THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—WEEK 3147
This weeks 10th race feature at Minnesota feature the 3rd running of THE VALDESLEW STAKES for fillies and mares 4 years old and up. The field of six will be going 11/2 miles on the turf chasing the top share of the $45,000 purse. The race is named after the mare VALDESLEW from the Valdes barn who had 8 wins in 42 lifetime starts including 4 stakes victories which were all on the turf on route to lifetime earnings of $302,375.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)RAISE—5/2—remedy sends out this 5 year old mare out of SAKHEE with a record of 28-7-11-5 and lifetime earnings of $307,224. This stable belongs to Minnesota local trainer Doza who hopes the home field advantage will pay off in this race today. This 117th divisional ranked mare ran on the dirt in 5 of her first 6 lifetime starts and then switched exclusively to the lawn. Since that time she has finished in the top 3 in 20 of 22 starts to prove to be a solid cheque earner for her connections. Her longest race to date was and 11 furlong stake she won in her 2007 debut in New York. She has 4 stakes victories in 10 lifetime black type starts. One of the best of the local jockey colony, Bowen (16.4%) will have this one stalking up close to the leaders in today’s race.
2)NORMAN DANCER(IRE)—5/1—misti sends out this 4 year old filly with a record of 17-8-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $187,584. This 402nd divisional ranked filly has 3 stakes wins in 9 lifetime tries. Her longest race to date was a 10.5 furlong stakes victory last year in DC. She races best on the lead but has faded badly in the stretch in her last 3 races and I am not sure she will enjoy the extra distance today. Brim (9.4%) get the call in the irons for this race.
3)DAHOMEY—6/1—rafita sends out this 5 year old mare with a record of 37-12-7-8 and lifetime earnings of $588,384. This 43rd divisional ranked mare has made a good living by specializing in extended turf routes while winning 8 of 24 lifetime stakes starts. This mare is another of the local trainers colony belonging to Minnesota Downs local trainer Rafa and while her best races may be behind her she can alway revert to her old form and throw a great race here and there. She found the Grade II company a little to difficult for her in the last start but has dropped to an overnite stake here today. Ireland (6.9%) hopes to have a good trip early in the race which should not be too difficult with the short field so that she can display her excellent closing kick in the stretch.
4)ERIN EXPRESS—5/1—4play sends out this 6 year old mare out of MACHIAVELLIAN with a record of 56-10-17-7 and lifetime earnings of $565,376. This 59th divisional ranked mare began her career across the pond while touring the european and asian circuits and did not cross over until this time last year. Her North American debut was in this very race which she won with a 94 speed rating. That race was one of 6 stakes victories in 40 lifetime stakes starts. She won her 2006 finale but has yet to find her form so far in 2007 with 2 starts that have been very dull. She is another from the local Minnesota stable of barns and Craver (10.5%) hopes he can refind the form of this defending champion mare.
5)GOIN’ LONG—2/1—azul25 sends out this 6 year old mare out of ZALAZL with a record of 31-13-5-3 and lifetime earnings of $538,279. This 40th divisional ranked mare is another who has made a good living in long route turf races. She has won 9 out of 22 lifetime stakes starts. She has been given the status of morning line favorite in this race by the track handicapper. She is the only horse in the field to have posted triple digit speed ratings and the latest was in her 2006 finale where she won an 11 furlong stake in Colorado. In her only 2007 start to date she was coming late in the stretch but finished short in The Grade II Lets Play Too Stakes and ended up 4th, she should enjoy the drop in class to overnite stakes for today’s race. The circuit’s top rider in Friar(17.4%) will have her coming hard for the stretch drive.
6)NEXIS RAINBOW—9/2—zambaygo sends out this 5 year old mare with a record of 38-7-9-7 and lifetime earnings of $339,674. This 27th divisional ranked mare is another who began career accross the pond in the eaaa circuits and she moved to the North American side of the ocean in 2005 when attempting a Grade I event in New York. This one started her career slowly by not breaking her maiden until her 10th lifetime start. Her best season to date was last year when she won 3 overnite stake races which represents her lifetime stake wins in 18 career tries. Her 2007 season has begun a bit slowly with 2 dull efforts and some reduction in speed rating. Another closer, she will be handled by Ritterspauch (10.4%) in today’s race.
A competitive compact field of which I am going to take a shot on the local horse #1 RAISE to hold off all the closers and cross the wire first.
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCE
Well it was a heartbreaker in last weeks Minnesota vs Vermont Rez Challenge 2007 but the affair went to the rivals at the Pastures Of Green who won by a score of 108-100 in the close affair. We send out congratulations to them for the exciting day of racing and look forward to having a rematch sometime again.
Theo won the speed rating contest last week with his horse Old Milwaukee who posted a 105 speed rating.
Cothill had a big week last week by finally reaching the peak in his climb of Mount Everest (a 6 classification race contest) and earned a lofty 1000 credits for doing so.
Desperado tied up the Minnesota Cup contest by winning the 2nd game of the best of 7 series 38-21. Game 3 goes off this saturday.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO
MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENT MANAGER