KY Horsemen Spirits Series for Monster Miler Mares at Kentucky
Kentucky– The KY Horsemen Spirits Series marches on this week here at the Bluegrass Racetrack as well as in the Big Apple. Grade 1 showcases of the game’s best talent, the Spirits Series spotlights Monster Miler Mares of the 4YO+ distaffer dirt classic division this week.
And 13 fillies led by #3-ranked Otto History aim for the Grade 1 $1,000,000 KY Horsemen Mint Julep Distaff. We’ve got a fast main track and a monster mile to seize, so let’s take a look at the field………..
The Faves:
4/1 – Otto History (capsized): Ranked #3 in the Older Mare Dirt Classic division, the Deputy Minister 4YO has positively skyrocketed through 10 wonderful starts. Remarkable millionaire career so far — she’s won from sprints to 10f (the latter at the Grade 2 level too!). The only time she ever finished off the board was over 11f, tiring as pacesetter in that race. Gorgeous SP#s, wow! Lost LTO in the Go For the Gold(G1) over an off track. In her 108 SP# Bumblebee Classic(G1) tour-de-force, she defeated a few of these fillies in Saturday’s field. Top jockey Denny Givins gets the call. Big challenge with an expected pace scamble, but she’s dueled before and won! 13-hole might be a factor though.
5/1 – Classic (sunkitten): Despite a puzzling ALW loss LTO, this Tabasco Cat 4YO brings quite a miler record to Saturday’s race. She climbed into the graded level over the summer with an outstanding 111 SP# victory in the 8f Boquet o’ Daisies(G3). Wickedly fast and she unfortunately bounced in her next start. Later, she recovered with a fine 2nd (beaten 3 lengths) to Otto History in the Bumblebee Classic(G1). With all the speed here, I really like this filly to come from the clouds and bag the big purse. However, that ALW race LTO gets me cringing a bit — no running whatsoever, but maybe she didn’t have any pace to run at or the Jersey track played for speed that day… I don’t know! Great jockey P Cadigan aboard. Ranked #18 in division. Fantastic shot.
5/1 – Jeeravaka (bayourace): Lovely! Five straight ALW victories for this Spinning World 4YO. 16th career start Saturday and she fits in her perfectly SP#-wise. The only knock against her is that you like to see a horse win a listed stakes first. This filly ran in the Equinics back in late winter and she set the pace over a mile there too, tiring late but only beaten by 5 lengths. Not a very good jockey aboard though, so we’ll see if she can take it wire to wire. And of course she’s in for a heckuva pacesetting catfight with the more experienced Otto History. Heckuva spot.
In The Wings:
7/1 – Meet The Legend (twister): Grand ol’ General Meeting mare makes 47th trip to the post. The $2-million earner hasn’t won in a long time. Been racing averagely around one-turn of late. 5 weeks rest. Her SP#s really don’t put her amongst the top faves. Kind of a lightning leap — tossing up a prayer that she’ll somehow find a huge number Saturday. Lifetime record merits respect…. but new blood will probably outrun even her absolute best at age 6.
8/1 – Daylight T(IRE) (highbreed): Daylami(IRE) 4YO was in contention for the Chubby Visa(G2-8.5fD) winner’s circle LTO, but couldn’t hold off those closers, finishing 5th by 4 1/4 lengths. Good effort after a lacadaisical summer of a couple of stakes placing and a pair of short field flubs. Seems like she might be a bit better with an added sixteenth or furlong though. Regardless, I think she’ll run her race here for a minor share. Can’t really see her knock off the more established graded milers at 32 starts. Outside chance.
8/1 – Ms. Maker (twistystix): Epic’s ‘B’ filly just won stalker-style over 8.5f LTO. Empire Maker 4YO threw a huge 109 SP# earlier this season in the miler Be Forewarned(G3), but hasn’t recaptured that zippy magic since. Is she back in form? Good jockey in the saddle. Decent chance from behind the pace. Really like to see a horse on the upswing too.
9/1 – Town Hall (clk2000): Versatile running style with this Proud Citizen closer. She seems capable of closing from way back as well as stalking the pace. Made up a lot of ground LTO at miler listed level. She hasn’t won much in 25 starts and suffers from inconsistency. I think this is another prayer for the winner’s circle, but maybe a minor share of the purse is possible. Two weeks rest. Outside shot.
9/1 – Twosome (ceejaygee): Awesome Again daughter recently exhausted her conditions, winning her first black type in her 9th start. Stalker loves the mile and should try a sprint soon! Threw a clinker 6 weeks ago in her followup stakes effort. Top jockey B. Sipe aboard an added plus. But is she ready for the Grade 1 bigtime? Highly possible for a big piece of the purse. I would like to see another listed win though and using up the NW4x too. I just find that if you build consistency and speed, you’ll have a much better chance at the grades. Regardless though, this one’s one to watch. Stalker.
13/1 – Berzerk Gold (futurestar): 4YO daughter of Seeking The Gold is an established miler at the graded level. Don’t be fooled by the odds — she threw a clinker 3 weeks ago, running dead last. It happens in the Sim — saddled slipped, jockey fell off and more! 🙂 Tossing some big numbers over the mile this springtime and finished 4th to Otto History in the Bumblebee Classic(G1). Kind of a wildcard due to recent form — only has 26 starts, so you’d think it’s not wear and tear just yet. Excellent jock D. Sherman in the irons — not without a shot, but she’s got to turn it around. Midpack/Stalker.
The Longshots:
14/1 – Try Kentucky (woodenpony): Great $15k claim for woodenpony. Aljabr 5YO mare snared her 1X two back with a 100 SP#, then brazenly pocketed an Eastern Kentucky stakes over the flat mile. Hot horse in form right now. She’s not gonna get away with a solo lead this time around and faces much more experienced and tougher pacesetters. Good mare and maybe worth the gamble to roll the dice here. I’d say that odds are good she’ll fold soon into this race, maybe hanging on for some minor money at best.
20/1 – She’s A Fast CH(AUS) (jfisher): Puzzling entry — 5YO Viscount(AUS) mare just finished runner-up in a 12f stakes. She’s going so good over the classic distance. Doesn’t make any sense why she’d be entered in a Grade 1 mile. Might make a dent on the early pace picture, but after that, should be outrun. Regroup after this race.
33/1 – Intenttodistribute (lordpye2): Lightly raced at 14 starts, this 4YO daughter or Red Ransom reeks a talent. She just finished 5th in the Big Dessert(G2) over 12f too after a piar of 10f ALW scores. Why no stakes mile experiments? I just don’t agree with throwing her to the wolves like this, Pye. :^( Yeah, she has that 101 SP# MSW win from eons ago. I guess she’ll be in the pace hunt. I just think you should take your time and figure out her best distance first.
99/1 – Hoe Nicole (renegade65): 7YO mare has no chance whatsoever. She’s way overmatched and should at most be in the ALW level, if not CL races.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Huge speed duel expected here between some excellent pacesetters! Of course Otto History is simply amazing and the one to beat. I can see her dueling with Jeeravaka and Try Kentucky maybe gate-to-wire. Post position might make the difference here — Otto History draws the nasty 13 with Jeervaka sitting pretty in the 3-hole. Try Kentucky breaks out of gate 8.
Try Kentucky will probably bow out first and Jeeravaka could hang on for the show spot. Stalker Twosome may also get up there for the board. Ms. Maker may bag some minor money, but I don’t see her winning. Berzerk Gold is a puzzle, but the midpacker has the back class.
And, last of all, closer Classic should be flying down the lane. Speed duel plays so well for her and it’s only a question of what happened to her LTO in that allowance race. If fit, I think she’ll play the spoiler….. though we might be singing the praises of Otto History if she can pull off a 3-way classy speed duel.
Win: Classic
Place: Otto History
Show: Berzerk Gold or Jeeravaka
Good luck to all! And thanks to The Kentucky Horsemen Residency for the Spirits Series!