Uncertainties Loom in Queen Bluffy

Seven furlongs                     Firm Turf        $55,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

Stakes History:  First running of this event

Four starters make up the field for the QUEEN BLUFFY Bonanza on Saturday at Volunteer Downs in Tennessee.  Even though two of the runners are *CPU owned, and one of the legitimate entries is nearing millionaire status, some questions exist that handicappers will have to ponder before making their selections.

As for the 2005 Field for the QUEEN BLUFFY Bonanza:          

A ten time winner on dirt, this five years old mare (Tsunami Slew x Herat) is switching to turf for this stakes run. Her lone start on grass resulted in a third place finish in an allowance level race.  This move is a bit of a surprise considering her current success on dirt (winner of 4 of last seven starts), but with two CPU entries, this might be the best setting to test the turf again.  Look for her to run slightly off the pace; with hopes of moving forward at the top of the stretch.

At seven years of age, it is doubtful that QUEEN KEEN (Oh Say x Espresso) can toss out a surprise run in this event.  Her limited success has been on dirt, and her two previous runs on the grass were uneventful.  If she can find the footing, she may be an early leader in this event, but her time on the lead may be short-lived.

A winner of ten out of 24 starts; including 8 stakes events (three graded stakes wins), and with purse earnings totaling more than three-quarters of a million, FORTY KT GOLD (Forty Niner x Touch Gold) brings in the most to the table.  However, a question still looms in this stable- How will she handled the turf (for the first time)?  Will she be worth her weight in gold or perform like a cheap discount store piece.  There is no doubt that this four years old filly is talented, and in this field, a sub par performance may still be enough to add some silver to her collection.

Even though she is a CPU runner, I would not overlook her chance.  Two races back, she finished a strong third in an allowance restricted (*2M) event, and a similar performance on this firm surface may put her in the winner’s circle.  The uncertainty of how others in this event will respond to the grass, only enhances her chances to pull off a surprise.  

Since none of the four starters likes to stretch out and grab the early lead- one of them may attempt to steal the pace, or the four may stay closely bunched and turn this sprint event into an even shorter sprint race.  FORTY KT GOLD is the most talented, and should be good enough to come out of this event on top.  BLENDER DEBACLE may prove to be the spoiler in the race. 

My selections are:

FORTY KT GOLD     BLENDER DEBACLE    LARRINS LUCKYLADY

-deajai