Short field to run inThe Flash Of Lighting

I just want to say it’s nice to sit down and write another preview article after losing my shirt this past weekend at Saratoga.  Up next on the California circuit is the mile and an eighth The Flash Of Lighting Stakes, to be run on the firm turf course.  A short field of six three year ols fillies and mares will be running for thier share of the $75,000 purse.

NAME(ODDS)                 TRAINER                         JOCKEY        

Kid Thunder(8/1)               bountyhawk   F Griffen(9%)

This daughter of Thunder Gulch was purchased by thie stable earlier in the year for $13,500.  She has posted a nice allowance win since, but in her two stakes tries she’s come up soft.  I like the fact that she knows hoe to stalk, but she faces a tough field here.

Laphroaig(7/1)                   waremblem8  R Simcox(15%)

A nice square price on the invader from Florida who found a home LTO on the California green, winning an allowance race and running away at the end.  This horse out of Tapit started career on the dirt and since switching to turf has been running faster speed figs with each start.  Waremblem8 puts her in here to see what she can do against stakes type horses.  Nice to see Simcox take the mount.  Watch out, looks like a live one.

Bad Scene(5/2)                   lenny6            F Gossett(23%)

Easily the class of the field,  LTO  she only beat the number two rankes filly in this division (Sunshaft) and the number 4 (Jaca) in the Grade II Bluto.  She also won the Grade III Filly Turf Bonanza beating Gone Wylde( who is entered here) and another stakes run between them.  For the year she has won five of seven starts.There is not a reason in the world she can’t win this one today.  Expect to see her on the lead and staying there.

Gone Wylde(4/1)                sarava02        T Bates(9%)

Beautiful daughter of Gone West.  She won a stakes race LTO on the norther Califonia circuit, looking pretty impressive in the win.  The try before that was a disaster finishing seventh out of seven.  Now she comes back from that win to take on her foe, Bad Scene.  It will be interesting to see if she can turn the tables.

Medaglia D’jur(2/1)            southside       C Meckenburg(9%)   

Southside enters this filly sired by Medaglia D’oro.  D’jur has been burning up the turf her last four races with speed figs of 92,96,90,92.  She’s now had two sprints to get her tightened up for the extra distance and the way she stalks the leader will have her in contention to win at the end. 

Cat Town(3/1)                     jollymon       M Staples(20%)       

This daughter of A.P. Indy will be trying the sod for the first time.  She is a SW on dirt but I think this is a tough spot to try the green. Staples taking the ride is interesting though.

Toss outs:  Kid Thunder just not up to the competition.  Cat Town I’ll wait and see after the first turf try

Should Be There:  Gone Wylde has to get past Bad Scene and Medaglia D’jur, not gonna happend. 

At The Wire:  In a tough race to handicap because of the short field I came up with Laphroaig, Bad Scene and Medaglia D’jur.  Medaglia D’jur on her speed figs alone and Bad Scene because of the quality horses she’s beaten in the past.  Laphroaig is the most value for your money and my top pick.  In what may be a fast pace up front I think R Simcox will have her near the back of the pack. At the top of the stretch he’ll let her lose and hopefully she’ll be able to catch them at the wire. 

The Bet:  $50 exacta  2/3,5     $100 exacta 3,5/2