Juvenile Filly Race of the Week: The G3 Chicago-DC Lassie
Illinois (IL) – Sunday, September 9, 2018 — 2:00:00 PM EST
The Chicago-DC Lassie – 8 Furlongs on Dirt
Grade III — Purse : $150,000
Restricted to 2 Year Olds, Fillies Only
At 6/1 odds, Kittengate leads a field of 14 two-year-old fillies for the mile-long Chicago-DC Lassie, but there are several other entrants with impressive bloodlines that could take their first graded stakes win on Sunday. Just one starter has a stakes win of any kind and many are taking their first tentative step up from the allowance circuit in this race. With a fast track expected, spectators should get their money’s worth and will hope to see the start of a promising high-level career kicked off by one of these thoroughbreds.
Darksideofthesox (7/1) drew the inside position for this race. She has taken two wins from four, the most recent coming in an allowance race for local-bred Kentucky fillies over 8 furlongs. She went gate-to-wire in that race, but trailed off badly near the end to just hold off a hard-charging Interesting Turn. The same strategy may not be successful against this field.
Special Ruth G (20/1) has more experience, starting six races already this year. However, her allowance win came against a small field and she has not yet raced at longer than 6 furlongs in the past. A third-place finish in a listed stakes race at long odds may indicate she has a shot and her connections are bringing her back all the way from Italy and in attempt to push her against a strong field.
Next is Goin’ Crazy Again (9/1). A perfect three-for-three to start but a disappointing seventh at the Grade II Hoserhead Juvenile Fillies in July. A similar result may see her shipped back to California to regain the winning form that indicated serious potential back in the spring.
Cairo Whacked (12/1) is another horse that has found success on the west coast which may or may not translate to this race. Three-straight local bred allowance races to get her second win in August. She’s never left the gate at longer than 3/1 odds before; this will be a serious test.
Vomit Comet (9/1) went abroad for the Grade II Red Fish Blue Fish Stakes and will hope to have more success closer to home. This daughter of Uncle Mo by Grade III winner Bad Astronaut certainly has the pedigree for this kind of challenge.
In the sixth position is the longshot, Chard Taco (46/1). The most experienced entrant with seven starts, she brought up the rear at the Grade III Princess Margo, she made the switch to dirt in the following race and took a show and a win from her next two.
Hollywood Diamonds (9/1) is the most successful foal so far from Gun Runner’s first year in retirement. Three starts in graded stakes races and career earnings of $82,470. Best finish was third at the Grade III Butterfly Futurity over 6 furlongs back in June.
To her outside is the aforementioned Kittengate (6/1). She hasn’t had as many opportunities to shine as some of the other starters but wins over 7 and 8 furlongs indicate no concern with the distance. Her sire Arrogate has gotten off to a faster start as a stallion, as Kittengate would be his third stakes winner in this first class.
More than Tiz (10/1) won with a blistering 87 speed figure going a mile at an allowance a little less than a month ago. Surely that effort would be enough to take home the title on Sunday.
Moho Meadow (11/1) has won three of four and likes to race from the front. She is stepping up just slightly in distance but past performances indicate that she will certainly play a role in deciding the outcome of this one.
Beat Keeper (7/1) may have tested the stakes race waters a bit too early but has been successful since returning to the allowance circuit. Won a tough race, then second with a fast time over a mile on dirt. This is another big step up in field quality but the oddsmakers seem to like her chances.
Dubai Majesty (19/1) is the lone international horse in the field. She has two wins from sprints in Japan and the UAE plus a close second at the Red Fish Blue Fish Stakes. Finished four lengths ahead of Vomit Comet on that occasion but finds herself a longshot once again. I like her chances.
The penultimate starter is El Nino Effect (8/1), who is a perfect two-for-two so far. She is tested at this distance and really hasn’t shown any weakness with two strong wins.
Clever Counterfeit (8/1) won the Robin With Beer Dirt Juvenile Fillies from the rail but starts from the outside on Sunday. She also raced in the Red Fish Blue Fish Stakes, taking fourth behind Dubai Majesty as the favorite. Has yet to post a really impressive speed figure.
Prediction:
- Dubai Majesty
- Kittengate
- More than Tiz