Sophomore Sprinting Fillies fear not the slop
Hello race fans and welcome to Manhattan for a great day of racing . It’s a fun filled day planned with the crowning jewel of excitement set to go off in the 15 th race featuring the Manhattan District Stakes – G II . Some of the higher ranked sprinting fillies have dropped everything to show up today in an effort to assert dominance over their rivals .
Regardless of the rain coming down the last few days , the track is drying up and it is projected to be ” Good ” by post time . Several of these fillies could care less if it was a mud pie making contest and would have liked nothing better than to turn this race into a mud wrestling feature . Among the field are highly ranked fillies Three D and Fifth Street , both whom are vying for better position in the dirt sprint division .
Surprising is the lack of attendance this year , only 6 fillies have shown up .. the lowest field ever to run . The track record which has stood since 2003 set by Crash Bang Wallop (IRE) is up for grabs . The mark of 1:22:00 has weathered some of the best sprinting fillies to date … can this be the year ?
On the wood at 3 / 1 is the very fast Three D (KY) ( Shore Breeze x Robellino x Marauding (NZ) ) representing trainer Monaro and ridden by veteran jockey C. Tool . A multiple Stakes winner at 2 including 5 Stakes wins back to back , she is ranked # 3 in the Dirt sprint division and totes an eye popping record of 16 : 11-2-1 with $ 548K in earnings to date . This year hasn’t been nearly as dominating for her winning 2 of her last 4 including a narrow 2nd place finish March 17 th in Finland’s The Finland Filly Sprint – G I . Whether taking the lead or stalking close .. this filly has class and should make a huge presence at the wire .
In post 2 is the # 7 ranked dirt sprinter and Lenny30 trained filly Fifth Street 4 / 1 (KY) ( Silver Ghost x Deputy Minister x A.P. Indy ) , slick journeyman jock S. Israel gets the nod . With a sterling freshman record of 4: 3-0-0 , this filly kicked the high gear into action this year going 4 : 2-1-0 over Slick and fast dirt including he G I victory March 17th in Finland’s The Finland Filly Sprint – G I where she came from waaay back to catch a narrow victory in the last 50 yards in 1:10:2/5 92
Spf . She really likes the off dirt and in my book , versatility is key for this division and I expect her late run to be felt like a shock wave at the wire .
In post 3 is the co betting favorite at 3 / 1 Heart of Light (KY) ( Tiznow x Unbridled x Hoist the Flag ) trained by the crafty Mav1764 and ridden by Mr. Rabbit foot B. Dirks whom has had a turn around season this year . A multiple Stakes winner at 2 , this filly has made her return to the sprint division with a big splash after mixed results going 8+ panels this year . She has won 2 of 3 this year including her latest devastating clinic in Missouri’s The North Pot Handicap – Stk on April 14 th where she went wire to wire over 7 furlongs in 1:22:2/5 99 Spf . She will have her hands full today if she intends to take the lead and tested she certainly will be .
In post 4 is Miracles (MD) 9 / 2 ( Not for Love x Boston Harbor x Meadowlake ) representing trainer Desertbear with the reliable veteran N. Painter in the irons . A winner first asking , this filly has 3 other wins at Stakes level … and two of those on slick dirt and career efforts last year . Although she is winless this season , I have a feeling the return to the slop will spark her into action once again and we will see what she can offer in the Graded ranks .
In post 5 ridden by veteran Ax Williams is Star of the North (KY) 4 / 1 ( Seeking the Gold x Northern Dancer x Seattle Slew ) from the stables of trainer Snappa5 . A graded winner at 2 going 8.5 panels , this filly has endured some tuff beats this year so she turns back the distance to see if she likes it better here in the sprint division . Her last winning performance was in November 18 th’s Mistaken Soda Identity Stakes – G II in Arizona going 8.5 furlongs in 1:43:4/5 92 Spf . With her running style I think the distance is just way too short for her . A return to 8 panels should see her pick back up where she left off last season .
On the far outside representing trainer Laramie is The Dirty Dancer (KY) 9 / 2 ( Silver Deputy x Grand Slam x Storm Cat ) , youngster J . Migliore gets the nod . A winner first asking , this filly followed up her Maiden performance with back to back Stakes wins coming from way back followed by wire to wire fashion . Since then it’s been a string of bad beats and narrow misses which ended finally last outing in Tasmania’s The Giant of the North Handicap – Stk going 6.5 panels in 1:16:3/5 93 Spf . She stretches it out to 7 furlongs today in hopes that she can erase her last defeat in The Finland Filly Sprint – G I where she ran out of ground .