Smackdown III: Spooky Wildcat fave in Grade 1 3yo filly mile
Grade I
One mile
Fast Dirt
$500,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old
PP1 Snappy Hero (AUS) – graywolf7 Rank: 20 20/1
Started career in claiming races before being worked through the grades, after winning four of first seven starts was given her chance at graded level. Showed her liking for off tracks when took out the Mellow Breeze Stakes G2 at first graded attempt and followed with the Great Fiddle Sticks Stakes G3 both raced on off tracks. Failed twice on fast tracks in the Leopard Stakes G3 and Chestnut Stakes G1 before being out classed when finished last in the Trial by Night Stakes G2 when taking on the boys for the first time. Last start disappointed connections when ran 3rd in a four horse field at Stakes level. Lacks the breeding as most of here rivals and is the sole Grade winner for sire Snappy Landing and dam-sire Sefapiano. Is not the worst but without an off track will find this field no easier than last couple.
PP2 Smokin Tyres (JPN) – tomsfly Rank: 610 12/1
Lightly raced filly having eight start here, won first three before failing at Stakes level, followed with a sound effort when making ground late to finish 4th in the Warfare Stakes G3 three starts back. Showed improvement when failed by a nose to catch the winner at Stakes level before last start’s disappointing 5th of six in the Lake Lasso Memorial Stakes. Home bred by multiple Grade 1 producers Forty Niner out of Storm Cat through Buckpasser. Is still to prove herself at Stakes level and facing huge class rise in first Grade 1 here, can’t see her bothering the more fancied runners.
PP3 Spooky Wildcat (KY) – photo41st Rank: 14 9/2
Opened three-year-old season with first Stakes win which was followed with a good win at first graded attempt when winning the Davola Dane South Stakes G2. Has since finished twice in the money at Graded 2 level before failing at Graded 1 level in the Bluegrass Oaks G1 and Black Middle Flower Stakes G1. Equalled career best speed rating of 101 last start when finished 6th in the Beer Pitcher Handicap G2. Home bred sired by the second season sire Ghostzapper whose produce three Graded winners to date through Storm Cat who as the dam-sire has produced 61 graded winners of 108 races. Has surprising come into this as short priced favourite and deserves another chance at Grade 1 glory, may find the slightly shorter trip to her liking.
PP4 Ghostly Breeze (KY) – lenny2 Rank: 8 9/1
Grade 2 winner as a two-year-old and opened three-year-old season with a win at allowance level before taking out the Sweet Nanette Stakes G1 over this distance and surface. Was making ground late when finished fourth in the We Get Signal Stakes G3 before failing twice at Grade 1 level in the Bluegrass Oaks G1 and Black Middle Flower Stakes G1 in last two starts. Sired by Ghostzapper out of the Grade 3 winning mare Meadow Breeze who has produced two graded winners from three foals to date. Hard to see her turning the tables on Zarallana on their Bluegrass Oaks efforts but is a Grade 1 winner over this journey.
PP5 Fart No More (KY) – dundey4 Rank: 55 8/1
Twelve career starts has resulted in seven wins including three at Stakes level, two starts back ran career high 103 speed rating when winning at Stakes level over this surface and distance. Had first attempt at Graded level last start and was making ground late in finishing 6th in the Dynamite Sprint G3 over 6 furlongs. Home bred sired by Brahms through Pentelicus and closely related to the twice Grade 1 sprint winner Looking for More. Comes into this as a realistic chance having won three over this distance and surface at Stakes level, would be one of my leading tips if it were not for such a silly name.
PP6 Balance (KY) – chloedawg Rank: 95 20/1
Comes into this as one of the most experienced runner having had 17 career starts, has taken a while to work out what the racing capper is all about and finely broke through for first allowance win at 11th race start. Has since recorded first Stakes win four starts back before failing twice at Graded level, ran a much improved race last start in finishing 3rd in the Tossing Cookies Stakes G3 over 9 furlongs. Sired by Thunder Gulch who amongst his credits included the multiple Grade 1 winning three-year-old fillies Donner and Exile on Main St, through Kris.S whose produce 13 Graded winners as the dam-sire. Speed ratings are a little low compared to some of her rivals her and has been struggling at Stakes level recently.
PP7 Native Gold (JPN) – sirivor Rank: 45 13/1
Won at Stakes level as a two-year-old and has since been struggling for form this season, opened three-year-old season with a promising 3rd in the Myocardial Infarction Stakes G3 before failing in the California Oaks G1. Followed with another disappointing run when 10th in the We Get Signal Stakes G3 before returning to the winner’s stall last start when dropped back to allowance level. Sired by Miming whose produce two Graded 1 winners to date out of the Pulpit mare Heartonmysleeve. Has failed at only attempt at this level in the past but is a three-time winner over this journey.
PP8 You’re a Towel (KY) – watershed Rank: 2 9/1
Comes into this race with the second highest ranking in the three-year-old filly classic dirt category after winning six of her ten starts. Won at Grade 1 level as a two-year-old before impressively starting her three-year-old season with two wins at Grade 2 level; including a career high 101 speed rating in the Louisiana Oaks G2. Failed at first attempt on turf three starts back and followed with a disappointing 13th in the Bluegrass Oaks G1, made amends last start when taking out the Denny Tario Oaks G2. Sired by Elusive Quality whose best performers are the fillies Otto Elusive who won the Cremation Stakes – G1 and Specially Devilish who took out the Florida Oaks – G1 both as three-year-olds; from the poorly performed race mare Sparky Saint. Will need to be at her best to win here, she is much better than the Bluegrass Oaks and the 9/1 on offer suggest.
PP9 Zarallana (IRE) – sonsierra Rank: 9 6/1
After starting career on turf has dramatically improved since switching to dirt, made it three from three on dirt when opened three-year-old season with Stakes win. Failed at Grade 2 at next start before making amends when taking out the California Oaks G1 when sat on the pace the entire journey. Followed that win with a 3rd in the Fantasy Stakes G2 before holding on for a good 3rd in the Bluegrass Oaks. Found the 11 furlongs beyond her when finished down the track in the Chestnut Stakes G1 before last start’s impressive 106 speed rating in taking out the Their Bats (IRE) Stakes over 8.5 furlongs. Sired by El Prado who’s produced five Grade 1 winners to date with Zarallana being the first to achieve the feat on dirt, out of the A.P.Indy he-mare Piau Engaly. Has had the wood recently on most of her rivals here and her Bluegrass Oaks effort suggests she should easily account for this field.
PP10 Amyara (ENG) – lsthope1 Rank: 195 11/1
Two times Stakes winner as a two-year-old over the sprint journey before opening three-year-old season with a 2nd at Stakes level at only attempt over this distance. Followed with a disappointing 12th in the Finland Filly Special G1 before three fair efforts at Grade 3 level; including a career best speed rating of 100 when 3rd in the Priority Princess Stakes G3. Last start finished 2nd at Stakes level over 6 furlongs on an off track, has yet to win beyond 6.5 furlongs and past performances suggest she would be better suited over a shorter sprint journey. Regally bred youngster sired by Red Ransome out of Miswaki through Seeking the Gold, breeding indicates the distance and surface should be within her grasp.
PP11 Creature (KY) – persuader Rank: 105 9/1
One of the more inexperienced runner of the field having had only 11 career starts, opened three-year-old season with three placing’s at allowance level before finely breaking through for first season win when taking out three-win restricted allowance over this distance. Followed with a 2nd at Stakes level when recording career best speed rating of 102 when caught late trying to lead the entire journey when 3rd at Stakes level; both race were over this distance. Nicely bred youngster by Kingmambo out of A.P.Indy through Nijinsky and two of three wins have been over this distance.
PP12 Rock Solid Star (KY) – marineboy Rank: 402 19/1
Two times Stakes winner as a two year old who has been struggling against easy competition recently, followed two placing’s at allowance level with a disappointing 7th of eight at Stakes level. Returned to allowance level where she again disappointed when 6th of seven before winning first race of the season in allowance over this distance. Sired by Hard Rock Ten who from two season at stud has two Graded winners including the Adelaide Oaks G1 winner Kneel Before Zod; out of the Storm Cat mare Rhythm and Flow. Hard to suggest on recent efforts but did run a career best speed rating of 98 in winning last start.
PP13 Awesome Cuchi (KY) – beisbol Rank: 132 11/1
Opened three-year-old season with first Stakes win after showing promise as a two-year-old, followed with solid performances at Grade 2 and 3 level including a career best speed rating of 94 when finished 5th in Pebbles Flintstone Stakes G2. Has since been able to make to two from two when returned to Stakes level, including one over this distance and surface. Sired by the ever popular Awesome Again who has the multiply Grade winners Ab Fab and this season’s star three-year-old Awesome Force to his credits; out of the three times Stakes winning A.P.Indy mare Kristi Yamicuchi. Has won five of 12 career starts but three of these have been on off tracks, last two have not been overly impressive aginst small fields.
PP14 McFly (FR) – bbrs Rank: 122 12/1
Has been taken along quietly by connections having won four of first seven starts before making Stakes debut two starts back. Showed promise when recorded career best speed rating of 100 in finishing 2nd in the Leopard Stakes G3 over this distance before following with a disappointing 11 lengths 9th in the Trial by Night Stakes G2 last start. Home bred sired by Numerous who from five season has produced one Graded winner; though the dam-sire line of Silver Hawk who has produced 16 stakes winners as the dam’s sire. Back aginst her own sex here and with a career high 100 speed rating may be able to able to fill a place.
1st – Zarallana 2nd – You’re a Towel (KY) 3rd – McFly (FR)