New York’s Superfilly Classic G1
Hello race fans and welcome to another addition of Hoof Beats . We turn our gaze to Epic New York this week to cover the 6th running of the illustrious Superfilly Handicap -G1 , a Sim milestone for fillies and mares 3 years and older . The course is 8.5 furlongs , the prize is $ 400,000 and the honor of having the winning stables colors displayed till next year . Every year there is the question of whether a horse will repeat . Sdmf2 ,Trainer of 2005 winner Swift Kick elected to race in California last week and won’t be attending . A real shame there as she is the divisions 3rd ranked member and had a great shot at a repeat. The next question up will be if this years winner will run faster than the 1:41 flat time set by 2002 winner George’s Burglars , or will their filly join 2001 winner Norevic as a premier broodmare . Only time will answer these questions so lets take a look at the field as they come onto the track .
On the rail at 16 / 1 is Tete Astaroth (GB) ( Diesis (GB) x Secretariat x Luthier (FR) ) from the Flurgen3 stable . Veteran C . Tool gets the nod . A crafty claim of the current trainer last year , this filly has really blossomed under the dedicated tutelage . In the money in every race this season except once , this filly has earned 4 wins from 9 f – 14 f . In a bold move , she makes a big jump in class to challenge graded company .
In post 2 at 19 / 1 is Wally’s Dehere ( Dehere x Forty Niner x Proudest Roman ) from the Doa stables , ridden by Journeyman jockey P . Davis . With 7 of her 8 starts among graded fields in 2006 , this multiple stakes winning / GW filly is quite battle tested and has earned her low double digit rankings in her respective dirt division . Sprint / Classic or Long makes no difference … she is game and willing to take on all challengers . Her most recent victory came last time out in The Cheap and Easy Stakes -G3 week 2958 over 8 furlongs in 1:35 flat . 3 starts this year between 8 f – 8.5 f has generated 3 triple digit efforts , she likes the distance today and should make her presence felt late at the wire with her come – from – behind style .
In post 3 is the favorite K’s Joan Bach 9 / 2 ( Forestry x Mill Reef x Danzig ) representing trainer Verdugote and ridden by journeyman jockey L . Hoskins . This sensational 4 yo filly has been on FIRE of late winning her last 3 starts with authority . All 7 starts this season have generated triple digit efforts between 8.5 and 10 furlongs and this race should be no exception . Her last race over this distance was at Mike’s Hometown Cap -G2 in KY week 2846 with a 107 SP and a 3rd place finish . A graded win has been elusive for this 5x stakes winning filly and today she’s looking to break the streak .
In post 4 is the Czar trained Stormy Megan 6 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Storm Cat x Chieftain ) with journeyman A . Sailor in the irons . What a fun filled career this 6 yo mare has had ! 40 : 12-9-4 and still running well , this $ 1.1 Mil earner has most recently put up 1:41 3/5 efforts over 8.5 furlongs and certainly has earned her odds today . Lets not forget she was a graded winner at 2 and this mare captured fame in 2003 when she won both the Bluegrass Oaks -G1 and the Black Middle Flower Stk -G1 with authority and is still a big threat to any field .
In post 5 is Alluring Niner G 20 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Lure x Sharpen Up (GB) ) trained by Zz , youngster R . Foster aboard . With a career involving 16 starts in stakes company , this 3 yo filly has been real busy making her mark . She makes her jump into graded company steadily improving … yet not breaking into a triple digit SP effort to date . The stars will have to be in alignment to see a win today for this courageous filly , yet i feel the need to cheer her on to the wire .
In post 6 at a staggering 99 / 1 is 7 yo mare Hoe Nicole ( Back Wages x Topsider x Roman Line ) representing Renegade65 and ridden by veteran jockey A . Roberts . Well … what the hell . There’s a G1 in NY and the field isn’t full so i’ll throw my mare in even though she hasn’t ever run a triple digit effort . The vet was called in earlier to remove the jet pack and oxygen tank strapped on this veteran racer and now she’s under her own power again . She has been eating her wheaties lately so who know’s what will happen at the wire .
in post 7 is 4 yo Eyrie 12 / 1 ( Sky Mesa x Fappiano x Alydar ) ridden by veteran R. Haffner and trained by Upperhand . This frontrunner loves to set a punishing pace and this race should be no different . This stake winning filly has been improving lately and her last race over 8.5 furlongs was in week 2867 Fort Lostinthewoods Misery Stakes – G3 earning a 2nd place finish 103 SP . Todays field can’t afford to let her get too far ahead or she’ll make em pay for it dearly in her G1 debut .
In post 8 is the Foxon3 trained Forty Winx 8 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Nijinsky II x Buckpasser ) veteran N . Painter gets the nod . She has been racing well lately , winning her last 2 starts… both in stakes company . A graded start is the logical next step and her trainer is confidently sending her into her second career G1 appearance . She is a versatile runner on dirt so who knows where the crafty Foxon3 will put her but know 1 thing , he’s always looking to win .
In post 9 at 7 / 1 is the Lenny13 trained Empire Reef ( Empire Maker x Mill Reef x Halo ) with journeyman B . Reef in the irons . This multiple G1 winning filly is versatile indeed , winning on both surfaces in G1 company is no light boast but she can do it loudly . She first captured G1 glory last season wiring the Black Middle Flower -G1 and went on to a 3rd place finish in the Breeders Bowl Distaff -G1 leading the field to the third call but running out of steam at the wire . This year she has been tearing up both surfaces and returns this week to the dirt course where she is truly at her best , and why she is ranked 9 in the classic dirt division .
In post 10 is White Flag 14 / 1 ( Twinning x Seattle Dancer x Dayjur ) ; trained by Ryantoga and ridden by journeyman jockey S . Israel . This 5 yo mare started off fast this season winning 3 of her first 4 races . Of late she has been less than spectacular but still finishes well and makes her G1 debut in NY this week . Stalking style may be the ticket for a good showing today .
In post 11 at 6 / 1 is the classic divisions 5th ranked Quiet Glory ( Buddha x Miswaki x Dixieland Band ) , a 4 yo Kobras3 trained filly ridden by track virtuoso N . Lawton . She’s had 5 starts this season at 8.5 f in graded company garnering 3 wins and 2 second place finishes . Her last win at distance being on this same track week 2895 where she wired the field by 3 lengths in the Steadhemp Handicap -G1 in 1:41 3/5 :107 SP . If she goes for that kind of style look out girls …. your gonna need months to recover from this race .
In post 12 is the aptly named Classic 7 / 1 ( Tabasco Cat x Conquistador Cielo x Tom Fool ) representing Sunkitten stables and ridden by veteran jockey Ax Williams . This 4 yo fillies last start at this distance was at this very track week 2895 in the Steadhemp Handicap -G1 where she attempted to run down the speedster to her left in the gate . Today she is looking for revenge and I’m pretty sure she isn’t going to let her get so far ahead or it will be more of the same . Her biggest splash to date was in week 2832 where she dominated the 8 f Boquet o’ Daisies Stakes -G3 and came from waaaaaaayyyyy back to mow down the field by 2-3/4 in 1:34 flat : 111 SP .
On the outside at 6 / 1 is the lovely Filet Cheval ( Mineshaft x Storm Cat x Vaguely Noble ) from the Hansg stable , the talented journeyman R. Michaels gets the nod today . This talented filly is out of the graded winning router : February Storm . A late bloomer , she has made some waves recently and is making up for lost time . Her latest win over 8.5 f was in week 2902 The Turpentine Ash Handicap -Stk where she won handily in a sharp 1:41-4/5 putting up a smart 107 SP effort . She’s gonna have to keep real close to the front runners today to make her presence felt at the wire .
The field today has a great mix of racing styles , nonetheless i believe we will see an early speed duel between Forty Winx , Empire Reef , Eyrie and Quiet Glory . Right off the pace should be Filet Cheval , White Flag and Stormy Megan . With this much speed i would imagine early moves made by the late runners and a mad dash with a lot of traffic to the wire .
Kingman