth time is S Ortiz.  Private Sooz was shipped once this year to Nebraska to try out a longer distance race but came back with a near career ending injury.  However, now back at “home” the Ortiz connection looks for their 3^rd win and in case you haven’t noticed, all three come at this track, at this distance and on this surface.   More than just the sentimental favorite, she posted a career best 91 SF last time out and looks prepared to tackle the favorites today.  Nice odds at 7/1 would return a nice payback.

PP 8

23/1 NAWTINATTY

(FAVORITE TRICK x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x DIXIELAND BAND)

Trainer:  caveat

As our lone 3 year old, Nawtinatty has a few hurdles to overcome.  Nicely bred as well, she still hasn’t come along as fast as her last three owners have hoped.  She has had some difficulties staying with fillies her own age and she tries older company for the first time.  Perhaps the size of the purse was more inviting than trainer caveat could stand and entered her here despite her chances.  The one good thing is that 3 year olds are famous for suddenly maturing and taking off when you least expect them too.  But this take off will have to be of monumental proportions as she’s a good 15-50 points SF wise from competing at this level.  I’ll have to pass but commend her trainer for giving it a shot.

PP 9

5/1 MONICA MAYHEM(GB)

(HAYMARKET(GB) x CHIMES BAND x CARWHITE(IRE))

Trainer:  dapsal

Monica Mayhem, owned and trained by dapsal, doesn’t seem to show any signs of slowing down.  Her form has been consistent lately and she has managed to run some bang up races in the last nine months.  However, it’s been over a year since she won her last race but that doesn’t seem to diminish her chances here today.  She prefers to stalk the pace giving 3-5 lengths of room between her and the leaders and gradually wear them down.  Therefore, the pace of the race may have more to do with her performance than anything else.  If favorite Undercover Angel fails to fire as she did last time out, then this filly may be there in contention at the wire.  Amazingly, she has raced all career forty races under the same trainer who recently surpassed the 1000 race mark.  Keep an eye on this one.

PP 10

8/1 STOP THE FRED

(STORM AND A HALF x MANILA x STOP THE MUSIC)

Trainer:  kobras2

Leaving from the outside gate, Stop The Fred looks to grab win #3 under the direction of trainer kobras2.  Playing the role of jack rabbit, she’ll try to work her way to the front before the first turn and challenge Uber Alles for the lead.  She drops once again in distance after trying a stint at marathon races earlier this year.  Her front running style seems more suited for this distance as she has shown signs of burning out at longer races.  In doubt however, is her overall speed as she’s only managed to break the 80 SF mark twice in her last four races ran at classic distances.  As the pace setter, she’ll have to hold off a full field of closers while not trying to hard to stay with Uber Alles.  It will take a career best to win the trophy today.

Maverick’s Picks: 

As I mentioned above, I can’t resist the 10/1 money and I’ll have to place my win bet with #6 Steadman(IRE).

If you’re looking to box the trifecta, I’ll suggest:  6-3-4-7

Yoss’s picks:  1-7-10-2