Fillies from all over the globe migrate to Ontario
Hello race fans and welcome to another addition of Hoof Beats coming your way by chilly Ontario this week to cover the 7 th annual running of the I’m Lost Handicap – G2 for 3 yo fillies on a firm 10 furlongs of turf . Every year we look to see if a trainer will step up to capture this event for a second time but alas … no such luck this year again . The honor of this race will go to the trainer most committed to excellence and who know’s … maybe a return next year to become the FIRST to win it twice . The time to beat is 2:01:2/5 set in 2003 by the Battlers trained Ice Queen (IRE) whom dropped some jaws in her unequalled romp to capture a great Sim legacy . The bar is definitely set … but records are meant to be broken and it is only a matter of time before a savvy trainer goes after the glory to be gained in this longtime Sim milestone .
On the rail at 12 / 1 is Waremblem8 trained filly Laphroaig ( Tapit x Honor Grades x Mr. Prospector ) out of Stakes winning mare La Pro and ridden by crafty veteran jockey Mo Johnson . After an uneventfull Juvenile career she has turned it up a notch in her freshman season 8: 2-2-1 both sprinting and routing on dirt and turf . Her only stakes appearance was week 2937 in California over 9 furlongs of turf in The Flash of Lightning Stakes -Stk with a 5th place finish . She has really matured of late and her last effort over 11 furlongs netted a place and a 97 SP effort . She may just ignite today over this distance in her 2nd career stakes appearance .
In post 2 at 99 / 1 is longshot Black Sam Mambo (IRE) ( Black Sam Bellamy )IRE) x Kingmambo x Riverman ) from the Fattz stables and ridden by journeyman N . Rhodes . This filly makes a big jump in class today in her debut performance at Stakes level . She has yet to win a race this year at any level but she did have a 2nd place performance on dirt week 2951 over 8 furlongs . I’m pretty sure this race is just a stepping stone to longer future races and who know’s … she may just have a career day .
In post 3 at 7 / 1 is co – second choice filly Bellafiga ( Dixieland Band x Kris (GB) x Storm Boot ) from the Cotevol stables , savvy journeyman V . Townsend gets the nod . This leggy brown filly is no stranger to class competition in her freshman season racking up 7 straight Stakes + appearances . Her last win over 10.5 furlongs coming in week 2937 in The Fast Slew Stakes -Stk where she fought for the lead early and cruised home thereafter to win by 2 1/4 2:09.2/5 103 SP . That kind of strategy could net not only a win but a record time perhaps today .
In post 4 at 9 / 1 is the Wistful3 trained Defend(IRE) ( Refuse to Bend (IRE) x Lear Fan x What a Pleasure ) with sucessful youngster C . Muncie aboard . This multiple stakes placed filly won first asking on turf her 2 yo season but switched to dirt later and gained a 2nd place finish first asking in The Forty Niner Buda Stakes -Stk . Her freshman season has been a mix of both surfaces and has really taken a shine to the grass lately winning her last 2 races . She has yet to break into the stakes win column but with her breeding .. the extra distance might be just what the doctor ordered to ignite this filly .
In post 5 at 7 / 1 is the second co-second choice Getting It ( Dynaformer x Seattle Slew x Buckpasser ) from the stables of Peter12 with track sensation B. Renfroe in the irons . This filly found her calling last year when she came alive first time on turf in The Rainbow Bridge II Special -Stk coming from the back and gaining a 3rd place finish . Her Freshman season has been all grass and she is lovin it winning her last 3 of 4 starts in a convincing manner including her last appearance in the Freiermuth -G3 week 2979 2:03 over 10 furlongs . Improving is a valuable quality and this filly certainly has it , no wondering why she is at the odds she totes today … she has earned it .
In post 6 at 10 / 1 is Nymphet ( Rahy x Mountain Cat x Nasty and Bold ) representing trainer Sano and ridden by crafty veteran jockey V. Staff . A stakes winning filly , she has found success over both surfaces this season and seems to like the distance traveled today . She has been a stanger to the winners circle of late , her last win coming from a week 2846 romp to win by 1/4 in The Prophetic Blade Special -Stk 1:57:2/5 over 9.5 furlongs . A win today will get this classy filly back on track .
In post 7 is Dyna Shore 8 / 1 ( Green Desert x Dynaformer x Sadler’s Wells ) . Trained by Poppoptwo , she is ridden by journeyman jockey R. Parker . This filly is lightly raced and has really found her stride routing winning 3 of 4 . Her last start was at 10 furlongs where she won by a nose week 2965 in The She Shanty (GB) Special -Stk 2:03 flat where she worked her way from way back to gain the victory . I don’t think she can afford to run that kind of race today , she will have to stay a bit closer to the pace .
In post 8 representing trainer Runshilohb is the third co-second choice Junk Collector (IRE) 7 / 1 ( Perfect Soul (IRE) x Spinning World x Dynaformer ) with hard luck veteran T. Griffin in charge . This girl has been consistently in the money this season . She won first asking to start off her freshman year but has been either 2nd or 3rd lately . Her last 2 starts have been at 10 and 10.5 furlongs garnering duo 2nd place finishes . She has yet to break into the win column where Stakes + company is concerned but today could certainly be the day .
In post 9 at 10 / 1 is Reefer Madness ( Mineshaft x Fappiano x Private Account ) trained by Super24 and ridden by rookie millionaire winner R. LeVan . This well bred filly won first asking last year with her other 4 starts gaining two 3rd place finishes .. all on dirt . Fast forward to freshman season … it has been a mix of dirt and turf appearances with 3 of her 4 wins coming from 9 furlongs + . Her only 10 furlong start came week 2930 in G1 company over a ” Good ” Dubai dirt course in the Hummingbird -G1 2:02:4/5 and a 7th place finish . Today it’s firm turf while coming off a wire to wire victory last outing week 2972 .
In post 10 is the Misery trained filly Cache (SAF) 10 / 1 ( ) with journeyman V. Luong aboard . Primarily a dirt runner , she has really taken a shine to turf , winning and placing in her 2 career starts over this surface . Her last start was at 10 furlongs netting a time of 2:02:3/5 99 SP . She makes her Graded company debut today in tough company , but with the time she put up last time out i think she will do just fine today .
In post 11 is the favorite Grassy Smeltzer 6 / 1 ( Dynaformer x Romanov (IRE) x Irish River (FR) ) representing trainer Godmamma , ridden by veteran N. Linville . This exceptional filly boasts a record of 13 : 6-3-0 , 2 of those wins coming from graded starts including her 10 furlong shellacking in week 2902 Crumble Classic -G2 2:03 flat 97 SP winning by 3 1/2 . She has broken into triple digit efforts only once career wise but i have an inkling that she is due for another . Her stalking style should fare well in this field with her undeniable closing run .
In post 12 at 7 / 1 is Mas As ( Fusaichi Pegasus x Storm Cat x Zamboni ) from Rheffisimo racing stable , ridden today by sharp journeyman C. Brubaker . This royally bred filly was unraced as a 2 yo , making her first start earlier this season on dirt winning 1 in 5 . Making the switch to turf she won first asking and has been on a tear winning 3 of 6 in Allowance ranks . She makes her Graded debut in a rough crowd with questions to be answered , jetting across the pond to take on North American class in one of the Sim’s oldest races .
On the outside in post 13 is Bella (IRE) 11 / 1 ( Moon Ballad (IRE) x Carson City x Gone West ) from the stables of Graz628 , ridden by journeyman S. Wasko . This multiple stakes winning filly has had a busy career already with 17 starts – 17:5-3-2 ; her last win coming in week 2825 The Apple House Memorial Stakes -Stk over 8.5 furlongs in 1:43:2/5 winning by 2 3/4 94 SP . She has been gaining form in longer races but her last race at this distance in New York was a lackluster performance in the Empire State Cap -G2 week 2965 . Conventional wisdom says no way a win today , but you never know .
Kingman