Buckeye Debutante GIII
The track in Ohio has come up fast for the latest edition of the Buckeye Debutante GIII, and a nearly full field of freshman fillies line up to run six furlongs over the dirt for a purse of $150,000. Valuable stakes points are also on the line, as these fillies look to announce their presence as legitimate contenders in this division. Expect to see a good pace from these girls as many of the competitors figure to be on or near the lead in the opening stages.
Tactical Rat (9/1)
Breaking from the rail for trainer edenridge is Tactical Rat. Having won 3 of 5 career starts and earned over $100,000 racing exclusively short on the dirt, the daughter of Tactical Cat x Red Ransom brings her ranking of 26th in the dirt sprint division to lead the field. Expect this speedy chestnut to be on or near the lead, as she took the field wire to wire last out in the Erjaniya Bonanza Stakes to earn a sp of 83 for the 5.5 panels. This multiple stakes winner is co-third choice on the morning line and gets the services of M Grunhard (21%), the top jock in the field.
Slender Cat (9/1)
In just her third career start, Slender Cat (Cat Thief x Strike the Gold) will try to improve on her runner-up finish LTO in the Doctor Jo Ann Special to get a stakes win. Trainer mrkron has already guided Slender Cat to earnings of over $40,000. By breaking her maiden at first asking, she has never finished worse than second, and is ranked 135th in this division. Expect her close early as jockey L Gordon will attempt to give her the perfect stalking trip to let her keep the front runners in her sights. Continuing to improve with each start, this brown filly will need to step up her game and show she can post speed figures in the mid 80’s to be competitive with this field.
Waki Slam (6/1)
Co-favorite Waki Slam breaks from the three hole for trainer chloedawg. This daughter of Grand Slam x Miswaki is 3 for 5 lifetime and ranks 31st in this division. After starting her career with a tear, winning a MSW first time out, she then added two stakes to her resume, winning the second with a sp of 85 over today’s distance, before jumping to graded company. With the brown filly failing to hit the board in either graded start, chloedawg has brought Waki Slam back to open stakes company to attempt to regain her winning form. Should be mixing it up on the front end with jockey L Ingersoll (21%) in the irons.
Taunta (6/1)
Also at 6/1 on the morning line, Taunta has also been running in graded company earning over $56,000. After breaking her maiden first out, trainer tenderfoot moved the chestnut filly into a G3 where she brought second, closing from near last to be just short at the wire. However, in her next start, the daughter of freshman sire Dance with Ravens x Kingmambo, disappointed in a G1 at 6.5 furlongs finishing a dismal 12th of 14. Hoping to find the winners circle again, tenderfoot brings Taunta to open stakes company for the first time. She has shown she has the speed to be competitive, but jockey M Robertson (11%) will have to get this hard charging filly running late if she hopes to close from the back to take the win.
Breaking from post 5 is the Grand Slam x Dixieland Band filly Dixie’s Grand Fan. While she has earned only one win in five starts for trainer reminder, she has been on the board for all but one of her races. After trying maiden company for her first three starts without victory, the brown filly moved to stakes competition to earn her first win. LTO she failed to fire in a grade 2 event and drops back in against lesser company. Jockey T Seals (5%) may have his work cut out for him as the Dixie’s Grand Fan doesn’t appear to have a clear running style. To this point she has not put up the speed figures of the top entries, though her stakes experience is a plus.
Parallel Lives (24/1)
Claimed in her second start for a bargain $5000 by trainer thunor, Parallel Lives has lived in stakes company since, rewarding the claim with a win and a place in two starts. The daughter of Mutakddim x Not For Love has come to earn over $57,000 and been on the board in every one of her starts, including her early races against colts and on the turf. It’s unclear how she plays into the speed figures, as both of her starts at this distance on this surface have come on off tracks. If her speeds improve from her off track efforts, jockey Q Redden (9%) should have this gritty closer in the mix at the wire.
Ectoplasm (6/1)
Speedy daughter of Ghostzapper x A.P. Indy, Ectoplasm takes a big jump in class to stakes company for the first time. Breaking her maiden LTO for trainer padrebri, she put up a nice sp of 77 in a fast closing effort. This filly is regally bred and has improved with every start, but will still need to step up to prove she can run with this level of competition. Look for her to be running late if she can handle these girls.
Consistent performer Coronado’s Band looks to add another stakes win to her expanding resume. Winner of the Smackdown owner restricted stakes LTO for trainer qhorseguy, this filly has tromped through the ranks with three wins and a third in five career starts and has earned an astounding $339,588. A Peglow (11%) should have this daughter of
Hail to the Chief (11/1)
Stakes winner Hail to the Chief returns to open stakes competition for trainer betyourhat. This daughter of Ouragan x Storm Cat has been impressive in winning three of her four starts, including an ALW race against the boys. Her unbeaten record came to an end LTO in her only graded effort to date, though she did finish ahead of fellow competitor Dixie’s Grand Fan in that race. Will need to continue to improve off of her previous speed ratings but has shown the form to be competitive with at this level. Should be in a nice position late after stalking the early leaders.
Royal Ritual (12/1)
After taking four starts and a switch to the main track, Royal Ritual appears to have figured out the racing game, winning at ALW conditions LTO. Trainer strstable8 has this filly ready to run off of a sparkling 85 speed figure in her last race, and is looking to continue her newly winning form in stakes competition. By Belong to Me x King of Kings (IRE), this filly shows the speed to be competitive if she handles the jump in class, and will be aiming for a stalking trip with jockey V Pegram (6%).
Hooters in May (11/1)
Multiple stakes winner Hooters in May returns to sprinting after finishing off the board LTO in a G1 event at 8 panels. Trainer maximilian hopes the shorter distance will reunite this filly with the winners circle and improve on her record of three wins in six starts. The most experienced runner in the field, this daughter of Roses in May x Beau Genius is ranked 32nd in the division but will have to move forward off her last effort and keep the leaders in her sights. J Elizondo (13%) has the call and expect a stalking trip.
Wokeupthismorning (12/1)
Wokeupthismorning is another runner shortening up and looking to regain form. The daughter of Fantasticat x Troy (GB) has earned two wins from three starts for trainer sjfarms. She finished well up the track LTO in Grade 1 company, finishing six positions behind current competitor Hooters in May. Will need to improve to be competitive and jockey K Croel (9%) will need to keep her from getting into a speed duel early.
Mini Raha (9/1)