Formidable, Fast and Familiar Female Foes set to battle in the Orange Blossom

ORANGE BLOSSOM

A full field of 14 highly talented Fillies and Mares 4years old and older have arrived in the Ozarks for this year’s edition of the Orange Blossom.  This is a Grade 1 race that will be held on the Arkansas Dirt track covering a distance of a Mile and a Sixteenth (8.5f).  The total purse is set at $750,000.  They will take to the starting gate on Saturday March 31st at 3pm EST.

Formidable – To say the least as all fourteen of these ladies have been to the winner’s circle in Graded Stakes races during their careers and each of them has at least 5 wins credited to their resumes and all have been in the money in at least half of their lifetime starts, with 1 lady who has never failed to hit the board.

Fast – Speed kills as each of these horses have earned triple digit speed figures at least 4 times in their careers.  Five of them have topped the 110 number, while the other nine have topped the 115 barrier.  For a total of 129 races posted in the triple digits.

Familiar -Enough as well, 5 competed in the BREDER’s BOWL DISTAFF, 4 entered in the BARBACOA HANDICAP, 3 each ran in the SANTA MARINA HANDICAP, THE BRA SNAP, and at EQUINICS 2018 in the QUEENS CATS, and another 6 races had 2 of these entrants in the field.

Distorted Humor has sired 3 of the entries (including a pair of half-sisters), while Malibu Moon and Smart Strike each have a pair of daughters in the race.  Three owners will have a combined betting interest in the race; canyongate, lenny 271, and given.  Five of these ladies have been selected by their Residency to compete in the EQUINICS races. There are six scratchbreds and four came out of he mares.

NOW THE POST PARADE:

1- TREACHEROUSLY II                     (15-1)                                M. Jolly                               canyongate      4-Filly            KY   (Malibu Moon x Deputy Minister x Alydar)                                The 2017 3yo Filly Dirt Route EOY was never a factor in EQUINICS 2018 finishing 8th in the QUEENS CATS.  Won the G3- BREEDER’S BOWL DISTAFF and G1- BLUEGRASS OAKS.  Has been in 9 straight graded races, M. Jolly has 2 prior rides both resulting in wins.  Has 7 wins in 12 career races and is 6 for 10 in dirt routes.

2- INTERNET SENSATION               (6-1)                                J. Benisz                            gowans           5-Mare         KY    (Tapit x Distorted Humor   he mare: Tosh)                                  Comes in off a wi in the G1- SANTA MARINA HANDICAP by 1 1/2 lengths.  Was second in November at G1- BREEDER’S BOWL DISTAFF.  Has won 8 out of 12 dirt routes.  Has a career best SP of 118 and 2 graded wins at 8.5f.  Has made 10 graded starts.

3- BROAD SWEEPING                        (27-1)                              V. Gardner                        davarto          4-Filly          AUS     (Hussonet x Bernardini     dam: The Three Bees)                      Off since the December G2- BARBACOA HANDICAP where she finished 11th.  Prior race won the G2- COTTON HANDICAP by a head posting a 111 SP. Has went to the post five times in graded stakes.  Has 4 wins and a second in her 7 dirt route races.

4- SIA                                                          (7-1)                                 W. Desantis                      pointblank      5-Mare        KY        (Malibu Moon x Kris S. x Alydar)                                                Last race came home in fourth at G3- AZERI BREEDERS BOWL over this Arkansas dirt in sloppy conditions.  Has 21 career graded starts having a 118 SP in G2- MD DISTAFF in the slop.  Competed in EQUINICS 2016 and finished 11th at the ORANGE BLOSSOM last year.  Desantis had two previous mounts with 1 win.

5- AN EMPTY COUNTRY                    (10-1)                              M. Staples                     spinround        5-Mare        KY       (Smart Strike x Summer Squall x Deputy Minister)                  Started the year with a pair of NW6L allowances, last outing ran second by 1/2 length while putting out a117 SP.  Has 3 graded races including a win in the G1- BRA SNAP by a head.  Won both of her ungraded stakes attempts.  Hit the board in 9 of 13 races with 5 wins.

6- MALIBU MALICE                             (16-1)                              M. Brown

knightmare      4-Filly         KY      (Palace Malice x Malibu Moon   dam: Storm The Moon)          Won both her 2018 starts.  The G2- SLAVE TO TRADITION putting out a 112 SP and a NW3x allowance.  Has made 9 previous grade starts.  Brown has been in the saddle for 6 previous races.  Ran on the undercard here last year in the G2- FANTASIA HANDICAP finishing 6th.

7- GUNS FOR HANDS                           (15-1)                              L. Creek                         nepenthe         4-Filly        KY       (Empire Maker x Bernardini   he mare: Hueves De Oro)          At EQUINICS 2018 stretched out to 10f in THE BUDA WITH A SLEW finishing in ninth.  Has made 6 straight graded starts but has not won since the first one the G1- SISTER HEN last June posting a 111 SP with Creek in the irons. Has gone to the winner’s crcle in 6 of 13 dirt routes.  Came home in 7th at G1- BREEDER’S BOWL DISTAFF.

8- SKYLINE SLEW                                (13-1)                             C. Winter                         jms7777          4-Filly         KY       (Distorted Humor x Seattle Slew x Ghostzapper)                        Won the QUEENS CATS by 1 1/2 lengths at EQUINICS 2018 with a 116 SP giving her 3 wins in a row.  (G2- BARBACOA HANDICAP and G3- SOUTH BEND OAKS)  Has 3 wins in four graded starts after going 0 for 4 in ungraded races.  Has hit the board in 9 of 13 dirt routes with 5 wins.

9- ASTUTE TORNADO                          (8-1)                               C. Shoemaker

handshobby    5-Mare      KY    (Smart Strike x Storm Cat     dam: Storm Over Seattle)                In February ran third in G1- SANTA MARINA HANDICAP ending a 3 race win streak.  Won the G3- EXIT STAGE LEFT in only other graded race.  Put up a 118 SP in winning the RACE SERIES FOR ASRII.  Has been in the money in 11 of 13 dirt routes with 5 victories.

10- EXPLOSIVE AGENT                     (6-1)                                V. Elliott

lenny271       5-Mare      ENG    (Frankel x Dynaformer      he mare: Killzones)                            Won both of her starts this season.  The G2- RAMP ART HANDICAP by 2 3/4 lengths and the MONMOUTH HUNT DIRT MARE ROUTE. Only other graded race was the G1- THE THREE SMOKESTACKS over a sloppy track which was the only time in 17 dirt routes that she missed the board.  Has a best SP of 117.  

11- JESS KILLIN TIME                         (11-1)                               P. Jolly                                          canyongate    4-Filly         KY       (Awesome Again x Unbridled x Damascus)                               Comes in off of a gate to wire win in G2- THE CANADA posting a 119 SP in her only graded start.  Has never failed to hit the board in any of her 12 career races.  Never worse then 2nd in any listed stakes with a win in the POINT DELIVERED DIRT FILLY ROUTE.  Has 5 wins in dirt routes.

12- WIDOW’S WAR                                (6-1)                                R. Radzinski                                 lenny271        5-Mare        KY       (War Front x Seattle Slew x Alydar)                                              Ran second in the G1- SANTA MARINA HANDICAP to open the year.  In December won the JERRY TURKS DIRT MARE MEMORIAL.  Came home in fifth in G1- BREEDER’S BOWL DISTAFF.  Has 9 previous graded starts.  Won G3- AZERI BREEDERS BOWL with a 115 SP.  Finished 10h in last year ORANGE BLOSSOM.  Radzinski has 2 wins in 3 mounts.

13- HAKOYO                                              (20-1)                            E. Sharp                                         given              4-Filly         KY      (Distorted Humor x Bernardini       dam: Takoyo)                       In the EQUINICS 2018 finished 12th in the QUEENS CATS which ended her 3 race winning streak.  In January kicked out a 114 SP in winning the G2- ENCINO MAN by 2 lengths in only other graded start.  Has finished in the Top 3 in 8 out of her 10 dirt routes with 6 visits to the winner’s circle.  Half-sister of OISHE.

14- OISHE                                                   (11-1)                             W. McClendon                           given            4-Filly          KY      (Distoted Humor x Bernardini      dam: Skilling)                           Opened the year with a third in he G3- SABIAN HANDICAP and ended last year with a 2nd in the G3- AIRLINE HANDICAP posting up a 114 SP.  Won her prior race the G2- GOWADER STAKES.  McClendon has had 3 prior times in the saddle with 1 win.  On the board in 10 of 11 dirt routes gaining 6 victories.  Half-sister of HAKOYO.

The Handicapper must have had a tough time with this group I am sure.  As he could only wittle it down to 3 co-favorites at 6-1 and only has one entry at longer than 20-1 odds.

MY SELECTIONS:

2- INTERNET SENSATION

8- SKYLINE SLEW

11- JESS KILLIN TIME