Fillies Set For Catfight in Smackdown II

Fifthteen 3yo fillies have arrived in Vermont ready for a catfight in this Saturdays Smackdown II. The race will be run at the distance of a mile and one eighth on a fast dirt track. And while this might not be a graded race, you sure couldn’t tell by looking through the field that’s been put together. We have three horses in the top 20 of their division, as well as a few more who are ranked in the top 40. Not to mention several lightly raced fillies who are loaded with potential. Bragging rights are on the line, so let’s take a closer look at this talented group of runners.

PP1Biter Hollandia – Representing Team Kentucky from yochems barrstable. This 3yo filly out of French Deputy has the highest earnings in the filed with just over a million. She was a winner of Equinics Gold earlier this year in the G1 Jerry Bailey, so she’s no stanger to these residency challenges. Many considered her a wiseguy’s choice to win this years Bluegrass Oaks, but after battling in a torrid fast pace up front she had nothing left for the stretch run. She’ll have plenty of company up front in this race, but her class alone makes her dangerous if ready.

PP2-Sign Of The Devil- Representing Team Kentucky from the greenapple stables. Late-blooming filly out of Awesome Again ran a tough race against older allowance runners last out but just missed. She looks to have regained her form that saw her win the Easy Kingdom Stakes four starts back, and todays distance shouldn’t be a problem. Use to running on the lead, she showed a little versatility last out by rating off the leaders, which can only help here. Has a shot.

PP3-Stormy Breeze- Representing Team GR Simsters from the lenny2 stable. This little filly out of of the super sire Storm Cat has done nothing wrong in her three lifetime starts, winning all with ease. In fact, no one has been able to get within 2 lengths of her at the wire, and she looked even stronger last out. This will be her first race away from Arizona where she was definitely in a class of her own. And although she’ll be facing a solid group of tested stakes runners here, 20-1 could be the best price you’ll ever get on this one for a long time.

PP4-Glorious Morning- Representing Team GR Simsters from the jonsnow2 stable. Deserving morning line favorite has been ultra consistent this year winning four of eight races, and on the board in all of them. Comes in off a huge win in the G1 Sister Hen last out, where she easily handled a few runners in this field. Two back she ran a solid second against older company in the G3 Poor Mona Lisa. She has definitely stamped her name as one of the top Classic distance runners in the division and she actually looks to be getting better with each race. Out of the underrated sire Johannesburg, she should benefit from what appears to be a hot pace, which sets up well for her. The one to beat!

PP5-K’s Stand Tall- Representing Team Kentucky from the sledwith stables. Royal bred filly out of Mineshaft was a win machine in the the sprint division, winning seven of nine races to start her career. Trainer sledwith decided to stretch her out three starts back and the results have been promising to say the least. Finishing third in the G3Jockey Guild Stakes in her firts try around two turns, she followed that with a huge run in the G1 Black Middle Flower to finish a close second. She bounced big time in her last try, but you can throw that out. She has a serious shot in here if she rolls back into the form that she displayed just two races back.

PP6-Vermont Fantasy(Ire)- Representing Team Vermont from the legions stable. Beautiful light grey filly out of the sire El Prado(Ire) could be the frontrunner of the group. She is blessed with speed, speed, and more speed. Another one who hasn’t been off the board in 06′, she’s coming into this off back to back allowance wins. After her first two wins, she jumped into stakes company and held on for show money in both. She will have a battle on her hands upfront against some of these, but if she gets out front easy, she could be dangerous.

PP7-Fame Or Fortune- Representing Team Kentucky from the kyclocker2 stable. Look like a world beater at the start of the year, winning three of four, with one of those wins being in the G2 Fantasia Handicap. She ran a respectable fourth in the Bluegrass Oaks but has yet to return to her solid early form, failing to hit the board in her last four races. She was beaten handily by a few in here in her last start in the G1 Sister Hen, but that could have just been a tune up for this race following a short rest. The classy daugher of Smarty Jones could surprise if she can find her early season form.

PP8-Miswaki Missile- Representing Team GR Simsters from the streakin6s stable. Another nice runner out of Golden Missile who’s won four races this year as well, and has been on the board in a eye-popping fourteen of eighteen lifetime races. Drops down in distance after running in two 11f stakes, winning the Secret Money Stakes two back. The drop in distance looks like it could be a positive, as she has two wins at todays distance, and a very close second in the Jewel de Nyle Stakes, where she was flying home late. She’s facing a tough group here, but she’s another who could be picking up the pieces late.

PP9-Verdant Field(Ire)- Representing Team GR Simsters from the lender3 stable. Another El Prado(Ire) runner, this lightly raced filly has only been off the board once in ten lifetime starts and has earned over four hundred thousand. But nine of those races were on the turf. She’s also familiar with residency challenges, as she ran second in the G1 Rodolfo Baez in the Equinics. Her first try on the dirt came last out and she won in a convincing fashion, pulling away by three and a half lengths in allowance company. Has the class to compete here, but will she be able to compete on the dirt against this classy field?

PP10-Cathy Cortrite- Representing Team Vermont from the cylla stables. Big class jump for this daughter of Jade Hunter. But she’s a hard knocking filly who will battle from start to finish. Coming off back to back starter allowance wins were she posted decent speed figures, she’ll look to sit right off the leaders and come firing late. Don’t dismiss her on class alone, as she is firing on all cylinders in her last four races. Great price at 24-1.

PP11- Remember Culloden- Representing Team Vermont from the fireballer stable. Longest shot on the board at 25-1 out of the sire Bernstein. She has one win in 06′, but hit the board in the Kickass Prospector Memorial, finishing third. Has stamina to run for days from her DS and DDS. But she’s up against it in here.Would be a shocker if she surprises this group, but not out of the question and the price is right.

PP12-Hostility- Representing Team GR Simsters from the simsters1 stable. Nicely bred daughter of Toccet is another with four wins in 06′, and she’s coming off back to back stakes wins in the Crystal Fantasy and The Giggles Challenge. Both of those wins came at a couple furlongs longer distance that this race, but that shouldn’t be a problem giving her ability to get out on or near the lead. She’s quick but has the stamina to survive what should be a fast pace in here. Very good chance to play the spoiler in here at 10-1.

PP13-Lifeshaft- Representing Team GR Simsters from the simsters4 stable. Lightly raced daughter of Mineshaft is definitely hitting her best stride. She didn’t race as a 2yo but has already won over two hundred thousand in eight lifetime starts this year. After a few wins in allowance company, she stepped up to the graded ranks two back in the G3 Great Fiddle Sticks were she ran a decent fourth. She stretched out to 11f last out in the G1 Chestnut, and ran a solid second against a classy field. The drop back in distance shouldn’t be a problem here, but she’s another who will be challenging for the lead. If she handle the heat up front, she has a shot.

PP14-Broadway Angel- Representing Team Kentucky from the league stable. Very classy Vindication runner hasn’t seen the winners circle since winning the G2 Louisiana Oaks, but she’s alway in the hunt. She finished a fast closing fourth in the G2 Mellow Breeze four starts back, and then showed that same closing style last out the Grey Dawn Stakes, finishing second by a quarter length.The 7-1 second choice could benefit the most by all the speed in here. Will be rolling late and could steal this one.

PP15-Silver Stocking- Representing Team Vermont from the saver stable. Drawing the outside post, this is another lightly raced filly out of Silver Deputy who is loaded with potential. Hasn’t been off the board since stretching out after her first start. She’s another with four wins in 06′, and although she’s yet to tackle stakes company, she has a huge shot in here. Coming off back to back allowance wins, she posted a career high speed figure last out that showed she’s ready for the next step. She’ll be flying from the clouds late and could steal this one at 10-1.

Good Luck to all the runners, and all the teams!

Bulletwork