G1 Sweet Nanette Stakes

Here we are in New Jersey for the $400,000 G1 Sweet Nanette Stakes for 3yo fillies going 8 furlongs on dirt. Eclipse Award winner Sisson’s Chant is the main draw card and is resuming as a 3yo as interest surrounds her in her first step to a Derby or Oaks dream. Looking to avenge their Breeder’s Bowl defeats by Sisson’s Chant will be Battle Cruiser, Jumping Barker and Ghostly Breeze who have all developed nicely and are coming into this race in great form. Trainers lenny and super will go head to head in both this G1 fillies dirt encounter and the G1 Train Yard for 3yo fillies on turf.
It is also a race involving sire’s with multiple runners with Ghostzapper having 3, Unbridled’s Song 2 and Johannesburg 2. Look for the break neck speed out front as Ghost Slayer and For Those About To Rock battle to lead whilst the gun fillies running from mid-field attempt to grind past them in the stretch.

PP #1 – SISSON’S CHANT(KY) – WAR CHANT X MR. PROSPECTOR X NIJINSKY II (levers) 6/1
7/6-1-0 for $1,882,220 – Dirt Classic: 1
This sensational Sim Eclipse Award winning 3yo filly is the SIMS top 3yo prize money earner due to her five consecutive victories which include the 2930 G1 Hoserhead Juvenile Fillies over 6.5 furlongs, the 3028 Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile Fillies over 8.5 furlongs and her last start 3070 G1 Eruption over 9 furlongs on Del Penn Champions Day against the colts. This week will be her first step following a well devised plan by Binzaman towards either the Bluegrass Oaks or Bluegrass Derby. She is coming off a sixty-three day break which could be the only chink in her armour. Resuming from the same break from after the G1 Hoserhead, she only just beat a one time NMCOS winner after coming from behind to win by a nose in an allowance. She has no evident racing pattern apart from usually being in front when crossing the line and I expect her to continue the trend coming from barrier 1 and with J Benisz who has a win percentage of 22.6 this year on board.

PP #2 – HOSTWALKER(IRE) – SADLER’S WELLS X KINGMAMBO X MACHIAVELLIAN (mook) 15/1
11/3-2-3 for $89,394 – Dirt Classic: 162
This daughter of Sadler’s Wells comes in with winning form last start in a NW2x allowance in 3112 going 8.5 furlongs and running a SP of 86. Her best result is a 3rd placing in the Sneaking The Phar Bonanza Stakes in 3028 before running 7th in the Que Manta Special Stakes and in her last run last year, 3rd in a NW3x allowance in 3077. Her only three runs against colts have been the only three times she has not finished in the money and she should be more comfortable in this against fillies. She generally races close to the leaders and will take a sit here from barrier 2 this week. She can run the distance however as with a few of the fillies at longer odds, she yet to run lightning quick SP’s at this level and will find G1 company tough.

PP #3 – BATTLE CRUISER(KY) – UNBRIDLED’S SONG X WAR CHANT X SADLER’S WELLS (kyclocker2) 9/1
7/3-2-1 for $571,420 – Dirt Classic: 4
Coming off her maiden and into the G3 Butterfly Futurity, Battle Cruiser made her intensions very clear with a one and a quarter length win in 2895. Things almost went from great to perfect when she was beaten by just inches in the G1 Kyhorseman Debutante in 2937. Her next run in the G2 Ducthess Of New York Stakes in 2986 was well below par but returned to form with a gutsy 3rd to Sisson’s Chant 1st and Dixie Burning 2nd in the 3028 Breeder’s Bowl. Her first run this year in 3098 saw her account for a small field in the W. Affair Challenge Stakes but was by no means impressive winning by just a half length. She runs best sitting close to the speed and will be attempting to turn the tables on her Breeder’s Bowl loss with R Case on board who has ridden a winner one in every five races this year.

PP #4 – FAPPA’S GOLD(TUR) – STRIKE THE GOLD X FAPPIANO X VICE REGENT (sdmf2) 18/1
9/2-2-1 for $103,917 – Dirt Classic: 76
Fappa’s Gold will find this a tough assignment having not won since 2902 in the DelPenn Mile Dirt Filly owner restricted stakes over 8 furlongs in what is her only win apart from her maiden. Since then she has finished almost ten lengths behind 2nd placed Battle Cruiser in the G1 Kyhorseman Debutante before placing 2nd in the A.P Naskra Stakes two runs after that. Finished her 2yo season on a low but has since come back solidly with a 2nd placing in the Western Dancer Challenge Stakes narrowly beaten by For Those About To Rock in 3105 going 8.5 furlongs in which she came from nine lengths behind. She is a deep closer that will get back in the field and come rattling home although it will be very tough having a career best SP of 82.

PP #5 – GIMME VINCE YOUNG(KY) – GHOSTZAPPER X A.P. INDY X FORTY NINER (super23) 11/1
9/4-2-1 for $128,660 – Dirt Classic: 27
Trainer super23 also has Wang Chung racing in a 3yo turf G1 this week and will look to make it a huge week with Gimme Vince Young coming off a Land Slam Stakes victory over 8 furlongs in 3105. She is one of three daughters of Ghostzapper in this race and will be attempting to get her first Graded Stakes victory after a 3rd placing in the G2 Margarine Stakes in 2986 going 8.5 furlongs. Her first run at this track was in 2825 in an allowance where she placed 2nd after winning her maiden. She has winning form coming into this race but may not be able to run the mid-ninety SP’s to match it with the likes of Sisson’s Chant, The Tormentor, Jumping Barker or Chasing The Wind when attempting to close from behind late in the stretch.

PP #6 – THE TORMENTOR(KY) – PULPIT X MT. LIVERMORE X WOODMAN (pjlracing) 12/1
7/3-1-2 for $201,426 – Dirt Classic: 13
This filly has a tidy record, after winning her maiden and an allowance she then placed 3rd in the Lionel Twain Challenge Stakes in 2972 and then took a giant leap by finishing 2nd in the G1 Frickazee Stakes going 8.5 furlongs in 3000 at this track. Her trainer pjlracing added a stroke of genius by putting her out of racing for fifteen weeks and brought her back in 3105 in the Clever Slew Special Stakes going 8.5 furlongs. She was always in control of her debut 3yo race and drew away for a two and a half length victory running a SP of 96. The Tormentor tends to race from near the rear of the field but does not allow the leaders to get more than five lengths ahead. She will therefore have to race further forward in this race as there appears to be some more speed up front than usual. She too can win this race if Sisson’s doesn’t fire.

PP #7 – OCEAN ROAR(KY) – JOHANNESBURG X A.P. INDY X CRYPTOCLEARANCE (greenappl8) 15/1
8/2-3-1 for $81,665 – Dirt Classic: 92
Ocean Roar is one of the two daughters of Johannesburg in this race. She won her maiden and a NW2L allowance over 8 furlongs and was then put into a stakes race going 6 furlongs where she found the sprinters far too zippy in 3021. Her next assignment, the G2 Golden Red Stakes was a huge task but she was out to 8.5 furlongs and came from 13th position, eleven lengths back to nab 3rd beaten under three lengths in 3049. This is where the good news stops however as in her first up run as a 3yo in 3112, she placed 8th in the Dynathe Turk Handicap Stakes again going 8.5 furlongs. She can be competitive in this race providing she doesn’t get too far back and runs as she did in her last Graded race, otherwise she will be nailed by most of the field.

PP #8 – YANKEE ROOTS(KY) – VINDICATION X UNBRIDLED’S SONG X SARATOGA SIX (greenappl8) 11/1
9/3-3-0 for $93,285 – Dirt Classic: 110
One of three fillies in this race that hails from the Greenapple Empire. She does not have anywhere near the same score on the board as some of the more fancied fillies but does come into this with winning form. She is a two time allowance winner with 2nd placing in the Nijinsky Western Challenge Stakes in 2951 going 8 furlongs her best result. Her last two runs of last year resulted in a win whilst running a SP of 91 in a NW2L allowance going 8 furlongs on slow ground and a 5th in the Fargroove Special Stakes going 6.5 furlongs in 3049. Her first run as a 3yo in 3112 saw her easily account for an allowance field by three and a half lengths running a SP of 87 over 8.5 furlongs. The distance is not her worry; the class factor may catch her out. She is taking on the SIMS best 3yo dirt fillies and she will find this very tough, especially if she attempts to go from wire to wire as she did last start.

PP #9 – FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK(KY) – JOHANNESBURG X SHADEED X MR. PROSPECTOR (stupor2) 15/1
5/5-0-0 for $89,880 – Dirt Classic: 51
If winning form is good form then look out for this filly. She has a maiden, three allowance and a last start Western Dancer Challenge Stakes win over 8.5 furlongs in 3105. Her trainer stupor2 has done a great job with her and is now testing her against the best in G1 company. She showed she has continued her progression through the ranks last start and beat Fappa’s Gold by a quarter length but must improve greatly to step up and be competitive at this level. She may well do it as the distance has yet to bother her and her dam won four of her five starts over longer distances. She is out of a very successful 19% winning stable but will be attempting to go from wire to wire from barrier 9 against the SIMS best 3yo fillies.

PP #10 – JUMPING BARKER(KY) – QUIET AMERICAN X LION CAVERN X L’ENJOLEUR (crash77) 9/1
10/3-2-2 for $234,440 – Dirt Classic: 21
Jumping Barker has developed nicely since her first allowance win with a 2nd in the Pink Fanfair Special Stakes in 2972 going 7.5 furlongs and a 2nd in the G2 Walnut Tree Special Stakes in 3000 beaten by Ghostly Breeze by a nose. Ran 4th in the Breeder’s Bowl behind Sisson’s Chant 1st and Battle Cruiser 3rd off a four week break then flopped in the Storm Over Seattle Special Stakes off another four week break. She comes into this on the back of two good runs as a 3yo winning the Mother Story Stakes going 8 furlongs in 3091 and running a SP of 94 over 8.5 furlongs to place 3rd in the G3 Myocardial Infarction Stakes off a four week break in 3119. This will be the shortest rest between runs that she has had but based on last performance she will go very well. No set racing pattern but from barrier 10 she will probably get back in the field looming up on the turn to be amongst the finish.

PP #11 – CHASING THE WIND(KY) – UNBRIDLED’S SONG X KINGMAMBO X STORM CAT (farm304) 9/2
7/4-3-0 for $302,870 – Dirt Classic: 8
One of two daughters of Unbridled’s Song in this race and is probably the leading contender to knock off Sisson’s Chant after a great performance in 3105 in the G2 Yanta Snez Stakes over 7 furlongs. She placed 2nd in her debut 3yo race after showing that she was comfortable with more ground as a 2yo by winning the Player Hating Special Stakes in 2993 over 7 furlongs, the Tiring The Affair Challenge Stakes going 8 furlongs in 3028 and placing 2nd in the G1 Movieland Starlet going 8.5 in her last run as a 2yo in 3063. She runs from around mid-field and handles the distance whilst possible posting a SP in the high nineties. Almost certain to run in the money.

PP #12 – SILLY CAUSE(KY) – SMART STRIKE X GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) X WAQUOIT (freeky) 9/1
8/4-1-1 for $135,141 – Dirt Classic: 35
This filly has developed nicely and although she has never raced in Graded Stakes company, she has some solid credentials coming into this. She won a NW1x allowance over 8 furlongs in 3014 and stepped up in 3042 to nail the Creepy Prospector Special Stakes field by over two lengths and running a SP of 91 in doing so. She then stepped up to the contest the G1 Eruption on Del Penn Champions Day and was subsequently beaten thirteen lengths by Sisson’s Chant. She has finished out of the money twice – both times against colts. In her first run this year she showed that she has taken the step up with a runaway win in the Linda’s Capote Challenge Stakes going 8 furlongs in 3112. Apart from the run in the Eruption, she has never got further back than five lengths and should be able to do so this week. She is very much in this race and will be in the finish.

PP #13 – GHOST SLAYER(KY) – GHOSTZAPPER X SEATTLE SLEW X BUCKPASSER (greenapple) 12/1
8/4-0-2 for $153,595 – Dirt Classic: 100
Ghost Slayer has great breeding and is out of a great stable with a 19% win ratio. One of three daughters of Ghostzapper in the race and although around the mark of late, she doesn’t quite have the same record to boast about as the others. She wired the field to win the Geralo Stakes over 7 furlongs in 2937, and after winning an allowance in 3014, she backed up four weeks later to again wire the Big M Challenge Stakes going 7.5 furlongs. Her last run as a 2yo saw her place 3rd in the Saratoga Turner Special Stakes going 8 furlongs whilst running a SP of 91 and after a five week break and in her first 3yo race, she placed 3rd in a field of four in the School Alice Handicap Stakes over 7.5 furlongs. If that was an easy lead up run, great as she will be fully wound up for this G1 race in which I think she is an interesting runner that will battle for the lead with For Those About To Rock after jumping from barrier 13.

PP #14 – GHOSTLY BREEZE(KY) – GHOSTZAPPER X PINE BLUFF X MEADOWLAKE (lenny2) 9/1
6/5-0-0 for $195,420 – Dirt Classic: 10
Whilst her trainer lenny must divide his attention between her and her stablemate Lightseeker who is running in a 3yo turf G1 this week, Ghostly Breeze looks to have her mind on the job after a solid debut to her 3yo season with a three length victory in a NW1t allowance in 3112. She was disappointing in her Breeder’s Bowl 7th place run after winning four consecutive races starting with her debut and maiden in 2853, an allowance in 2909, the Breeze Inn Memorial Stakes in 2951 and then the G2 Walnut Tree Stakes in 3000 going 8 furlongs. She did not fire a shot in the Breeder’s Bowl and will be in good order after her initial run this campaign. She will break from barrier 14 with M Squitieri on board and will look to sit slightly better than mid-field and grind to the line in the stretch. Distance could possibly cause a hassle however she is out of a G3 winning mare who won her 5 races over route distance.

Start – mid race:
Leader – Ghost Slayer, For Those About To Rock
Stalking Leaders – Hostwalker, Sisson’s Chant, Battle Cruiser, Yankee Roots
Mid-field – Chasing The Wind, Ghostly Breeze, The Tormentor, Silky Cause
Back Markers – Gimme Vince Young, Jumping Barker, Ocean Roar, Fappa’s Gold.

On the turn:
For Those About To Rock will begin to fade as Ghost Slayer leads. Sisson’s Chant to begin moving closer with Battle Cruiser going with her. Yankee Roots will begin to struggle along with Hostwalker dropping out quickly. Chasing The Wind to stride out and move up with Ghostly Breeze going quickly and The Tormentor and Silky Cause hitting stride. Jumping Barker to show turn of foot and loom up with Gimme Vince Young.

In the stretch:
Sisson’s Chant strides out and makes break for line with Battle Cruiser, Chasing The Wind and The Tormentor in hot pursuit and passing Ghost Slayer who is fading quickly. Ghostly Breeze holds position with Silky Cause as Jumping Barker moves up quickly giving Gimme Vince Young the slip. Fappa’s Gold can’t go on and is passed by Ocean Roar.

On the line:
Sisson’s Chant salutes ahead of The Tormentor who has won the struggle with Battle Cruiser and Chasing The Wind. Jumping Barker is a huge ahead of Ghostly Breeze who holds 6th, followed home by Silky Cause, Gimme Vince Young, Ocean Roar, Ghost Slayer, Yankee Roots, Fappa’s Gold, For Those About To Rock and Hostwalker.