Red-Hot Filly Phenom Spooky Wildcat Leads Top Fillies in Louisiana Oaks(G2)
Ten of the top fifty three-year-old fillies, including three of the top ten, have gathered for the Grade II Louis Oaks.
Many of these fillies have met before and multiple times. Four exit the Grade II Los Vinegrette, including the winner You’re a Towel. A win today will go a long way toward securing a start in another race named Oaks to be held the first Saturday in May.
Here is a look at the field:
PP 1 AZ A CRYSTAHL(IRE) (AZAMOUR (IRE) x
Beat three other stakes winners in her listed win last time, where she was one of only two in today’s field to post a 100 speed figure. Likes to run close to the lead, but has shown the ability to come from a stalking position. This race sets up well for that running style. With only five lifetime starts, she’s an unknown quantity.
PP 2 PAINTBRUSH(KY) (JOHAR x BROAD BRUSH x CRYPTOCLEARANCE), bred and trained by Buckaroo (15%) Odds: 11-1.
Last two races have been in listed stakes with only four entries. In her last start she finished almost three lengths behind Canungra Epic, whom she faces again today. Class rise looks formidable, although lightly raced animals like this are eligible for rapid improvement.
PP 3 YOU’RE A TOWEL(KY) (ELUSIVE QUALITY x SAINT BALLADO x MILL REEF), bred and trained by Watershed (13%) Odds: 7-1.
Barn with a mere 71 starts latches on to the number two rated three year old filly. And there’s a big gap between her and the number three filly. With a million dollars in earnings and three graded route wins already, she has a dominant class edge on the field. She lost to the number one rated Sisson’s Chant in the Breeder’s Bowl, her only time out of the money, but has been running faster than that one recently. Beat three others in here in her last start, the Grade II Los Vinegrette.
PP 4 QUIET SHEIKH(KY) (QUIET AMERICAN x SHEIKH ALBADOU(GB) x VALID APPEAL), bred and trained by LawyerRon (14%) Odds: 16-1.
She has the most starts in the field, but has more wins than only two others. That’s part of the reason she’s been assigned the longest odds in the race. The other reason is that her most recent race wasn’t good. She’s lost to You’re a Towel last time and to
PP 5 CANUNGRA EPIC(KY) (EMPIRE MAKER x STORM CAT x FORTY NINER), bred and trained by BigKev (14%) Odds: 13-1.
Nineteen fillies were entered in this race, and only fourteen made the cut. Cununga Epic was filly number 14. But with four wins in five routes, she’s not a throw-out. She’s been showing dramatic improvement lately, and that’s a good sign. Needs to continue that improvement, as she hasn’t faced anything nearly as tough as this field before. She may not like all the early pressure she’ll face here, and you have to be concerned about jockey’s winless streak that dates back into last year. Dam was a disappointing runner, but has produced two stakes winners.
PP 6 TUBIA(KY) (PULPIT x MACHIAVELLIAN x POLAR FALCON), bred and trained by Bellissimo (15%) Odds: 10-1.
Speedster has been first or second in all of her dirt races, but has been facing weaker and smaller fields than she meets today. She hasn’t faced any of these before – this is her first
PP 7 SPOOKY WILDCAT(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x STORM CAT x A.P. INDY), bred and trained by Photo14st (15%) Odds: 9-2.
Who doesn’t have about three or four horses sitting in their barn with this breeding? The expensive combination looks to be paying off for the barn – she has four convincing wins in her five starts. When she made her graded stakes debut last time in the Davola Dane South as the favorite, the Black Type Bugler writer observed that she appeared to be without flaws and then foolishly picked another to win. What an idiot. The writer also noted that she was being expertly handled by her connections. Still true.
PP 8 EUSA(KY) (CAT THIEF x RAHY x MILL REEF), bred and trained by Voltereta (13%) Odds: 15-1.
This longshot has four wins in seven starts against fillies, and three wins and a second in four routes. That makes her worth a look. She’s trying to jump from allowance company to graded stakes. It looks like a tough jump. The distance shouldn’t be a problem – she won at nine furlongs last time, but the class might be a problem. She’s gone from a speed figure of 66 to 85 to 94 in her last three races. Needs to continue that level of improvement.
PP 9 HEART OF LIGHT(KY) (TIZNOW x UNBRIDLED x HOIST THE FLAG), bred and trained by Mav1764 (16%) Odds: 13-1.
Sire has only two graded winners in the Sim. I know. I am surprised, too. This one has a good chance to make it three. Someday. She’s found the winner’s circle six times in her eight starts, and barely missed her other two races. She has a ton of early speed. If jock can get her clear of the other early ones here, she’s got a great chance to pull off a major upset. Tempting.
PP 10
That Black Type Bugler writer who previewed the Davola Dane South (already identified as an idiot) picked this one to win, and she finished fifth. It is now time to acknowledge that, while she’s fast, she is winless in her four graded stakes tries. On the other hand, she has an intriguing pattern of finishing second in every other race her entire career. The pattern says today is the day for a second.
PP 11 THE TORMENTOR(KY) (PULPIT x MT.
Barn goes for the milestone 100th win this week. If that win is to come from this one, we need to excuse her last race as being caught up in traffic. If you can find it in your heart to forgive that last race, you’ll find much to like here. With normal maturity, her speed figure should put her right there. She has a great figure at the distance and is capable of taking advantage of a speed duel. If you can’t excuse her last race, she’s one to toss out.
PP 12 STAR OF THE NORTH(KY) (SEEKING THE GOLD x NORTHERN DANCER x
She was closing ground on You’re a Towel in her last and has been first or second in six of her seven dirt starts. It would be a mistake to overlook this one. Number 10 rated filly deserves strong consideration. Should be flying late down the lane.
PP 13 DJ’S APTIMISM(KY) (APTITUDE x MISWAKI x RIVERMAN), bred and trained by DJones4321 (5%) Odds: 14-1.
She’s picked up some minor awards at this level before, so she might again, but if the barn is looking for a win, her speed figures say she would fit better with N1X level allowance than with this crowd.
PP 14 TACTICAL RAT(KY) (TACTICAL CAT x RED RANSOM x MILL REEF), bred and trained by EdenRidge (7%) Odds: 12-1.
Faded late and badly in the Los Vinegrette last time, but hope comes from her other route start. Three races back she held off an early challenge to win the Grade II Boca at this distance. In fact it’s the best speed at the distance. If you think she can overcome the other early speed, you have a great payoff coming.
Top Threes:
Morning Line: Spooky Wildcat You’re a Towel Dixie Burning
Speed Last Race: Spooky Wildcat Aza Crystahl You’re a Towel
Speed at Distance: Tactical Rat The Tormentor You’re a Towel
Current Class: You’re a Towel Spooky Wildcat Star of the North
Early Speed: Tactical Rat Heart of Light Tubia
Late Speed: You’re a Towel Spooky Wildcat Star of the North
Timmn’s picks: Spooky Wildcat You’re a Towel Tactical Rat