EQUINICS – QUEEN’S CATS

Vermont (VT)  Saturday, February 24, 2018 — 2:20PM EST | Race ID : 2049007
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Grade I / Group 1 – Sponsored – Purse : $1,250,000
4 Year Olds and Older  –   Fillies and Mares  –  Owner Restricted
8  Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile                             Fast Dirt
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From the state fair grounds in Rutland,  Vermont we proudly bring you one of the many Equinics events,  The Queen’s Cats.  This race will be contested at a flat mile (or ~1600 meters for the metricians) over the mile dirt oval,  with older fillies and mares battling it out for the winner’s share of the $1,250,000 purse,  and for the glory and recognition that comes with a victory in one of these prestigious events.  All of the Equinics trophy presentation ceremonies are a joyful celebration,  and this should live up to those standards.

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This race is named after the Hall Of Fame runner,  QUEEN’S CATS (Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector x Search for Gold)

.1995 Mare    Owner/Trainer  slewbetcha        Record: 100-33-15-12 $3,997,430.

Two time G1 winner,  TEN time G2 winner,  two time G3 winner,  also placed in four G1 events.  One hundred career races (they don’t make ’em like that anymore),  finished in the money in 31 of her graded starts.
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ERETRIA,  from the davarto barn representing the Midas residency,  is rated at 5/1 as the morning line favorite,  followed by the trio of THETA,  FLASH TO THE FOX,  and KASH STRORM at 6/1.  Interestingly,  the defending Breeders’ Bowl Distaff champion,  TREACHEROUSLY II is held at 10/1 by the handicapper in her first outing since that smashing triumph.  We have an impressive group of milers gathered here for this affair.  Let’s take a closer look at them in post position order and see what the stats may indicate.
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1
 MO TWITCHY                       NWRC        KY     4F     be1stfarms     M McClendon         22/1
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Leading them out on to the track is this Uncle Mo madamoiselle,  out of the stakes winning sim mare Itchy Witchy (by Scat Daddy),  who seeks her fourth straight triumph in her very first stakes appearance.  Last out she closed from the back of the pack to score in a restricted allowance at 7.5 furlongs,  flinging a 108 SP#.  Bay four year old filly took an open allowance one before that,  also at 7.5 panels,  flipping a 106 SP# in a five horse affair.  Her prior start was a win in a restricted allowance,  again at 7.5 furlongs,  floating a 100 SP# from the back of the pack.  Runner from the be1stfarms racing group seems ambitiously placed here,  but what the hey an Equinics start IS an Equinics start;  will need a career best to make an impact with these.
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SKYLINE SLEW                  Universal Racing    KY     4F     jms11         T Ace             13/1
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Bay four year old filly seeks third straight win after wiring the G2 The Barbacoa Handicap at 8.5 furlongs,  blasting a 113 SP#.  Scratch bred Distorted Humor dame (by Seattle Slew) went coast to coast one back of that in the G3 South Bend Oaks at 8.5 panels,  bashing a 112 SP#.  In her previous start she tired to 7th in the G3 The Chicago Oaks at 9 furlongs,  bagging a 104 SP# after setting  all the early fractions.  Jms11 trainee should be winging it on the front end as the only speed in the field,  should like the shorter trip here and is eligible to clear them and leave them gasping in the straight – solid upset chance.
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THETA                                         Megalopolis        NY     5F     litelight     H Harzheim         6/1
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Cuts back to a mile for the litelight racing organization after taking the CV Bears Gotham City Distaff at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 111 SP#.  Light grey five year old mare fell short against males in a state bred allowance in prior run,  again at 8.5 furlongs,  eking out a 103 SP#.  Alpha athlete,   out of the sim he-mare Native Truth (by Macho Uno) came on for 2nd one before that in the Saddle Tetecate listed at this route,  etching a 110 SP# in a mid pack trip.  Eight week freshening may help,  but last G1 foray wasn’t inspiring;  yet the handicapper has her as one of three co-second choices;  still has to catch the front runner,  tough task.
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AMERICAN DESTINY     Pastures of Green    KY     4F     futurestar     J White         14/1
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In and outer of late is due to be in for owner/trainer futurestar,  after an 8th at 8.5 panels in the Nimble Flyer listed stakes,  pegging a 106 SP# after some early interest.  American Pharoah prancer,  out of the Hall Of Fame sim mare Dangerous Reward (by Kingmambo)  got the money at this distance in the Hole Jove listed,  punching a 109 SP# from just off the pace makers.  He was an even 5th one prior to that at 7 furlongs in the Poat Oak Bluff,   posting a 104 SP#.   May have to be used early to give Skyline Slew some company;  but still will find it difficult to hold off the late runners assembled here.
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 FORT CAP                                 Elite Racing        FL     4F     extras1     M Grunhard         27/1
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Lightly raced,  light grey four year old filly comes off four month layoff and picks a formidable spot to return.  Scratch bred Fort Larned femme (by Capote) was a gaining 2nd last time over,  the G2 Gowader Stakes at this distance last October,  garnering a 111 SP# in a just off the pace run.  She raced just four times last year,  so I asked my rez’ bud extras1 what gives.
“Fort Cap required a few races as a 2 year old to figure out what she was supposed to do. Since then she has made steady progress. She will need to step it up to compete at this level but she is fresh and ready and I am expecting her to run her best race to date.”  Good luck, harry.
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6
 TREACHEROUSLY II     Minnesota Testbarn    KY     4F     canyongate     P Jolly             10/1
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2017 Breeders’ Bowl Distaff champion makes her first start since that glorious day in November.  Brown four year old filly went last to first at 20/1 odds in the Distaff,  sizzling a 116 SP#.  Scratch bred Malibu Moon miss (by Deputy Minister) got under way too late when 6th in the G1 The Bra Strap at 8.5 panels,  snaring a 103 SP#  in her first try against older.  She took down the G3 The Jersey Oaks at 8.5 furlongs one back of that,  snatching a 112 SP# from way back in the pack.  Bluegrass Oaks winner from the canyongate racing operation seeks fifth G1 victory,  putting her one shy of the Hall Of Fame;  will be flying late but will she run out of ground in first race in over three months.
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FLASH TO THE FOX       Empire State        KY     5F     golddog     H Artack         6/1
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Currently stuck in a “seconditis” rut,  this bay five year old mare  comes off a 2nd in The Conjugal Conjecture listed stakes at this trip,  catching a 108 SP# chasing a “cadet jet” in a four horse affair.  Giant’s Causeway gal,  out of the G1 winning,  million dollar earning sim mare Fox And Forty (by Forty Niner) closed well for the place one back of that in the G2 Good Times Handicap,  also at a mile,  cashing a 109 SP#.  In her previous try she was,  you guessed it,  2nd in the G2 Snownut Handicap at this distance,  crashing a 110 SP# in a mid pack run.  Golddog protege may be closer to the front in this group;  handicapper likes her chances as one of the three co-second choices on the morning line.
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HAKOYO                                    GR Simsters        KY     4F     dragonrider8     T Small             14/1
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Hailing from the dragonrider8 barn is this bay four year old filly,  who seeks her fourth straight win after taking the G2 The Encino Man at 8.5 furlongs,  blasting a 114 SP# from way back in the pack.  Distorted Humor damsel,  out of the stakes placed sim mare Tokoyo (by Bernardini),  made a nice stretch run to score in the Wondergirl Angie listed stakes at 9 panels over this oval,  bagging a 108 SP#.  She started her streak with a win in a restricted allowance at 9 furlongs,  bashing a 112 SP# in a five horse contest.  Versatile runner won her first grade/group try,  will be hoping someone softens up SKYLINE SLEW to aid her late kick.
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9
 LA NEGRA CELIA              SIM Hispano        KY     4F     haack02     O A Haack         20/1
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Distorted Humor duchess,  out of the sim mare Light Haack (by Storm Cat) exits a nice win in a hot race allowance at this trip,  drilling a 114 SP# in an off the pace effort.  Bay four year old filly was 2nd around the course one before that in a NW4x allowance at 8.25 panels,  drawing a 107 SP#.  One back of that she won a NW4L allowance at 8.5 furlongs,  dropping a 106 SP# from mid pack.  Runner from the haack02 racing group steps way up in class making her first stakes appearance,  but is in good form now and could be along for a minor share on best.
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10
WAIT OR WASTE               All-Stars Racing        FR     5F     isabella19     RK Evans         14/1
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Brown five year old mare was an excellent,  closing 3rd in her first stakes try in the G3 Natural Springs Stakes at 7 furlongs,  tossing a 111 SP# moving from next to last early.  Redoute’s Choice ripper,  out of the sim mare Speightful Dooter (by Speightstown),  took an open allowance at 7.5 panels in her prior outing,  throwing a 110 SP# in a last to first trip.   She won a state bred allowance one before that at 7 furlongs,  tabbing a 102 SP# in a stalking run.  Versatile isabella19 trainee could be a early pace factor,  can hit the board if she maintains her current good form.
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KASH STORM                       East-West Connect    KY     6F     kashbred3     K Ledwith         6/1
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Three time G1 champion ended 2017 on a sour note when last of fourteen in the G1 The Japan Dirt Cup at 9 furlongs in the slop against males,  lucking into a 101 SP# while always watching them all.  Scratch bred Bernardini babe (by Storm Cat) closed well for 4th one before that in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Distaff,  landing a 111 SP# from way back in the pack.  Bay six year old mare won the G1 Superfilly Handicap in her previous outing,  lashing a 110 SP# moving from next to last.  Runner from the kashbred3 racing stable cuts back to a mile in her 2018 debut;  classy lady could loom large in the lane if ready off twelve week freshening.  Handicapper likes her chances as one of the three co-second choices.
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SADDLES ABLAZE           Blazing Saddles        KY     5F     sms1         A Jolly             7/1
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Late running Hard Spun Honey,  out of the sim mare The Jokes On Me (by Ghostzapper),  came on for 2nd last out in an open allowance at 8.5 furlongs,  nailing a 108 SP# moving from last.  She was a gaining 4th one back of that in a residency stakes against males at this trip,  notching a 112 SP# from way back.  In her previous try she was no factor in the G2 The Cool Hand Luke at this distance,  nabbing a 102 SP#.  Five year old bay mare from the sms1 barn would prefer rapid pace up front,  but lack of front runners  doesn’t help her cause.

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 A PRIZE SHE MAKES      Racing HQ        KY     5F     hellholt     B Wu             11/1
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Another deep closer,  this one from the hellholt racing group,  who comes out of a no impact 11th in the G3 The Exit Stage Left at 8.5 furlongs,  working out a 102 SP#.  Bay five year old mare flew home for 4th one back of that in the G2 The Cool Hand Luke at this route, wrangling a 111 SP# moving from last of fourteen.  Scratch bred Pure Prize princess (by Broad Brush) was a close 3rd in her prior run in the G2 The Pitcher Molly at 8.5 panels,  whacking a 112 SP#.  She would also like some pace up front,  but still may not be enough ground for her in this heat.
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14
 ERETRIA                                   Midas             ENG     5F     almaarad     F Gossett         5/1
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Last out on to the race track is our morning line favorite,  who was a late moving 3rd in her 2017 finale in the Black Sparky listed stakes at this route,  slashing to a 110 SP#.  Charm Spirit cutie,  out of the sim mare Divinity (by Elusive Quality),  stormed down the straight to get the place in the G2 The Cool Hand Luke at this distance,  scalding a 115 SP# from mid pack.  Bay five year old mare showed some life for 3rd one back of that  in the Admirals Projects listed at a mile,  snagging a 108 SP#.  Stretch runner from the almaarad racing stable will need a clever jockey ride to navigate smooth trip from  imposing post position.
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Good luck everybody,  and may they all come home fast,  safe and sound,