A Dancing Monkey to Win Chinese Stakes?
The YOU O. K. Memorial Stakes
One mile on Firm Turf
$80,000
Fillies, 2 years old
We are here in China which is certainly a different kind of place to watch a horse race. We are getting ready to run down the YOU O.K. MEMORIAL STAKES race named for the 8 times turf winner YOU O.K. This mile long $80,000 turf Stakes race for young fillies is one of the few at this distance and has drawn a nice field. Let’s take a look:
#1 GREEN DIESIS(GB), trainer – Pisano2, ( 9/2), Jockey – M.McGlaughlin (10%), Avg Sp # (68.0)
A pretty chestnut DIESIS offspring with only three races. After winning her maiden she has struggled a bit in her two stakes outing but has shown marked improvement speed-wise in each. Trainer Pisano2 tried her at shorter distances and this will be the first time at a mile which may not work to her advantage. I’m not sure that she can handle it.
#2 MONKEY MAMBO, trainer – CaliRacing, ( 2/1), Jockey – SB.Ball (22%), Avg Sp # (79.3)
This beautiful charcoal colored BUDDHA filly out of ICY MAMBO turned to the turf for the first time last outing and looks like both she and trainer CaliRacing liked what they saw. She threw a 79 SPF which was her best to date and easily won the KRISTICAL FOOLS stakes. That along with having the tracks hottest jockey in Ball holding the reins should make this team the favorite.
#3 LET IT SLIDE, trainer –NightSky, ( 9/2), Jockey – An.Mitchell (10%), Avg Sp # (69.5)
I am wondering why the Morning Line was so generous with the low odds on this horse who hasn’t hit a 70 SPF yet and hasn’t tried this distance to date. Trainer NightSky moved her to the turf for the first time last outing and she seemed to prefer it but has a long way to go to compete in this race. Jockey Ann Mitchell has her hands full here.
#4 MAMBO PAST NOON(IRE), trainer – Layoff, ( 3/1), Jockey – R.Unoz (11%), Avg Sp # (65.4)
What are the chances to have two Mambos in the same race? It is a little surprising to see trainer Layoff placing this ROCK SLIDE filly here as she won her best race on the dirt at a mile. She moved to the turf last time out and finished a respectable fourth but couldn’t break a 70 SPF. That’s why I get paid to write and he gets paid to saddle ‘em up!
#5 A CASE IN POINT, trainer – GoodTimes, ( 4/1), Jockey – J.Whaley (15%), Avg Sp # (71.6)
It seems like every girl in this race ran on the turf for the first time last time out and this POINT GIVEN offspring is no exception. She won at a mile easily in a short field. Trainer GoodTimes is giving it another try and has Whaley in the irons which should help in guiding his young filly. She’s not getting much play with the bettors but I think this filly has a shot.
#6 MOON BONES(IRE), trainer – KSparrow2, ( 5/1), Jockey – R.Gong (13%), Avg Sp # (76.8)
A veteran two year old with eight races under her belt already, this MOON BALLAD offspring has a maiden and allowance win to her credit but has struggled a bit in Stakes races. Trainer KSparrow2 is one of the best and may have found her best distance after a 76 SPF at a mile last time out in a fairly easy win. Able to lead or come from behind so the outside post shouldn’t matter
Morning Line = 2-4-5-1-3
Yoss Tipsheet = 1-2-6-5
Paz Picks = 2-6-5-1
Most of these youngsters are still trying to feel their way along, trying different distances and surfaces. That makes this a little tough to pick but I am putting GREEN DIESIS to finish fourth and hope that she can handle the distance. I like A CASE IN POINT for third but she could actually do much better come Saturday. I am betting that MOON BONES has found her distance and will just lose out to new turf runner MONKEY MAMBO who looks like she has found her comfort zone.
Good luck to all runners!
Paz