Best Field Ever for We Get Signal
The seventh running of the Grade III We Get Signal Stakes has attracted what is probably its strongest field ever, getting two top ten fillies and six of the top 35.
Two years ago, Empire Gold set the stakes record and has followed it with a successful career, winning nine more races including two more graded wins. No other past winner has ever won another graded stakes. Three other past winners have gone on to run in a Triple Tiara race, including last year’s winner Wango Tango who tried the Middle Flower, but none of them ended up being factors.
There seems to be some promising fillies today, and the winner just might be one to watch later this spring. There are already some fillies to watch right now. Two sprinters, Koko Taylor and Mike the Animal get the morning line nod, while Ghostly Breeze, who just knocked off the number one ranked filly figures to be right there at the end.
Here is a look at the field:
- GHOST SLAYER(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x SEATTLE SLEW x BUCKPASSER) bred and trained by Greenapple (19%) Odds: 15-1
Got off to a sizable lead and seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win in her graded debut in the Sweet Nanette last time, but she fell apart at the half, losing to Ghostly Breeze, Gimme Vince Young and several others. She can get the lead again today if she wants it. There’s not a lot of other early speed here. Needs a very capable ride to run the race she’s capable of, and her jockey? Well, my NCAA bracket is off to a more auspicious start, and I have George Mason back in the final four.
- BRABATRY(KY) (FORESTRY x PINE BLUFF x MILL REEF) bred and trained by
Closed as fast as the door on a Jehovah’s Witness last time in a listed stakes, and steps up in class off that effort. Her speed figures say she can compete with these. The pace scenario is not the best here, and the class rise is substantial. I’m willing to let her try to beat me.
- GIMME VINCE YOUNG(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x A.P. INDY x FORTY NINER) bred and trained by Super23 (17%) Odds: 12-1
The Supers would like to have seen a wet track for their regally bred filly. As it is, there are several in here with better figures on dry tracks. She’s been fading lately, so the lack of early pressure might be a good thing for her. Capable of sudden improvement, but frankly needs it here.
- TRI STRIKE(KY) (SMART STRIKE x RUBIANO x DEPUTY MINISTER) bred by Trifecta, trained by SDMF9 (22%) Odds: 12-1
She’s tried graded stakes before and has picked up checks, but she’s facing a tougher field here than she’s seen before. Comes in off a win in a four filly listed stakes with a time that does not strike fear in the others. Lightly raced and trained by one of the best, she’s eligible to improve.
- JACOBITE HOT SAUCE(CA) (TEMESCAL RIDGE x TALE OF THE CAT x MR.
Although she’s rated number nine in the world, she’s not been given much respect by the oddsmakers. She’s the longest shot on the board. Since her last win five months ago, she’s showed nothing in six races, losing them all by an average of 11 lengths. Granted, she’s lost to some awfully tough company, but she needs to show some signs of life before she’ll be worth a bet against the like of these. She’s a prototype of a wonderful two year old. Barn chose, and probably wisely, to run her often during that time, but now it’s time to drop her in class or at least give her a vacation. One more negative: as such a highly rated filly, she should have been able to attract a better jockey.
- KOKO TAYLOR(FR) (HIGH YIELD x CAPOTE x FORTY NINER) bred and trained by BanditKllr (10%) Odds: 5-1.
This doesn’t happen very often. Sixteen fillies were entered in this race, and the one to just make it, the 14th ranked filly – this one – ends up as the favorite by a fair margin. She’s been in the money in all eleven sprints, earning some gaudy speed figures. Lost a photo to Mike the Animal in the Backward Gal, but otherwise has looked awfully tough in distances up to 7 ½ furlongs. She tried a route just once before, and it was not pretty. Oddly enough, the only one she could beat that day was Jacobite Hot Sauce. It seems there should not be much difference between 7 ½ furlongs with one turn and 8 furlongs with two, but somehow the difference is huge. One of singer Koko Taylor’s greatest hits was “I Got What It Takes.” We’ll see if her namesake does.
- ROLA(IRE) (GALILEO (IRE) x CAT THIEF x GRAUSTARK) bred and trained by Maruxa (13%) Odds: 10-1
Closed smartly in last to bring the record of this lightly raced filly to three wins and a second in four dirt routes. Class jump makes all kind of sense – she’s been winning and posting competitive times. A close look at the competition she’s been facing shows they haven’t been very strong. How much can you hold that against her? This is the graded debut in one with a lot of upside.
- MIKE THE ANIMAL(KY) (ZAVATA x EFISIO(GB) x TUNERUP) bred and trained by Aussieo1 (10%) Odds: 7-1
Showed she belonged in graded company when she outfinished Koko Taylor to win the Backward Gal Stakes. Her second last time earned her the only triple digit speed figure in the field and put her record at five wins and six seconds in 12 dirt starts. This is her first try in a route. Closing style says she should handle it, but sire’s limited get in the Sim have not done well in routes. My guess is that she’ll handle it.
- GHOSTLY BREEZE(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x PINE BLUFF x MEADOWLAKE) bred and trained by Lenny2 (17%) Odds: 8-1
After beating the number one rated filly Sisson’s Chant last time in the Grade I Sweet Nanette, this one has earned the right to claim to be the best there is. She now has six wins in seven starts and a pair of graded wins at the distance. The Lenny Empire won eight stakes last week. These odds are ridiculously generous.
- NEEDLE IN THE HAY(KY) (APTITUDE x UNBRIDLED x RAHY) bred and trained by Eddie08 (18%) Odds: 12-1
Steps up in class after two straight wins, last time in a minor stakes. With five finishes in the money in her six routes, she had a lot of upside. Speed figures are a bit on the light side compared to several others in here, but they’re improving.
- NATIVE GOLD(JPN) (MINING x PULPIT x CHEROKEE RUN) bred and trained by SirIvor (17%) Odds: 9-1
Regressed a bit last time in the Grade I California Oaks after two straight graded seconds. That was a very tough field, and this is a classy filly, likely to rebound. Like many in here, she likes to sit just off the pace. It’s going to be crowded in that spot just behind the leaders.
- URBAN GOLD MINE(KY) (SEEKING THE GOLD x STORM CAT x A.P. INDY) bred and trained by Ozioziozi (13%) Odds: 8-1
The record of four wins and two seconds in her six dirt routes is impressive, and her figures are decent, so you have to respect. A closer look at her recent races removes some of the sheen from her record. Her last win was in a four horse field where she was the only stakeswinner. It’s a large jump in class to this.
- SISSON’S THIEF(KY) (EMPIRE MAKER x CAT THIEF x CAPOTE) bred and trained by DeathStar (13%) Odds: 9-1
Fell apart after a speed duel as the 9-5 favorite against a modest field last time, but before that she’s picked up a couple graded wins, including one over Native Gold two races back. She has the two sprinters to contend with to her inside and the speedster to the outside, but otherwise this thief could try to steal this race. It’s the classic handicapping question: can you find a reason to forgive her last race? If you can, you’ve got a strong contender at juicy odds.
- AN INDY MIRACLE(KY) (A.P. INDY x UNBRIDLED x IRISH RIVER(FR)) bred and trained by Alybobbob (23%) Odds: 14-1
High percentage veteran barn knew most of the field when they entered this one, so that makes her worth a closer look. Her lone graded try was terrible, and her last race was poor. So I’m going with the idea that they saw all the late speed and thought this might be a good place for one who has run all four of her wins wire to wire. Jockey will be told to gun for the lead.
Top Threes:
Morning Line: Koko Taylor, Mike the Animal, Ghostly Breeze
Speed Last Race: Mike the Animal, Ghostly Breeze, Koko Taylor
Speed at Dist: Ghostly Breeze, Rola, Sisson’s Thief
Early Pace: An Indy Miracle, Ghost Slayer, Koko Taylor
Late Pace: Brabatry, Ghostly Breeze, Rola
Current Class: Ghostly Breeze, Native Gold, Koko Taylor