Wicked Wench And Krishna Battle For Petunias
Wicked Wench And
On the hedge will be Harrowing (16/1) the first of two horses entered by trainer Freeky. I am not sure if he has questions he wants answered by this good looking chestnut daughter of Seeking The Gold or if she is in the race for the benefit of the other. My guess is that this winner of two of her four starts, is being sent out to see just how good she is. She has never been off the board but this is not only her first time in any kind of a stakes race, but her first time at this distance. While she did win handily last time out in a 9 1/2 furlong allowance race, Freeky didn’t do her any favors with his choice of riders. This is big jump that might not provide any answers.
Post two will hold P. J. Total Quest (7/1), a 6 YO mare by Elnadim who is owned and trained by Osstable. She has won 11 of 44 starts and two of her last four so she is definitely in form. But – all of her recent wins were at the allowance level and she will need her best on Saturday. She was an easy winner last time out at 11 furlongs and should hold up for the extra furlong. She has raced at this level in the past and been competitive but her most recent graded start was in The Shimko Classic, a Grade II and she finished last. However, the track came up yielding and being a dainty sort she didn’t like the going and refused to fire in that race.
Cache (9/2) was made the second choice by the morning line guy and that must have been based on her performances last year as she has done nothing of note this year. A 4 YO daughter of Horse Chestnut she has won four of her 14 starts including The Frosty Bonnie at 11 furlongs, but most notably, the Grade I KyHorseman Oaks at a mile and a quarter, both last year. This could be a chance for her to get back on track as she certainly has the ability to run with this field. Owner/trainer Misery will saddle.
Steelewolf will saddle Semi Spectacular (5/1) who has been pretty spectacular of late. The 4 YO filly by Barathea has won six of 16 starts and has only run one bad race in her last eight attempts and more than likely that was because the distance may have been too far for her. She won The Queen Car last time out by three lengths and is definitely ready to pick up her game. The only downside to this filly is the that this race may be over her limit. Her last three wins were at a mile and a quarter and the two extra furlongs on Saturday may have her looking for oxygen around the final turn.
The slight favorite and maybe a chance to pick up some extra cash in your gambling bankroll is the number 2 ranked filly in the long turf division, Wicked Wench (7/2). She is a 4 YO daughter of Montjeu and ably trained by Tesio. She has done everything asked of her, winning seven of 12 starts and she has over a million dollars in her bank account. She has won five of her last eight including the Grade I Adelaide Oaks, the Grade I Oaks De English, and the Grade II Spankie-Sho All Comers, not to mention both a restricted and a listed stake. She loves the distance and Tesio selected one of the best in the local jockey colony to ride. It is her race to lose and I can’t see her doing that. What a nice filly!
Icy Slumber (7/1) drew post six and is the # 16th ranked filly in the long turf division. Excmeeting is the owner/trainer of record and Icy Slumber comes into this race off a winning effort last time out when she covered a mile and half to win an allowance race by almost six lengths. By Elusive Quality, she has won four of her 16 starts and her best recent graded finish was four back when she tried to take the field all the way in the Grade I Pensacola Oaks. They overtook her in that race and she finished second in a good effort.
Deputy Minister will be represented by his daughter, Deputy Secretary (11/1), a 5 YO mare trained by Slowhand. She has been around the track a time or two and has won eight of her 32 starts. She is another that comes into this race off a victory last time out, winning a 12 furlong allowance race with a 10 point jump in her speed figure. She likes the front end but it might be crowded up there as several of the entries like it too.
Devine Divinity (15/1) has some experience with 18 starts but is still eligible for non-four lifetime. She won The Victory River three back at 13 furlongs by an opening 7 1/4 lengths taking the field gate to wire. She has some questions to answer but I don’t think it will be on Saturday. Shamran5 trains this nice mare but the daughter of High Chaparral will need to find another gear, speed figure wise, to keep up with these.
The second half of Freeky’s entry is Rude Stella (8/1), a 4 YO filly by Danewin who she is ranked # 38 in the long turf division. She is the winner of record in The What Horse Stakes and The Whirled Peas and was second last time out in the two mile Round Well, after leading most of the way. She hasn’t been notable at this level recently, mostly splitting the fields but she was third in the Grade I Adelaide Oaks, where they again ran her down in the stretch. She doesn’t duck the company though and with one of the better riders in the irons she might surprise.
On the outside is the grand old dame of the turf racing,
That is the field and the race maybe tougher than it might appear. There are many solid racehorses entered and many are at the top of their game. Good Luck to all.