DISTAFF TURF ROUTERS HILITE JAPAN CARD
Graded stake action returns to Japan this weekend with the 9th running of the Grade II Hannah Barbera Cap. This is the 7th running here in Japan after the race moved overseas from California where the first two racings in this annual event were run. The race is for fillies and mares 4 years old and upwards and is run 11/4 miles on the turf with a purse of $250,000. Eleven entries went through the box on Wednesday and the turf has been listed as firm for Saturday’s race day.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)CLAM CHOWDAH—5/1—acote4 sends out this 4 year old filly out of BOSTON HARBOR with a record of 16-5-2-1 and lifetime earnings of $82,862. This 441st divisional ranked filly raced exclusively on the dirt in her 2 and 3 year old seasons with modest if not spetacular results. Her concections tried the turf 2 starts ago and she immediately posted a triple digit speed rating, a mark she never hit on the dirt surface. Her last race was an overnite stake win where she posted a 109 speed rating over the 9 furlong race. That race has prompted the track handicapper to list this filly as the co-favorite in the morning line. This was her first lifetime stakes win in her second lifetime attempt. This will also be her first race outside of the USA, as she crosses the pond for her Graded stakes debut. Fenner (12.6%) will have this one on or very close to the front when the starting gate opens.
2)LATASA—6/1—blueboyuk sends out this 5 year old mare out of WOODMAN with a record of 31-6-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $149,373. This 358th divisional ranked mare won her MSW debut at 2 years old on the turf but ran mostly on the dirt in her 3 year old campaign. She did not run with any consistency at the time and ended up running at the $4000 claiming level. The current connections claimed her from that race and ended up getting 3 wins in her 4 year old season, one on the dirt and 2 on the turf, all in allowance races. In her last race she won an overnite stake (her first) in Arkansas posting a lifetime best matching 101 speed rating over 9 furlongs which has prompted her owners to ship her overseas for her Graded Stake debut here today in Japan. Suzuki (3.8%) will guide this closer in today’s race.
3)ALMA(IRE)—6/1—usoz sends out this 4 year old filly out of EL PRADO(IRE) with a record of 24-8-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $889,720. This 3rd divisional ranked filly has 5 stakes victories in 19 lifetime attempts and 3 of thos wins were in Graded races of which she has started 8 times. She posted a huge 3 race win streak last year in winning a Grade II race in California and then came right back to win a Grade I event at the same track and then three peated with a Grade I win in Kentucky. She posted a lifetime best 107 speed rating during that win streak over 9 furlongs. She then tried the Breeders Bowl distaff turf where she finished 9th and her numbers dropped from that point on suggesting that the winning streak took a bit out of her. She has raced 4 times already this year and did post an overnite stake win over today’s 10 furlong distance 2 starts ago. If she ever regains that dynamite form from last year look out. Duffy (7.7%) will have to make sure this filly has clear passage down the stretch for her closing late run.
4)ODRAIN—10/1—chips22 sends out this 4 year old filly out of RED BULLET with a record of 19-5-3-5 and lifetime earnings of $148,857. This 388th divisional ranked filly started her career on the dirt but went on to post her MSW win on the turf in her 3rd lifetime start. She then proceeded to become a steady if not spetacular allowance runner in her 3 year old campaing. She started her 2007 season with her only triple digit speed rating (100) to date in winning an allowance race. She made her stakes debut in her last start where she finished 2nd in a 9.5 furlong overnite stakes. She will be making her Graded Stakes debut in this race today. This closer will have Tippens (8.3%) in the saddle for today’s race.
5)PRAYER OF ANGELS(FR)—13/1—pazthree sends out this 4 year old filly out of ANGE GABRIEL(FR) with a record of 27-6-5-7 and lifetime earnings of $239,504. This 185th divisional ranked filly has yet to post a triple digit speed rating which may be necessary for the win in today’s race. Last year in her 3 year old campaing she did run for the $35,000 claiming level at one point. She is winless in 11 lifetime stakes starts and had a very poor showing in her only Graded race start to date. It also appears that she does not like the 10 furlong distance as when running this far she seems to fade late in the contest, she may be better suited for 9 furlong events. Hudson (6.2%) will try to keep this stalker speed horse focused and hope to have something left in the final furlong of today’s race.
6)VOUVRAY—14/1—rx7 sends out this 4 year old filly out of KINGMAMBO with a record of 9-5-3-0 and lifetime earnings of $156,900. This 461st divisional ranked filly (ranked 60 in long turf) was unraced at 2 year old. She has has a very light racing shedule but has made the most of all of her starts. The only race she has not finished 1st or 2nd was when she raced on the dirt and she finished in 4th place in that race. She has yet to crack the triple digit speed rating barrier but has been racing in extended route races and drops back down to 10 furlongs for her Graded stakes debut today. She does have 2 overnite stakes wins in 4 lifetime attempts. The shorter distance for this speed horse may end up producing a higher speed rating number. Rigdon (15.8%) will have this one charging as soon as the gate opens in today’s race.
7)PERFECTA—10/1—bellissimo sends out this 4 year old filly out of PLEASANTLY PERFECT with a record of 29-5-8-4 and lifetime earnings of $342,728. This 267th divisional ranked filly (ranked 33rd in long turf) won 3 of her lifetime wins in her 2 year old season. Last year she had 1 win in 15 starts and that was her final race of the year in a restricted allowance. She was a hardluck filly who was always knocking at the door but had a difficult time getting to the wire first. She is a closer who may enjoy the drop down in distance for today’s race after reviewing her results when running at the 9 and 9.5 furlong distances last year. She has posted 2 triple digit speed ratings of 102 this year and 2 starts ago finally won a stakes race in her 17th try. She had no interest in the 14 furlong Grade II event last time out. Home (9.4%) will guide this speed stalker filly in today’s race.
8)CACHE(SAF)—6/1—misery sends out this 4 year old filly out of HORSE CHESTNUT(SAF) with a record of 15-5-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $889,313. This 27th divisional ranked filly (15th ranked in long turf) started her career with 6 runs on the dirt track. After switching to the turf she completed her 3 year old season by finishing in the money in all 6 races after the switch. She capped of last year by winning the Grade I Kentucky Horseman Oaks by posting her lifetime best 103 speed rating over the 10 furlong contest, which is the distance of today’s race. Her first 2 runs in 2007 were dull affairs that she appeared to have no interest in, but she rebounded in her last by winning a Grade II stakes in Sweden over 12 fulongs while posting a 102 speed rating. This closer is dropping back to the 10 furlong distance for today’s race and she has shown success at this distance in her past form. She gets the services of one of the top jockey’s on the circuit in Arnold (19.1%).
9)WIND OF CHANGE II(GB)—7/1—ajm sends out this 6 year old mare out of IN THE WINGS(GB) with a record of 17-4-4-3 and lifetime earnings of $180,852. This 880th divisional ranked mare only ran in 2 races in her 4 year old season and was then taken away from the track at 5. She came back to race this year in her 6 year old campaign with back to back 2nd place allowance runs and then posted a 103 speed rating over 8 furlongs in her last, a restricted allowance win. This prompted her connections to try the added money event today. She is 0/7 in stakes races including 4 Graded events albeit she has finished in the money in some of those contests which she ran in 2004 and 2005. She has never won at today’s distance but was a closing 2nd at 10 furlongs 2 starts back. Davis(12.9%) will have this one charging late in today’s race.
10)KISS OF BETRAYL(IRE)—10/1—pm sends out this 4 year old filly out of ROCK OF GIBRALTER(IRE) with a record of 17-5-5-0 and lifetime earnings of $1,318,858. This 47th divisional ranked filly (ranked 1st in long turf) is 1 of 2 millionaire girls in today’s race. She got to this status with back to back 101 speed ratings last year when she won the Grade I Canada Turf(12f) in Ontario and then rebounded to finish 2nd in the Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff(11f) in Kentucky last year. She has regressed in form since those two races and was beaten by CACHE in the 2006 KentuckyHorseman Oaks in her 2006 season finale. In 2 races this year she was 2nd in an overnite stake and then tried the top tier again when shipping to Dubai for the Dubai Sand Castle Turf Classic but was outrun in that one. Hopefully the softer field for today’s race will help her rebound to her sharp form from last year. Roser (12.9%) will guide this late closer in today’s race.
11)DREAMING OF LOVE—5/1—snowchief sends out this 6 year old mare out of SADLER’S WELLS with a record of 38-12-8-6 and lifetime earnings of $1,598,455. This 16th divisional ranked mare has 9 stakes wins in 34 lifetime attempts and is 4/23 in Graded events. She won a Grade I event last year in California and her lifetime best 116 speed rating over 8.5 furlongs was made in her 3 year old campaign. This grand dame keeps on trying against top quality fields and while her best days may be behind her she proved 2 starts ago that she still has some run in her while posting a 103 speed rating in a 2nd place finish in a Grade III event in North Florida. It will not hurt her cause that she will be in the hands of the circuits top jockey in Ledwith(24.7%) who is enjoying a banner season in Japan this year and he should be able to capitalize on this mares experience in today’s race.
A great field for today’s Grade II contest and while I do not have a solid choice in this race today I may try a hunch bet on #6 Vouvray as the 14/1 price and potential for improvement has made me very curious for today’s event.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO