Six Fillies Compete in the Second Annual HORNED GINGER Special
This Saturday, six fillies will compete in the second annual HORNED GINGER Special. HORNED GINGER never attempted a stakes, so it is perplexing that this race should be named after her. Perhaps her personality made her an unforgettable claimer around the Woodbine track. Some good two-year-olds came out to play last year, with the field including the winner SWORD OF PGPG who won three stakes in a row in her two-year-old season and is now competing successfully at in the allowance ranks, ELFIN MAGIC with five stakes wins in her three-year-old season and STAGECOACH DREAM a four-time stakes winner. None of last year’s runners were able to win a graded stakes, but perhaps this year’s field will ensure that doesn’t become a curse. The 2006 field contains:
TIMELESS TRUTH – trained by ceejaygee – 5/1
This is a first time stakes runner, but “Ruthie” has picked up two wins at this surface – her maiden and a 2L allowance race in week 2944. She tried a route last time out, but is wisely being tried back at 7f. If she can shave off a little time (I’m really talking a little, probably on 3/5 of a second) from her allowance win she’ll be in a good position to run second or third.
ALY’S NUGGETS – trained by lionhunter – 5/1
At 4-3-0-0 this one has proven she likes to go all-or-nothing. I believe she raced above her head last time out in a grade I stakes, though she seemed to enjoy stakes-level competition and rose to the occasion with a huge improvement over her prior three races. I question her consistency and would have tried her back in an allowance race to test her ability to carry the improvement into other races, but her last race was over this distance and surface and a repeat performance here could put her in the top three.
FAST LIKE WHOA – trained by mightandpo – 2/1
At 6-5-0-1 this horse has to be respected around the track. She’s also thrown huge SP numbers in her last two at 6.5 and 7.5 furlongs respectively. For once the bookies, jockey (top jock B Renfroe) and myself will agree that one of the other horses will have to combine a brilliant race plan and huge improvement to beat this one.
THE ROAD WARRIOR – trained by giantputz2 – 9/2
With two huge wins stakes wins the last two tries, if anyone can overtake FAST LIKE WHOA I like this filly. She only ran a 81SP last time out, but I don’t believe she was pushed to her limit. A stronger field here should sharpen her performance, although I would have liked to see her try a route since she improved so much with the extra furlong.
PEGASUS PRAYER – trained by pazbarn – 3/1
With only one race under her belt, this filly broke her maiden convincingly last time out. Although the bookies believe she’ll improve with the extra ½ furlong and stiffer competition, I’m concerned. There are horses in this field that I expect will throw mid to high-80’s in this race, and PEGASUS will have to rise to the occasion on Saturday to make it into the top three.
SALMONELLA GOLD – trained by doctahg2 – 4/1
Doctahg2 looks to have a promising filly in this one. She’s won both times out of the gate, coming from behind in each with a convincing stretch kick. She’s also liked being stretched out, running 6.5f last time out. The extra ½ furlong is definitely a good thing, as last race she had plenty of steam left. I think she’s got a shot at the win, and believe she’ll most likely crack the top three.
As the odds show, this looks like it will shape up to be a close race. There’s a few here that may repeat last year’s runners – running well here, but even better in their three-year-old seasons. Watch ALY’S NUGGETS if she’s close to the lead around the turn – she’ll quit if she doesn’t think she’s got a shot at the win. In the stretch keep an eye on SALMONELLA GOLD, FAST LIKE WHOA and THE ROAD WARRIOR – the three I expect to take top billing. The rest of the purse could go to any of the other three contenders – with only one horse being out of the money I expect all the jockeys will go gung-ho so they can collect a piece (however small) of the $75,000 pot being offered.