Loaded field in Rhode Island
Hello race fans and welcome to sunny Rhode island for this weeks second installment of Hoof Beats . We take a look at the prestigious East Coast Mile -G2 for fillies and mares 3 years and older , the prize of $ 250,000 is at stake and the field is a full one . Some of the classiest females have entered for what is to surely be a mighty contest in the dirt division .
On the rail is 3 yo Lakunza 12 / 1 ( Bachelor Duke x Irish River (FR) x Damascus ) trained by Rioja . This stakes winning filly made a big splash week 2958 when she captured a capacity Vermont crowd in The 2nd Annual Grace Kelly Memorial -G1 for 3 yo fillies over 9 furlongs . She seems to be maturing in leaps and bounds of late and Veteran jockey G . Tapia gets the nod to guide her to the wire .
In post 2 is 4 yo Up Your Dosage 9 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Storm Cat x Alydar ) from Dokki2 stable . A unraced at 2 and 3 , this 4 yo filly has easily won her last 3 starts in Allowance company and eagerly moves up to graded competition today . Journeyman jockey Ka . Smith gets the assignment and the combination might add up to a giant killing equation .
In post 3 at 17 / 1 is the Graded winning Jdiso2 trained mare Mad Defence ( Brocco x Defensive Play x Common Grounds (GB) ) newcomer K . Henry aboard . This mare has had quite a career 51 : 11-14-3 and has won her last 3 starts in Allowance company . At the age of 6 i think her best days are behind her but her iron will is as strong as it ever was , perhaps she has one last great run left in her legs .
In post 4 , wearing the silks of trainer Lenny1 is Five Points 13 / 1 ( Point Given x Forty Niner x Blushing Groom (FR) ) winning journeyman rider G . Skaggs gets the nod . This 3 yo filly had an outstanding 2 yo season winning 3 of 4 starts . This year she wins 3 starts again including her masterful romp in the Wooly Mammoth BB Oaks -G2 week 2930 where she ran down a class crowd to the tune of a 107 SP career high effort over 8.5 furlongs . Her 2 other wins this year were over today’s one mile distance and i believe she has a most admirable chance of making it 4 wins today .
In post 5 is Berzerk Gold 9 / 1 ( Seeking the Gold x A.P. Indy x Danzig ) trained by Futurestar and ridden by journeyman VP . Davis . This multiple graded winning filly has won over a million lifetime sprinting and routing , this year she’s hit 5 triple figure efforts in graded company . Her last win coming by the Be Forewarned Stakes -G3 week 2755 in Mexico a 106 SP showing . Last year she came in second in this very race and trainer Futurestar expects nothing less than a win this year .
In post 6 at 17 / 1 is 6 yo mare Ed’s Valentine LC ( A.P. Valentine x Conquistador Cielo x Cox’s Ridge ) representing Euanwd stable and ridden by veteran L . Epcot . This multiple stakes winning mare has had quite a busy career 47 : 12-5-7 . Just 5 starts this year has garnered her a win and a show in stakes company and has yet to break into a triple digit SP effort on the season . She may be out of her depth this week although past performances show her love for the distance . I will certainly cheer for her on the second turn .
In post 7 ridden by fresh faced S . Meola is Superdaddy’s Girl 13 / 1 ( Silver Charm x Louis Quatorez x Topsider ) representing trainer Superdaddy . This 4 yo beauty has had a very light season hitting the track only twice without a win . Her last stakes level win came by way of her 2yo season and has come up short since then . She certainly has her work cut out for her today to achieve a victory .
In post 8 at 9 / 1 is 5 yo mare Commander Stephen ( Stephen Got Even x Deputy Commander x Riva Ridge ) from the Graceful stable . Battle tested veteran jockey W . Abner gets the nod for today’s event . Unraced at 2 she came on strong her 3 yo season winning first asking on dirt , made a switch to grass for a bit and returned to dirt winning twice . Three wins last season , none in stakes or better competition ; no stakes wins this season .. this solid Allowance runner is looking for lightning to strike .
In post 9 is Dixieland Deputy 9 / 1 ( Dixieland Band x Deputy Minister x Bold Lad ) representing Lurch stable , track leading jockey B . Scott in the irons this trip . This fine filly has won 1 of her last 3 races , all in graded company including her triple digit effort in The Big Ben Special Stakes -G3 in week 2881 over 9.5 furlongs and 2 second place efforts in G1 company over 10 furlongs . She makes her return to 8 furlongs , a distance untraveled since last season carrying plenty of stamina for the trip . She’s gonna have to stay close to the pace today to make a serious contention at the wire .
In post 10 from Henderson stable is Birchwood Carlow 11 / 1 ( Cat Thief x Unbridled x Roberto ) veteran jockey R . Manson gets the nod . This 4 yo filly is a relative unknown in the division . She broke her maiden on turf as a 2yo and spent her 3 yo season skipping between dirt and turf and sticking mostly to the Allowance class . Heralding her 4 yo season she ran in her first stakes race with a poor showing over 10 furlongs and returned to Allowance company again . She’s had a bad case of second-itis last 4 starts including last outing in the Open NC Filly Stakes -Stk where she hit her first triple digit effort in the slop week 2888 . Her success to date is the lead , if the field lets her go she has a chance to come out in front at the wire .
In post 11 is Ran Away 17 / 1 ( Sadler’s Wells x Kingmambo x Raise A Native ) From the Super18 stable and ridden by oldster M . Nad . Three wins in 8 starts in her 2 yo season and a busy schedule this season garnering 1 win in week 2888 among graded company at the Denny Tario Oaks -G2 where she put up her only triple digit effort to date . Although regally bred , she has a lot of catching up to do to prove she is worthy of the bloodlines . A win today would be an excellent start on that road .
In post 12 at 7 / 1 is Hotrush ( Tabosco Cat x Forty Niner x Broad Brush ) representing Rcdlogan stable and ridden by journeyman jockey D . Dorkus . This 5 yo filly has seen most of her success sprinting although she certainly isn’t a stranger to 2 turns . With 8 starts this season among class she’s won once in The Leggs in the Air Challenge -Stk week 2933 over 7.5 furlongs achieving a 102 SP . A second place in her last start , trainer Rcdlogan is hoping his mare can turn the season around with a good showing today .
Representing trainer Pointe is I Touch Myself 9 / 1 ( Boston Harbor x Pulpit x Colonial Affair ) with journeyman jockey M . Keown in the irons . This 4 yo filly broke her maiden early 3 yo season and raced exclusively in allowance company last year . She started off this season winning 2 of 3 and improved to the point of having to run in Stakes company with 4 starts and a win coming by The Berzerk Virgin Challenge -Stk week 2916 at 7.5 furlongs earning a 103 SP in 1:29 flat . She’s run 1:34 and change over 8 furlongs this year in the slop going wire to wire . With that kind of effort today she has a big shot at winning her first graded race .
On the outside wearing number 14 is the morning line favorite K’s Finnancier 5 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Seattle Slew x Buckpasser ) from the Sledwith stable , journeyman jockey A . Ringler gets the assignment . Injured at first asking , trainer Sledwith brought her back slowly and won second time out with a promising 86 SP to finish up her 2 yo season . Her 3 yo season had 12 starts , 4 wins with 9 in the money overall . This years she has been on FIRE winning 4 of 5 , all triple digit efforts including her last romp over 8 furlongs in The Shaana Stakes -Stk in 1:34 and change earning a career 108 SP week 2951 . This filly can stalk with the best of them and should make her presence felt at the wire in a dramatic way .
Kingman