Wild Cat Tales big fave in distaffer Gallorette(G1)
New York– Yicky, icky, slop for Saturday’s distaffer division 8.5 furlongs. Unfortunately, the skies sure opened up here at the Big Apple Racetrack. Our main track came up as thick as pea soup. Jockeys will have their work cut out for them in the player-sponsored Grade 1 $500,000 Gallorette Handicap.
Go For The Gold(G1) winner Wild Cat Tales is our favorite at 5/2. She rides a three graded stakes win streak. Eleven fillies and mares, 4 years old and upwards head to the post.
Let’s take a look at the field………
1 TEQUILA SHOOTER sdmf C Jamison 11/1
What a wildcard! Savvy trainer enters classy Grade 1-winning turf sprint specialist…. but she can hold her own over the main track too. 4YO daughter of Aldebaran tried a route once last season, albeit a 9.5f turf drubbing. But the fact that she can throw a 100+ SP# over the main track… Hmm. Has never faced sloppy dirt course though, but diligent over the soggy green stuff. Speedster definitely one to keep an eye on. Can go either way, but worth a shot. Very interesting.
2 WILD CAT TALES champions4 N Lawton 5/2
On fire with three graded victories in a roll, including the Go For The Gold(G1-9f). Tale Of The Cat daughter preps for BB Distaff, ranked #6 in the division. Loves these 8f-9f routes and inhales mighty 105+SP#s and more. Top NY jockey N Lawton aboard. Should get honest pace up front with a couple sprinters duking it out. No worries over off track — she won LTO over “good” surface. 4YO millionairess going so perfect, she’s got only herself to beat. Hoo-ah!
3 CADDILAC MOON blackswan J Barba 5/1
Unbridled’s Song 4YO hasn’t won since taking the Orange Blossom(G1-8.5f) this springtime. A huge 109 SP# in tha tone, but she’s yet to duplicate the effort over the summer. Honest runner though who dukes it out on or near the pace. Figures to be in another scramble Saturday, though perhaps not as willy nilly. 5 weeks rest, but weak jockey aboard. Ranked #7 in the division, should draw into the BB Distaff. In the hunt again, yet needs some luck to at long last recapture the winner’s circle. 0-for-1 lifetime over sloppy course (2nd in 2yo debut eons ago).
4 CAPACIDAD deponce J Migliore 7/1
6YO mare lightly raced, making only her 20th call to post Saturday. Hasn’t raced in a route since her 3YO season. Limited success then, but perhaps she needed to race more. Closer won 3 of last 4 this season over 7f-7.5f listed company. Talented mare, and female family suggests route possibilities. Will she move forweard to possess the Monster Mile (and a sixteeenth!)? Perfect 3-for-3 over off tracks. Possible. We’ll see what she’s made of.
5 WILD CHICK airjordyn P Davis 8/1
Wild Again 4YO makes graded debut. Patient training saw her exhaust ALW conditions and thensome. Makes 12th career start with 7 victories already in the bank. Superior over short routes and fresh off an easy-peasy win at 9f LTO. SP#s figure into the hunt. She’s ready for stakes level, but can she inhale all, becoming a Grade 1 and black type winner in one swoop? Top jockey aboard and Wild Chick has also placed over off track. Gamble, but I agree with the entry. One to watch.
6 BUSH FOR IRAQ PREZ charliep B Child 15/1
Brocco daughter mostly racing a furlong more at 9f-9.5f listed level. Plenty of experience and success over off tracks, winning or hitting the board in 6 sloppy/good starts. Doesn’t display the huge SP#s though, so needs to step up big time. Stalker/midpacker talented, but needs the faves to scramble over the surface. Should be in the hunt. Excellent jockey aboard makes her a factor for minor share.
7 DAYLIGHT T(IRE) highbreed R Haffner 11/1
Well beaten in a Grade 1 miler event LTO, but the Daylami 4YO previously finished 5th in the Chubby Visa(G2). Pretty good race for her with a 102 SP# while stalking the frontrunners. Hasn’t won in quite a spell though and a bit inconsistent. Additionally, you like to see an upswing in form before tackling a coveted Grade 1. Makes debut over sloppy surface. Not the greatest PPs, but could pick up some money if she duplicates the Chubby Visa effort. Stalker, close up to frontrunners.
8 SILENT BLADE rrracing R Foster 24/1
Vindication marathoner greatly cuts back in yardage. Won a Grade 3 over 16f two starts ago and earns the cheques at the listed level. Puzzling entry. Didn’t do much over 8.5f as a maiden eons ago and 0-for-3 lifetime (with lower SP#s even at her marathon distances) over off tracks. Stalker/midpacker throwing a coin in the air. Maybe more effective at 10f? Very little chance if at all.
9 BIG UGLY jrogue A Pritchard 11/1
Keep an honest eye on this 4YO Summer Squall filly. She displays promise through 14 starts and finally bagged her initial black type LTO over a mile. IMO, her trainer rushed her to the graded ranks (9th in the Chubby Visa(G2)) three starts back. She was stakes-placed going into that race and it all resulted in a debacle. This time though, she has a flashy 102 SP# off pace score under her belt. Still, kind of rushed for my taste (as compared to Wild Chick who has strung together 100+ SP#s and 7 victories too). Factor for the board. Put her back in listed company and build consistency, speed figures and form if she flops here. Won over an off track, so no worries there.
10 DONNER sam812218 Ax Williams 6/1
Splendid 3YO filly in ’05, but hasn’t won as a 4YO since January. Thunder Gulch filly is a 10f-12f specialist over main track and even raced against males this season in the Sand Castle Classic(G1-10fD), finishing a well beaten 8th. Appeared to suffer an injury this summer and sat out most of it. I like her in this spot better than Silent Blade. Donner was a grade 3 winner over this distance last season and Grade 1 winner over 9f. Interesting move by her trainer. Must overcome 7 week layoff. She’s won a couple times over off tracks, so no problem there. Again, interesting entry. The layoff worries me though. She might “need a race” with only one race in 3 1/2 months. Still, not without a shot.
11 MISS BREWTALITY sarava02 L Hoskins 8/1
Danzig royal bred predomianlty a main track sprinter. Speedster won at listed level two back. 0-for-2 lifetime in routes, but did garner a distant 3rd place in the Bumblebee Classic(G1-8fD). Faces competition for lead, but if she can somehow shake loose, might hang on for a board placing. Kind of a wildcard, since unproven thoroughly over the distance. Good jockey aboard. Possible for a money spot, but she’d need the race of her young life to pull of a surprising winner’s circle effort. Outside chance.
Snowchief’s Picks:
As long as Wild Cat tales can handle the surface (which seems so!) and gets a fair pace to run at, then she should handle this field OK. Caddilac Moon wouldn’t be surprise if she regains form. Wild Chick may garner board before graded winners circle. Big Ugly might grab a piece of purse. Ditto Miss Brewtality. Donner and Tequila Shooter are wildcards. Donner has mucho back class and won over this distnace last season.
Lots of nice fillies in this race, but I’ll go with the favorite and on to the Breeders Bowl!
Win: Wild Cat Tales
Place: Wild Chick
Show: Donner or Caddilac Moon or Miss Brewtality
Good luck to all.