SMACKDOWN II 2yo filly 7 furlongs Dirt
The roster of sires in this race reads like a sim list of who’s who. The best of the best have certainly come out for the Smackdown II race, and it appears highly competitive. Of course, two year old races are always hard to handicap, as some are just starting their rise to glory. May the best filly win. J
#1 Vermont Owned/trained by Head2head– Thisonecanrun (Pine Bluff) This pretty little filly has raced twice, and while she has yet to break her maiden, she certainly appears to have ability and speed to burn. In her first start, Thisonecanrun broke alertly from the gate, and for much of the race was engaged in a front running speed duel. The gray filly Tread Lightly did eventually shake free of her, but certainly didn’t find it easy. Thisonecanrun posted a 75 SF for the race. Next out, she started in the 6F Happy July 4th Stakes. She once again broke nicely, this time sitting back in second. Thisonecanrun made a very nice move mid-stretch, and was simply caught by an exceptional burst of speed from the eventual runner of the race. Few horses lose both their starts and still get the respect that Thisonecanrun deserves. She will be breaking her maiden in no time, and perhaps today is her day.
#2 Vermont Owned/trained by Cashcall– Lil Sumtin For Ya (Quinton‘s Gold) The second foal out of the nice race mare Sister Bingo, Lil Sumtin For Ya has done very well for herself so far. She easily won her first race, a 5F MSW in the Vermont Freshman Sire Series. Then came the Allowance in that series, where she came in a fast closing second. Lil Sumtin For Ya then jumped into graded company for her next two starts, which she didn’t appear to like all that much, though it could simply be that she wants a little more ground. Her LTH SF of 75 was earned in her last race, the G3 Butterfly Futurity. Lil Sumtin For Ya finished a tiring fifth in that race. One to watch.
#3 GR Simsters Owned/trained by Willyam13 – Kneel Before Zod (Rock Hard Ten) The quirkily named Kneel Before Zod is a long limbed powerhouse of a filly. She has raced twice, with one win and one second. Yet another filly that won at first asking, the big brown filly put in an astonishing rush from the back in a 5.5F MSW to win by a length and earn a 71 SF. Next up, another 5.5F race, this time in the Fizetta Special Stakes. Kneel Before Zod again put in that late closing rush. She ran out of track to finish second, beaten by 1 ½ lengths. Her SF for the race was a respectable 74. Looks like a nice choice here.
#4 GR Simsters Owned/trained by Grholdings – Headbangers’ Ball (Mineshaft) Stakes winner Hollow Cake was an extremely good racehorse. She earned over $200,000 and retired with 12 wins, and was in the money an astonishing 27 times. The Dehere mare was sent to Mineshaft after her retirement, and Headbanger’s Ball is the result. The glistening golden chestnut has done very well for herself thus far, having raced twice and won once. Her first time out, the filly closed well in a 6F MSW to finish fourth. She returned with a vengeance next time out in another 6F MSW. She closed like a freight train to win by a length with a SF of 77. I like her chances here.
#5 Vermont Owned/trained by Dundey– Way Q Not (Waquoit) Luck Sliding was a lightly raced Mr. Prospector daughter, but she more than made up for that in the broodmare band. From four foals, she has a graded winner, a stakes horse, and an up-and-coming two year old filly. Way Q Not is looking to be the next stakes horse out of this nicely bred mare. The lovely light grey filly had a good debut, finishing second after leading throughout most of the race. Her next time out, she suffered a tough head loss. Her iron determination and speed was evident from the 80 SF she received in that race. Way Q Not broke her maiden in her third start, a 6F MSW. She again broke like a shot and lead the field throughout, finishing ¾ length in front. Way Q Not earned a 77 SF in that race, and could be tough to catch if left alone on the front end.
#6 GR Simsters Owned/trained by WarEmblem – Longclaw (Lion Heart) Three races, two wins, one second. A very impressive record for the pretty chestnut filly out of the royally bred Queen Project. (Danzig x Mr. P.) Longclaw broke her maiden at first asking, cantering home much the best in a high level MSW. Her next effort was a similar easy victory, in a $46k NW1x. Her last start was in the 5.5F Many Plus Sea Special Stakes, where she broke quickly and leapt to the lead. She tired in the stretch to finish one length back in second. Her highest SF of 70 was in her second effort, where she wasn’t asked for much, and I believe she has the ability to compete here.
#7 GR Simsters Owned/trained by SilverCharm – Courage Redefined (Mineshaft) The beautifully named chestnut filly Courage Redefined has elegance and determination in equal measure. Her first start was a 6F MSW over the Vermont track. Courage Redefined broke a step slow, rated throughout, and closed nicely to finish a hard fought second by ½ length. She earned a 75 SF for that race. Next up, Courage floated home in almost the exact same race, being at the same track, same distance etc. She won fairly effortlessly, coming home much the best by 2 lengths. Another one to keep an eye on.
#8 KY Horsemen Owned/trained by Hornedfrog– Lode Of The Dance (Forty Niner) This little brown filly has certainly been consistent, and at the highest levels of competition. Lode of the Dance has won her first three starts, a MSW, an open allowance, and the G3 Arizona Shoot Out Special Stakes, respectively. She earned a very nice 77 SF for her graded stakes debut, and looked very tough doing it. Her last race was the 5.5F G2 Vermont BB Juvenile Filly Stakes. She closed from much further back in the pack then she usually races, and came in fourth with a very strong closing kick. I initially thought she might be more of a short sprint filly, but after looking at that last race, believe she could handle more distance.
#9 KY Horsemen Owned/trained by Sjmeola– Im Indyarmynow (Golden Missile) The speedball little filly named Im Indyarmynow is another filly that shows consistency. She won her first two races very nicely, a MSW and NW2L allowance, earning a 64 SF for the first and a huge 80 for the second. Last time out, the seal brown filly stepped up in class in the 5.5F Pajamas Tickling Memorial Stakes. “Indy” closed very nicely to finish a gritty second, beaten by a head. Now stakes placed and certain to be a tough horse at the highest levels.
#10 KY Horsemen Owned/trained by Winterheart– Imagineering (Stravinsky) Out of the blueblood mare Imaginos (Fu Peg x Storm Cat), Imagineering has already shown a lot of ability. With four races, two wins and one third, Imagineering is doing very well for herself. In her first start, the filly raced at the front of the field for much of the race, tiring at the end to finish third. She turned the tables next out though, winning a MSW by leading throughout. She finished first by a nose, and earned a 73 for the effort. Next up, a race I’m inclined to throw out, her stakes debut against the boys in the 5.5F Cold Redhead(IRE) Memorial Stakes. She appeared unhappy with the footing and struggled much of the race, finishing a tiring sixth. She won her last race, a NW2L allowance, by ¼ length and looked good doing it.
#11 GR Simsters Owned/trained by Given – Rhaenyra (Storm Cat) Rhaenyra shares favoritism with another filly in this race, and looking at her pedigree you can see why. Her dam is the nice race mare Ceek not Seek, (Danehill x Seeking the Gold.) Her race record certainly speaks for itself. Two races, one win, one third. Rhaenyra’s first start was over 6F in a MSW. The track was rated sloppy, and while the filly obviously didn’t care for the wet track, she tried hard and came in a close third. Next up, the gold filly came back to the same track and same distance, only this time she tried it dry. What a difference the weather can make. Rhaenyra flew home easily, and was widening her win margin as she galloped under the wire. Earning a 76 SF for that race, Rhaenyra certainly appears worthy of co-favoritism.
#12 KY Horsemen Owned/trained by Bulletwork– Saintly Sinner (Saint Liam) By the Horse of the Year and out of a stakes winner, Saintly Sinner’s connections have had high hopes for her since the day she wobbled into the world. She is definitely rewarding those expections. She won her first start with little effort, virtually wiring the field in a 6F MSW to canter home 1 ½ lengths in front. Next up, the G2 Vermont BB Juvenile Filly Stakes. While she pretty much held her third place position throughout much of the race, she did come home with a 75 SF and is now graded stakes placed. Lightly raced and definitely improving. Always a danger.
#13 KY Horsemen Owned/trained by hot2trot– Churchill Affair (Runaway Groom) Out of the graded winner Day after Day, Churchill Affair seems aptly named, as I’m sure she will at some point run under the twin spires. She has the most experience of any in the field with 5 lifetime starts. Churchill Affair broke her maiden in her second start, a 5F MSW that she took control of from the very beginning. She came up second in an open allowance, then wheeled back in the 6.5F Sunday Shadow Challenge Stakes. Blazing out from the gates, the striking light grey filly never looked back and won as she pleased, earning an 80 SF in the process. Her last start was in the G2 Stoker Handicap. Churchill Affair didn’t run her race, bouncing badly to come home eleventh. However, that makes me think that she is doubly dangerous here if she can get an uncontested lead.
#14 Vermont Owned/trained by Qhorseguy– Coronado’s Band (Coronado‘s Quest) Monster Band, the dam of Coronado’s Band, was unraced due to injury, but that hasn’t stopped her from sending her sons and daughters to battle. Her oldest colt is a stakes horse, and Coronado’s Band seems to be on her way to continuing her mother’s legacy. Raced four times, with two wins and a third. The third came in her debut, where she seemed somewhat green but closed nicely at the end. She then made a huge improvement, running an 80 SF to win a 6F MSW and closing like an avenging angel. Her second win was next, a NW2L against the boys. Last out, Coronado’s Band stepped up to stakes company, taking on six other fillies in the 6F Smashingly Tabasco Memorial Stakes. She seemed to struggle a bit trying to settle early on, and came home a late closing fourth. I think her chances of doing even better are good as she gets more track to roll over.
#15 Vermont Owned/trained by Catamount1– Doll’s House (Smart Strike) With two wins from four races, and already stakes-placed, Doll’s House is well on her way to success. This little chestnut daughter of the A.P. Indy mare Independence Day has some big shoes to try and fill. Her three year old brother Ab Fab is a Graded Winner of over $600K, with eight wins from fourteen races to date. Doll’s House won her first two races in high style, a MSW over the fast track in California and then an allowance by an easy 2 lengths. Her next two races were both stakes. In the 6F Glory Boomer(GB) Special, Doll’s House ran a late closing race to finish third. Her next stakes effort came in the 6.5F Swampy Mill Stakes. She seemed to relish the added ground, posting a LTH SF of 81 and closing fast to finish second by a length and a half. Doll’s House goes off at 7/1, the other co-fave.