Cemetery Winter Distaff
Ohio– Piebald Maze, close-up perofrmaer in the Bargain Series this summer, leads a group of nine fillies and mares in the rich $250,000 Cemetary Winter Distaff. The group goes nine furlongs over the main track, part of Bargain Bowl day.
Jdoggtx’s Piebald Maze (2/1) is a 4yo filly by Storm Bird stallion Maze Craze. The filly hasn’t won much in 25 career starts, but blossomed in time this year for her appearances in the Bargain Series. The downtown closer sported 100+ SP#s going into the Series. She finished second in the 9f Bargain Summer Classic against males. She then finished 3rd over the lawn in the Bargain Princess (also over 9f). Both performances were gallant efforts and especially the latter, which came over a surface that she did not particularly like.
Piebald Maze has since hit the board in 1 of her 2 ALW efforts. The filly needs pace and running room. The one to beat here with top jockey M Grunhard in the irons.
Redturkey2 sends out the 7/2 second choice in the field. Dodge The Vicar is a sophomore filly testing her elders for the very first time in her career. The daughter of the Mr. Prospector stallion Dodge was a stakes winner earlier this season over 10f. She even won Knightmare’s Bargain Derby versus colts over 9.5f. Quite the karma then for this gal.
Unfortunately, Dodge The Vicar hasn’t really done much this summer. She’s struggled versus open company, never breaking through the 100 SP# barrier. Seems as if she’s lost a lot of her precocious spunk, missing the break out of the gate often. The speedster/stalker finds softer company this time around and is well-suited to this distance. Good chance to turn her season around on a winning note.
Fellow sophomore Wave Goodbye (6/1) draws post #4. The daughter of a Storm Cat stallion raced ambitiously this season. She was also-ran in graded filly company around one-turn. Her best effort though came in the Bargain Oaks back in springtime. She managed a 4th place in Knightmare’s 8.5f race. Perhaps the stretch out in softer company will do her well.
Wave Goodbye is part of albarace’s co-entry. The other half of albarace’s duo is Guesss (7/1). She’s also a sophomore and hails from the AP Indy-line by the stallion Full Mandate. Guesss won the Bargain Oaks versus stablemate Wave Goodbye. She rallied gorgeously from way, way back that day to post a 2 length victory with a bright 92 SP#.
Guesss tried open company afterwards without success. Her best performance all summer came in a runner-up spot in ALW company. She likes these short routes and hopefully can get some speed up front to run at. Should be sharp on 3 weeks rest.
Lgbost3 sends out Cat N Fiddle (6/1). The 4yo daughter of Storm Cat stallion Karen’s Cat recently pocketed a 13f dirt ALW as the odds-on favorite. The filly earns her dues in marathon events, earning BP well for her trainer. She tried cutting back to short routes LTO and finished well up the track. Softer company this time around might see her out front early or tread behind the lead. Excellent jockey aboard sure helps.
Winter Knee(GB) (7/1) breaks from the far outside for sveningvar stable. She’s by Adonijah(GB). The 4yo filly just won her NW2x ALW LTO. The closer scored an 88 SP# in a rallying finish. Interesting to see that this filly also scored a 90+ number over Saturday’s distance back in the summertime. She’s got the karma with the racename on her “winter” side. Will make her best run from the back of the pack.
Lamepony’s Exceller Road (8/1) is by Magliore and claims Husband and Strawberry Road(AUS) as damsire and dams damsire respectively. The 3yo filly grossly cuts back in distance from mucho marathons. She’s been a BP-machine for lamepony too as a stayer, hitting the board in 5 of her last 8 with 2 victories too.
Exceller Road will likely bound out to an early lead. She’ll have a little competition for it, but could very well be by her lonesome. If so, then watch out. she might take this one wire to wire.
Hawkz sends out a duaghter of Griffinite in Down To It (11/1). This 4yo gal has only won once from 14 tries. but she’s been bridesmaid in her ALW NW1x for 3 straight starts. All of those performances came around 10f-11f. The ctuback in distnace might do this midpacker/closer wonders. She’ll need to throw a better SP# though here in order to be a factor at the end.
Finally, mutbaker sends out Chantili Samba(GB) at a whopping 99/1. The sophomore has only made 1 start in her career. She beat only one horse in that race too, a miler turf MSW. By Arizelos(GB), she’s likely to get a bet or two on her since she’s a true dark horse and wildcard. Everybody loves those!
Snowchief’s Picks:
Win: Exceller Road
Place: Piebald Maze
Show: Dodge The Vicar
Good luck to all on Bargain Bowl day!