Grade III Heyman Sprint Stakes
Finland Two of the top 12 in the older filly and mare dirt sprint division have shown up for the Grade 3 Heyman Sprint Stakes and have been shown the respect due them with short odds. While not exactly the strongest graded field ever assembled, a couple of other 7 entrants have legitimate shots at the upset and making a name for themselves in the $150,000 race to be contested over 6 furlongs on a fast dirt track.
REBELLING PP1 11/1 R Tribett 10.4%
This Wild Again filly hasn’t been enjoying much success since turning four, hitting the board just once, winning a time-conditioned allowance, in 9 tries. That’s one more win than her dam had at that age. Breeder/trainer corka claimed the Cryptoclearance dam and trained her to all 4 of her wins, all 4 of which came at age 3. Dam had only one 2nd and 3 3rd place finishes in 27 races after turning 4. Showed a big kick last time out in finishing only 1 length behind the winner but only got a sixth place finish in that cavalry charge finish. (2972.0914 if you want to see an exciting finish). Lots conspiring against this filly in here, don’t see her being much of a threat.
BIRDS OF PARADISE PP2 3/2 M Kiprusoff 20.8%
5-year-old daughter of Seeking The Gold ships in here off a very nice win in the Gr 2 Go For It Handicap in Arkansas. Dixiedotco’s runner is an excellent example of patient grooming of a runner in the sim. Filly won her debut then followed it up with a 2nd in a listed stakes. Disappointing efforts in her next 2, both graded stakes tries. Trainer dropped her back down into allowances for the next year or so and she responded with 7 wins. After learning her lessons, filly stepped back up to listed stakes winning 3 of 4. Since that stretch she’s moved up to graded company and won 4 graded tries. Stalker might like more of a speed duel in front but probably good for the win regardless.
MORE THAN HIS PP3 14/1 A Su 17.1%
3-year-old More Than Ready filly picks a tough spot to step up to face older. She’s out of a B-rated Seattle Slew “he-mare” who had 12 stakes wins, including 2 grade 3s. She’s dropping back down into dirt sprints where her last try was a listed stakes win in the slop. Her last win, and only graded win, came 4 back in the Gr 3 Snaggin’ Wagon Stakes which was at 8.5 furlongs. Breeder/trainer freddurst has his closer in tough here though. She has yet to crack the 100 SP barrier. Elders probably get the better of her in this one.
STEADY STARPORT PP4 8/1 M Marando 6.0%
3-year-old scratch-bred Pulpit filly has split her 4 wins between the main track and the turf but by far her best SPs have come on the dirt. Best win for her came 2 back in a deep closing trip in the listed stakes at Hong Kong. She’s tried this track once before for trainer masgalas but that was in a route and she appears much more comfortable in sprints at this point in her career. This isn’t her first trip against older – in fact that lone stakes win came against older and she beat 3 GW’s in that one. This will be her first try in a graded stakes and she’ll probably have to improve a bit to be really competitive. Not sure the trip sets up well enough for her for the win, but no reason she shouldn’t be able to get a piece.
GRAND CAUSEWAY(IRE) PP5 12/1 T Owens 10.3%
3-year-old Giant’s Causeway(IRE) filly runs in the colors of the “super empire”, specifically for the super16 stable. She’s out of a moderately successful A.P. Indy retired G-rated mare. 4 of her 6 wins were listed stakes. She’s attempted graded stakes 6 times and has yet to hit the board at that level. Front-runner tried older 2 back in an allowance, got the lead but faded to a 6th place finish. Will need much improvement to get just a piece here but a big bankroll bettor might include her on bottom in a trifecta.
AIM FOR THE MOON PP6 3/1 B Vaughn 7.5%
4-year-old Woodman filly ships in from New York where she scored her first graded win in the Gr 3 CVBear’s Hometown Handicap, posting her career best SP of 107. Breeder/trainer teamfoppa bred her from a decently bred, mediocre race mare he had claimed for $15k. Momma’s only win was a $10k maiden claimer. Her other offspring has yet to win, but teamfoppa got a really good one with this one. She counts a couple of listed stakes wins in addition to that graded score among her 8 wins. She’s won on the front end, which she’s not likely to get her, but has also won from just off the pace. Must be considered a definite threat for the win.
HOSTILE PP7 6/1 S Ex 10.9%
Carson City 4-year-old filly appears to be the early speed in this one for breeder/trainer soulbleed. She’s a scratch-bred by way of dam-sire Polish Numbers who took her time finding her way among stakes company. She won 1 of 4 as a 2yo then picked up 5 allowance wins her sophomore season. Picked up her first stakes win in her first outing of this year and scored another 2 back, leading gate to wire against a pretty salty field. Even throwing out her last effort, she hasn’t fared very well in her graded tries. She’ll have to steal this one on the front-end and, while possible, that doesn’t seem very likely against these.
TEQUILA ROSE PP8 8/1 R Harrington 5.6%
Trainer miguel91 picks an interesting spot for his charge to make her graded stakes debut. She’s a 5-year-old daughter of Bestyoucanbe and has not won in 10 races this year. In fact, she hasn’t won since posting a career best SP of 103 in a listed stakes in week 2692 which was her 3rd win in her first for starts for this barn after being claimed for $30k. She’s out of a G-rated Mining mare who went 1 for 45 on the track and, while she hasn’t been performing terribly this year, there just doesn’t seem to be much hope for her
scoring here. She could be part of an early pace duel to help set things up for the closers, though.