G1 The Nutcracker
It’s time for the mid-summer derby, the Traveler’s in New York. The race card is stacked with several top stake races and this article will focus on the Nutcracker. This is a dirt race at a distance of 7 furlongs and fillies and mares, age 3 and up are eligible to enter the $750,00 G1 race. Pleasant skies have been ordered by the weatherman with temperatures in the mid 70’s equating to a fast track and comfortable conditions for the runners.
1 NES ZAPPER 14/1-After winning a pair of starts at the beginning of 2017, it looked like this Ghostzapper bred filly was on her way to a tremendous season. But things stalled out quickly as she lacked any serious effort in the G2 Virginia Madison, and may have had an excuse as the track came out wet. In the G2 Real Danger Handicap, Nes was flat out awful and was clobbered as the 3/1 favorite with a big drop in speed. Things may be turning around as she put in a strong late run in the G2 Best Flight finishing third over the New York surface. Looks like she is getting her groove back together and staying at this track could be beneficial for trainer Asrasr.
2 ANGEL’S TRUMPTS 6/1-This Distorted Humor five year old has been a toughie and has not finished worse than second over her last six starts. She’s won a pair of two G2 races, the Virginia Madison and Honored Miss and was second in the Princess Looney and Humane Distaff. Angel is a slow starter but a strong closer and trainer Koza has her in good condition. Last start was in the Honored Miss over the New York track, so she is another that will not have to travel. Could be looking at first G1 win.
3 PARTIZAN BELGRADE 11/1-Winner of the G1 Princess Looney, but that was a year ago and her last victory. She ran in that same race this season and finished a mid-field eighth. She also ran in the Nutcracker last year, which followed her win, and finished next to last. The Passion For Gold bred mare has had a rough time and has been ITM twice in eight starts since her last win. Trainer Theduke(95) must be frustrated with this lady as she’s pretty much replicating her 2016 racing season and just can’t get the formula working this season.
4 MY FANTASY IS YOU 6/1-Since 2016, this Unbridled’s Song filly has raced 11 times and was off the board twice. This year, she’s got a trio of seconds that include a residency G2 race and the G3 Boquet o’Daises and a win in a listed stake with one off board finish, which came in the slop in the Steadhead/Mike Phipps Handicap. Trainer Redhill24’s six year old mare will probably settle in the middle of the field in the early stages and start grinding her way forward. Last four races on fast track have speeds north of 110 and that will make her a competitive foe in this field.
5 SHACKLED N DRAWN 9/1-Another entrant from trainer Theduke(107), but this one seems more steady than Partizan Belgrade. The daughter of Shackleford nailed a career best speed in a listed stakes in April with a win at 118. The strong outing got her an entry in the G3 Oh Henry where she battled just off the shoulder of the frontrunner and ran second throughout the race and was unable to move ahead, but the second finish spot was very satisfactory. She enters off a fifth in the G1 Princess Looney, again running second, but this time tiring in deep stretch. She’s won in New York before (last year in G2 Honored Miss) a sign she likes the oval.
6 FROSTY MAE 7/2-Hall of Famer gets the thumbs up from the oddmakers which are sending trainer Gunners4 off as the favorite. The six year old has won 18 of 23 career races. Frosty, sired by Unbridled’s Song, has a year long, eight race win streak come to an end when she didn’t respond in the stretch run in the Princess Looney (G1) and finished in an unfamiliar 7th. Is this a sign that this Breeders’ Bowl winner may be wearing out? Perhaps. She’s been well managed by her trainer throughout her career and I think she’s not done winning yet.
7 FLOATING IN SPACE 15/1-Usually a good runner, but this Tiznow filly can be temperamental. She’s a late closer and can make up quite a bit of ground but she’s got to be in the mood to do so. Three races this year which kicked off with a soft allowance refresher start in March after a winter recess that she won easily, taking the field down and drawing off to a near two stride win. But she did not want to go in the G2 mile long Bumblebee Classic as jockey F. Dailey encouraged her, she refused and finished 10th. But Dailey did get her going for trainer Intheslop in the G1 Princess Looney rallying from last to finish third, much of the move made in the final quarter. Switches riders to D. Chimo who won with her in G1 North Park last fall. A combination to keep an eye on.
8 GALYDAR 12/1-Trainer Chaseadar3 has watched this Lion Heart bred filly win three of her four starts this year which began with an allowance win in February after a near three month rest. This was followed by a 10th place finish when she rejoined the grade level in the G2 Davey Jones, but the sloppy surface may not have been her thing. She recovered nicely with wins in the G1 Humane Distaff and G2 Best Flight, the latter being over the NY track. Speeds of 111 were netted in both these affairs and she looks to make it three in a row.
9 Daughters Pride-7/1-It’s been over two years since this gal out of War Front has run on the dirt, but making the decision to try the soil again by trainer Lukester03 looks like the right choice. Daughter finished 6th in two straight races on the turf and after a near 4-month rest, was offered the opportunity to gallop on the dirt. She did and she won an allowance race with no problem. She went into a more serious listed stake race and at 7.5 furlongs took the lead at the half and controlled the field to the wire with a 115 speed. She’s raced graded only once and won the turf G3 Charted Well. I don’t see an issue taking the leap here as her last outing was flawless.
10 SWANRO 18/1-A bit of an outsider in this field, the Pierro bred filly is capable of speeds in 110+ range but does so sparingly. She kicked 2017 off with her first grade appearance and the late closer snagged second in the G3 Leading Lady with a 106. She stunned the crowd in the G2 Davey Jones and may love the off-track as she won the event with a 117 speed, her career best. She faltered in the Humane Distaff, only nudging her way into 9th from the back end of runners. Luck came her way again and trainer Arton witnessed another upset at 13/1 in the G3 Blackhawk Cup. She shipped to NY in July and ran softly in an allowance race, finishing 5th. This may have been a deliberate attempt to not aggressively race her in order to prep for this event. If so, she could be positioned for another upset.
11 Humaliwo 14/1-Trainer Derbylane enters this lady after picking up a G2 victory in the Delta Tau Chi Sprint, a race that she ran her best speed of 113 and just getting to the wire in time to win by a long neck. Her 2017 campaign got off to a rough start as she entered her first grade level race, the G3 Leading Lady and was a non-competitive 10th. The G2 Davey Jones on the slop was next and she only mustered out an eighth there. She got things going late in the G3 Ferry Dust Handicap as the Malibu Moon mare hit the board in third. She’s got a shot if she can maintain that 113 speed she pulled off in her last start. I’m concerned she’s not going to be up for the challenge that lies before her in this race.
12 DIOR 13/1-Things look like they may have started to go down hill for trainer Silverallstar’s Dior. She ran a trio of races with speeds of 110 to 111 between November, 2016 and March 2017 winning a listed and an allowance and finishing third in a residency G3 race. After those very nice outings, things have slowed down as she finished well back in the G1 Orange Blossom and finished a mid-field 7th in the G1 Humane Distaff. She dipped into an allowance race on a good surface in her last start, finishing second and not looking impressive in that effort to me. I’m concerned about her form and although I love Awesome Again as a sire, I’m not getting excited about her chances in this race.
13 DEEP PACT 12/1-This four year old filly out of Deep Impact has been ITM in all five dirt starts with three wins. She’s raced 12 times on the turf and I feel she is better qualified for the soil. She’s shown her class in her last two races, both her only grade events and she was victorious in both. The G3 Trail Mix she led the distance and held on to win by 1/4-stride with a 110 speed. She improved the speed number in her last start, the Gleaming Invitational to 114 an holding the field at bay to win by 1- 1/4 lengths. Wouldn’t be surprised if trainers Teamasr1’s filly is the spoiler.
A tough race to pick from, but here it goes. Frosty Mae is the target in this one and despite the ending of a long win streak in last, I’ll go with her and hope she gets the blanket of flowers.
Angel’s Trumpets needs to be in top selections based on her top finishes in last 6. Go with her until she proofs otherwise.
Galydar may have something going for her. Looking good this season and I think she’ll get a piece.