Smackdown II: Distaff Style
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A mile and one eighth |
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PP
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Team
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Horse
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Owner
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Jockey
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Odds
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1
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Kentucky
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PREACHINUPASTORM
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kyclocker3
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S Kratch
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13/1
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Has a win and a fifth in stakes company. LTO fell short by about 5 at 9f, but posted a nice 97SP. She’s a midcloser specializing in the 9f distance, and is a better racehorse than odds suggest. More than decent chance to run top-5, although probably not quite good enough at this point to run better than third.
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2
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Kentucky
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SINGNASONG PHYLLIS
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chuck
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G Blackmore
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19/1
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Has had two tries in stakes at 9best finish (4th) in her very first try last year. Speeds not quite high enough to ordinarily challenge stakes, but she’s been known to come close to 100 speed figures. 2 starts back won a 9f allowance by 2 1/2 easily with a 96SP. Tends to settle around third or fourth about 3 off the lead. Would take a 10 point improvement to win, but a minor place is not out of the question.
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3
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GR Simsters
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BUSH WINS AGAIN
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waremblem1
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F Neely
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14/1
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Won a 9f allowance 3 back with a 103SP, lead most of way. Went back up to stakes company, and last time out ran second at 8.5 after having brief lead in stretch but tiring. After 5 weeks off should be well-rested and ready to roll. She’ll be right on the leader’s heels.
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4
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GR Simsters
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EMPIRE REEF
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lenny13
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W McClendon
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6/1
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Accomplished filly won 3 GIs last year, but settled for 3rd at Smackdown I. She’s looking for revenge, and looking for her way back to the winner’s circle after being out since October 1. Should be on or close to a very hot pace. Ranked #13 in the division.
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5
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Kentucky
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ENCRYPTION
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bluebayou
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B Langhorne
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8/1
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Still rocking at 5, mare has 4 board finishes in her last five, all in stakes. She’s a long sprinter with some success around 2 turns but has never been farther than 8.5. LTO she ran second at 7.5 with a 105, so definitely has speed but the distance is a bit questionable. Could surprise, though.
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6
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Vermont
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PRINCESS JENNAH
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shangrila2
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L Secret
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12/1
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Third last out in GII Beer Pitcher at 8.5, won her only stakes at 9 2 back by 2 1/4. Should sit midpack, come flying late, be right in the mix at the wire.
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7
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GR Simsters
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FREE FROM BLAME
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peeps4
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L L Ahrens
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13/1
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Lately she’s been putting in an awesome race, then coming back for a lousy one, then back to awesome. Lucky for her trainer this one should be a her good one. Two back she won a 9f stakes with a 105; 4 back it was a 110 at 8.5 in an allowance. When she’s wins she’s usually on the lead, so she’ll probably be helping set a blistering pace. Has the talent to win, or if she can’t she’ll force the winner to really work for it.
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8
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Vermont
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GOD’S FURY
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saver
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N Stelle
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18/1
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GII winner at 9.5 her first start of 2005, she’s proven she can handle the distance. Opened the 2006 season with a stakes win as well at 9.5 on a good track, but hasn’t won since. Did run second at 9 in a stake 4 back, but lost by 3 and posted a 94. Will need to step it up to get a piece of this race, but more than possible. Likely to drop back 6-9 lengths and try a sustained run off the far turn.
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9
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Kentucky
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K’S JOAN BACH
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verdugote
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Te Maguire
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5/1
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Favorite won 9.5f listed stake LTO by nearly 3, posted 105SP. She’s been on fire lately, winning 5 of last 8 (3 of those stakes). Will drop back early and start her run around the half pole. If she has the lead at the top of the stretch, the field will find her hard to beat.
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10
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GR Simsters
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SEEKING PERFECTION(IRE)
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galileo
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S Gravina
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21/1
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Galileo filly was on fire last year, winning 6 stakes including a GI and Smackdown I. She’s struggled this year but seems to be getting back on track after a second (95SP) in an 8.5f allowance 2 back. Trainer prepped her on grass LTO looking for some surface switch magic. She’s a dark horse; if she’s back in form, look out Empire Reef and and K’s Joan Bach. Ranked #23 in her division.
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11
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Vermont
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GLASS HEART
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4stardave
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C Wolff
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6/1
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Mare destroyed a GII field 2 back at 8.5 (109SP) and has 3 other graded wins on her record. Faltered to finish seventh in GI LTO, but she tends to bounce back and forth a bit. Will likely be just ahead of K’s Joan Bach through the backstretch but start her run later. Has the speed to win and looks to be in fine form. #9 ranked mare in her division.
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12
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Vermont
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AIR THUNDERESS
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blueribbon
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C Stalcup
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30/1
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Making her first start back after a layoff, this filly ordinarily would have better odds more reflective of her capability. Two back she posted a 100SP as she wired a small 9f allowance field. She can win by setting the pace, coming off the pace, heck from anywhere really. Her chances will be determined by how fit her trainer has made her after 9 weeks off.
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13
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Kentucky
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K’S ESKAPE
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pompeya
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M Jolly
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7/1
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Her last win came in her first start of 2006 at 9.5 where she demolished a field of 9 going 9.5 to post a 107SP. Her 4 races since haven’t been quite to that standard, but she did run a decent 6th in the Equinics, and has notched back to back thirds in stakes her last 2 races at 10f. Seems well set for the drop in distance, and clearly classy enough to factor in the placings.
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14
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GR Simsters
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EYRIE
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upperhand
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D Fendlay Jr.
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13/1
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Just one win this year, but ran second in a GIII (103SP) 2 back at 8.5f, and 4th in a GIII LTO at 9f. Needs to consistently be breaking 100 to be considered a major player in the division, but should be a force here. Confirmed frontrunner, the big question is whether she can hang on in the face of strong pressure in the stretch.
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15
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Vermont
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SHIFTY JORDYN
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runwild8
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K Holmes
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14/1
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After 16 board finishes in 21 starts, filly make her stakes debut. Ran a nice 98 to win by 2 1/4 2 back at 9, last out fell shot by 1 1/4 to run second at 9. Clearly likes the distance. Will likely hang a couple lengths behind lead and try to outlast tiring frontrunners.
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