Duo do battle again in race of swoopers

Welcome to the preview of the Pick6 Jamboree Stakes, a Grade 3 event in Eastern Kentucky.  A field of 12 mares will assemble on Saturday, and a handful have been running some very quick times of late, so it should be a very speedy mile. 

The favourite, ALSO SWEET, lines up against the prodigal mare who flashed home to beat her last time against all odds, ALY STORM.  They look the two to beat on that form, but a couple of handy mares in the wide out posts appear more than capable of upsetting that duo. 

With no genuine front-runners in the race, one of the starters may need to change tactics if left in the lead early on.  This could prove to be either an advantage or a disadvantage, as most of the field are late closers.

PP1 SWIFT KICK ID#32639 sdmf2 7/1

The top ranked classic dirt runner in the field is this champion 5yo mare by Summer Squall.  Has amassed almost $4MIL in prizemoney, and lines up this weekend as the underdog, after not having won a race since the end of May last year.  sdmf2 has given her almost two months off since she only battled home in the Distaff Delpenn Championship, and hopefully that will prove to be just what she needs to return to her best.  Look for some improvement.

PP2 BROADWAY ANGEL ID#47436 theleague 9/1

Was back to her best last time when came with a late charge, but ran out of room to finish third in the George’s Burglar Memorial.  Prior to that, she had nothing left in the final stages to weaken badly over 10 furlongs at Grade I level.  Can be very good on her day, but can be temperamental.  She should be finishing strongly, and if the speed suits her throughout, she has a chance to come home over the top.  Place best.

PP3 TECHNICALLY T (IRE) ID#41780 youngnhung 15/1

After winning the million dollar GSR Diamond as a 2yo, this mare went for over a year before she won another race.  She hasn’t topped an SP# of 100 since winning the Grade 3 Poor Mona Lisa Handicap in June last year.  Although her form is not outstanding, if she can position herself up in a handy spot in running, she is a place chance, but will need a lot of luck to beat some of these.

PP4 ESPRESSO D’ITALIA ID#9746 lasthope1 13/1

Rises back up to Graded stakes here, after lasthope1 dropped her back to Allowance company last time to help her find the winners circle.  She spent the whole of last year running into top-notch Graded fields and wasn’t able to break through.  Was eye catching in her last start win, coming from over 10 lengths off them, albeit in a slowly run race.  It is worrying that she hasn’t been able to match it at this level since her 2yo days, and with so many late closers in the race, it’s hard to see her beating all of them, but would be good to see her storming home.

PP5 SNOW DANCER ID#4769 stupor2 17/1

Lightly raced 4yo filly was tried on the turf in a sprint last time after her Grade I disappointment two starts ago.  The switch back to a dirt route may prove to be the spark required to return her to the form that saw her go top two at her first seven starts and win an Allowance race with an SP# of 105.  She’s looking for her breakthrough stakes win here, and although there are easier races around, she is over the odds at 17/1.  Look for her to be getting home.

PP6 PAPUA THEFT ID#97498 pick4 10/1

Grade I winning filly who is rarely out of the finish and has been consistent since her fail in the Bluegrass Oaks last May.  Ran out of room last time, so the extra distance here will be in her favour.  Another who’ll be getting home late, but has fallen short when coming from too far back in this company, so hopefully she sits up a bit closer to the speed.  Can’t dismiss, but will need to be at her best.

PP7 ALY STORM ID#9718 mowar 9/1

Had been doing well at ungraded stakes, but just not quite up to graded level, since returning to the track after two years away.  She would have been easy to leave out of contention here if it wasn’t for her blistering win in the Arkansas Belle Grade 2 Stakes last time out, with an SP# of 110.  That run was good enough to knock off ALSO SWEET, the morning line favourite here.  They meet each other again after a nice break and a repeat of their last starts would see them finish top 2 again.  On her last start effort, she looks to be the one to beat again.

PP8 WORTH THE GOLD ID#108364 pg53 19/1

Rising steeply in class from her most recent starts in Allowances, this Seeking The Gold filly will be up against it here.  Not able to beat a runner home in her two stakes appearances to date, she has topped SP#100 only once in her lightly raced career.  Has been competitive in Allowances, but the step up to Grade II looks too sharp.

PP9 JARABE TAPATIO (IRE) ID#54163 cooldude 6/1

5yo ElPrado mare who hasn’t finished out of the top two in her last five starts.  Came from well back to just fall short by quarter of a length in the Ouchy Nips Specials Grade III last time, and that run suggests she is well suited to this.  She is coming in for her third run in six weeks, so should be at peak fitness, and any improvement would see her challenge the favourite.  Doesn’t usually fall too far out of her ground, which will put her ahead of the other late closers.  Go well again.

PP10 LEAVINGONAJETPLANE ID#100654 urso 7/1

With so many backmarkers in the field, it may be left up to this 5yo light grey mare to take up the running.  She is most comfortable when close up on the leader, but may find the lack of a clear front-runner to her advantage if she can pinch a decent break on them before the stretch.  Has hit a purple patch of form, winning four ungraded stakes since mid last year.  This looks tougher, but will be in it for a long way.

PP11 ALSO SWEET ID#94592 pick6king 4/1

Fitting that trainer pick6king will start the Pick6 Jamboree Stakes with the morning line favourite.  Blew the opposition away in three consecutive starts with her shortest winning margin being 2.5 lengths, before being upstaged by ALY STORM last time.  Is ultra consistent and will be looking to turn the tables, and could challenge LEAVINGONAJETPLANE for the lead if the pace is slow.  Is out for revenge and has been so reliable, it’s hard to tip against her.

PP12 K’S FINNANCIER ID#92404 sledwith 6/1

Hasn’t hit the board in her last four starts after putting together an impressive hatrick of wins, including an SP# of 108.  Was closing fast, despite finishing at the rear over 6.5 furlongs, only beaten a length and a half last time, so the extra distance will suit.  Has excuses for her recent failures and back to ideal conditions here, so improvement is expected.  One of the main dangers.