Find Your Angle in First State Oaks

The Grade II First State Oaks has attracted an intriguing field of ten three year old fillies going a mile and one sixteenth over what should be a fast strip.

The Delaware feature has fillies with all varieties of running styles and a history of rewarding any sort.  It has been won from on the pace and from well off, and by longshots and favorites.  Pick your angle and enjoy the race.

Here is a look at the field:

1. Dam the River (Green Desert x Vice Regent) is a last minute entry out of the crafty Soulbleed (16%) barn.  She has a streak of in-the-money finishes in restricted allowance races and is still eligible for n1x, yet takes the big jump in class.  With her early running style and recent sprinting experience, she should contribute to the early pace, but it would be a surprise to see her at the end.  11-1.

2. Soultrapper (Perfect Soul x Pientre Celebre) has six finished in the money in six of her seven dirt routes.  That seventh one came last time against a more formidable field in the GI Sister Hen, where she did put in her typical rally, but was no match that day.  Trainer Techranger (14%) always has her running late, and there is some suspect speed to run at.  A repeat of her Jockey Guild race a few back would likely win this.  5-1.

3. Top notch trainer Zewango4 (22%) saw enough in the first race of Take Your Whiskey (Coronado’s Quest x El Prado) to decide she was ready to make the jump from maidens to graded stakes, and he might be right.  She was entered well after others in the stable, and this was a number two preference without a number one listed, suggesting that Zewango scratched her from his first choice after seeing she wasn’t going to draw in or that he found this field weak.  Trainer has tried maiden to stakes before with success: Wango Tango, favored in a graded stakes today, did it successfully.  Price is right to make this worth a flyer.  19-1.

4. I’ve Met Barb (Empire Maker x Danzig) got off to a sizable lead last time in the G II Denny Tario, only to fade badly.  The Super30 (15%) filly has faded late in all three of her stakes routes and figures to face early pressure here.  Shortens up slightly, and that may help.  She does have four finishes in the money in her six routes and in four in her last five efforts.  6-1.

5. Inzamam4 (9%) runs a two horse stable, including Crabby Patties (Pikepass x Danehill).  All five of her wins came last year in sprints.  After picking up only minor awards this year in sprint stakes, Inzamam tried two turns last time in a restricted allowance.  Crabby led most of the way and posted a speed figure that’s very competitive here.  She did win a Grade I as a two year old, and she may be maturing into a router.  6-1.
6. Genna Lou Hoo (Rahy x Gone West) is a deep closing filly out of the Marilyn847 (13%) barn.  She had three wins and three seconds in seven races as a two year old.  This year hasn’t gone as well.  She’s finished in the money once in her last seven races, but all is not hopeless.  Twice in those races she faced Zytown and beat that one handily.  Also beat Sin Bin in their meeting.  Speed figures compare with any in here.  5-1.
7. Zytown (Speightstown x Street Cry) went over the $1 million dollars in earnings last time with a win in the ungraded Lottsa in a Record Handicap, and the win had to come as a relief to trainer Zyro (14%).  After smoking a Grade I DelPenn field, Zytown ran mid-pack in three graded stakes, including the Bluegrass Oaks.  Then she tried going a mile and a half in the Crystal Fantasy where she jogged home last as the favorite.  She finds herself back to a more favored distance and against a field that would not be confused with what she faced in the Oaks.  As the top rated filly in the field (rated number 6), she attracted the dominant Delaware jock.  There were very high expectations for her sire, but for her cohort, his initial crop, there have only been three graded stakes winners.  5-1.
8. 2ndchoice (11%) acquired Ermington Perfect (Pleasantly Perfect x Machiavellian) at auction prior to her last race.  Under her previous owners, she managed a third in a Grade III sprint in Victoria ten weeks ago, but little else of note.  In her first race in this stable she finished fifth in a minor stakes.  Owner invests another $10,000 to ship her to America for this.  She has never run a speed figure in excess of 86, and that doesn’t bode well here.  She might contribute to the pace some.  15-1.
9. Trickrtreat (Phone Trick x Silver Ghost) has three straight route wins at allowance level and the only triple digit speed figure in the field.  She also has the only 99 speed figure.  Trainer Triplcrown (7%) steps her up in class and finds a field that she more than fits in.  She tried several stakes as a two year old with no success, but she has matured and found a better distance.  Not often you see a filly come out of allowance company and be favored over a field containing several graded stakes winners.  On the downside, as a filly rated 350^th in the division, she picks up a rider that doesn’t get his picture taken very often.  Her last race was nice, but it was a four horse field.  9-2.
10. Racing uncoupled with her Super Stable-mate, Sin Bin (Kingmambo x Northern Baby) also steps up from allowance company for the Super25 (21%) stable.  She should be prominent early, or just off the early leaders.  In her last try at this class, she finished sixth, but within two lengths of the winner.

Summary:  Take Your Whiskey is intriguing, but the step up in class is formidable and the jockey needs to follow somebody just to find the finish line.  Trickrtreat also gets stuck with a suspect pilot, but seems to have found her home.  With lots of early speed to run at, a presser like Trickrtreat should be given extra consideration.  Has Zytown returned to form?  A good case can be made to excuse her recent failures.  Likewise for Soultrapper and Genna Lou Hoo. 

Morning Line Selections: 9-7-6-2

Timmn’s picks: 7-2-3-9