14 Aged Fillies And Mares Head To Gulfstream For The Davey Jones
Sunday, March 15, 2015. 2:30 p.m. EST | Florida(FL) | Davey Jones Handicap
Grade/Group II | 4yo & Upward | Fillies & Mares | 7 Furlongs | Good Dirt
JT FUNNIE’S(1) finished with an odd stat in her last start- 8th by a length. The 4 year old daughter of DISTORTED HUMOR can run anywhere, racing half of her races on sprint and the other on a route. For the past five starts though, she has run in sprints, being within 4 lengths of the win in all of them, but winning only one. Nevertheless, she has been good for jimntom2, seldom finishing off the board. She’s never been more than 4 lengths back at the wire, which is why I think she’ll be in the mix at the wire. She’s only 5-1.
NEKO CHAN(2) represents vkstables and won her last race at 7 furlongs. The 4 year old offspring of NEKO BAY finished 6th by just 4 lengths in her first graded stakes effort 2 starts back, showing some real promise. The time before that, she took home her first stakes, both of those being at 7 furlongs.However, she is among the most inexperienced in the field and may have some work to do at 14-1.
RELAX DON’T DO IT(3) is the longest shot on the board at 22-1, finishing second by a head in her last start. This former Equinics competitor switches back to dirt after racing most of it’s life on the grass, but this horse has won 2 out of 3 starts on dirt, so this is the cause of the change. She has only raced in a graded stakes twice, both times out of the money, and this mtk3man3 trained daughter 4yo daughter of SMART STRIKE may improve at a longer distance and different surface.
MANNION’S GOLD(4) has never won a stake despite being 7-1. On the upside, this kelsorules trained 4yo daughter of TOUCH GOLD finished 4th by only half a length in a G2 last time out and hopes to bring home the trophy this time at the same distance. You can expect a great race from this one.
ZIPCAPADE(5) handles a massive step up this time as trainer samanthapug31 thinks that the 4yo daughter of CITY ZIP is finally good enough to move above the allowance level. Samanthapug31 originally claimed this horse for 10k back in August 2014 and worked her training magic and has had this horse produce very well since that date. However, this horse takes a huge step up and may not be ready yet, without a stakes start under her belt. She’s 20-1.
POND HOCKEY(6) is one of the two G2 winners in the race at 8-1. The ENCOSTA DE LAGO filly won the Blueberry Stakes 2 starts ago, a feat which 2 other starters in this one couldn’t accomplish. She followed it up with a poor finish in a G1 after that, but it was a big step up for the 5 year old. 4 starts ago, she came through for trainer bertaal3 notching a G2 and racing with an impeccable 110 speed rating. This mare does have the slight disadvantage of being a year older than most in this field, but she should race well.
SECRET CONQUEST(7) is the oldest horse in the race at 8yo, but has oddly never been tried in a graded stakes. In fact, her 2 most recent starts have been the first stakes of her seasoned career. This DYNAFORMER mare raced with 100+ figures the past 3 times, justifying crash2115’s decision to step her up. However, without a stakes win under the veteran’s belt, she has a lot on her plate in this one, placed at 14-1.
IXTAB FLEET(8) won the Go For It Handicap G3 7 months ago, and has been able to win just one race since then. This 5yo daughter of AFLEET raced in the G1 Everclear Handicap last time, and finished a decent 7th by 8, and earns a step down in this one. I’m excited to see what she can do, as in a G2 start awhile back, he came 4th by only 2, and with her increased age, musse4 believes she can step it up this time. The bettors are giving her a fair shot at 9-1.
ALBERTA FRONT(9) has won half of the races in her 4yo career. She is the 9/2 chalk, which even still surprises me, as she has raced extremely well recently (she should have lower odds). In her past 3 starts, she’s chalked up 2 G2 wins and a very good G1 performance. The Everclear handicap was a great race for the daughter of WAR FRONT. She was a very game 2nd, losing by just 2 lengths. She finished with a spectacular 115 speed figure, which warrants titleist’s decision to throw her in this class. She looks great in this one.
DAENERYS OF ARABIA(10) has won convincingly in her past 3 starts warranting the move up to a graded stakes by spqr. The 4yo daughter of MORE THAN READY is a large 17-1, which shocked me, because of the way she’s been racing recently. She’s been tearing it up and should give a big effort this time.
WILD RISKS(11) nosed out competition in her last start, winning the stake. She’s won 3 of her past five, all while posting fast figures in them (100+). This daughter of BERNARDINI warranted the step up into G2 action according to easygoer1, due to the 4 year old’s most recent winning effort. At 7-1, the betting public will give her a fair shake.
LUSH GRASS(12) was claimed 2 starts back, as former trainer maxy wasn’t impressed by her efforts. Though this BLUEGRASS CAT filly won her last race under now trainer seaeagle09, she has been inconsistent in her aged career, and I’m not sure what she will do in this start.
KUSARIGAMA(13) breaking from the outside won her last start convincingly on the switch back to dirt, by 2.5 lengths. This MORE THAN READY filly hasn’t done well in her past graded stakes record, but after the last win, trainer given4 believes she can finally earn her first graded stake, in this G2. The punters have mixed feelings as they’ve put her at 11-1.
OCTANE BURNER(14) rounds out the field for slats1. The 5yo daughter of STREET SENSE raced well in her last graded stakes effort, she was 3rd in the Go For It G3, being awarded an impressive 108 speed figure. Her last start wasn’t as good, as she only raced 7th. This time however, slats1 puts her back on the dirt, the surface she has raced on most times. She is eligible to improve this time, and may be in the mix at the wire.
MY SELECTIONS.
1- ALBERTA FRONT.
2- POND HOCKEY
3- MANNION’S GOLD
Longshot Play- DAENERYS OF ARABIA.