Tag Teaming the F&M Sprint

Some races are so tough to figure out that it takes two players to try to make sense of them.  For this article players Sremel and Spinround took turns looking at the field and trying to analyze each horse.  Please enjoy.

 

#1 Belladonte                                                    5/1

5yo Mare Sea the Stars x A.P. Indy x Mr. Prospector

Biggest Win – G1 Humane Distaff 5/4/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – Amazingly this beautifully bred filly was lost in a claiming race as a four year old. She’s a real lover of today’s distance with one G1 win and two G1 seconds going seven furlongs. Her speeds are some of the best in the field. Should be tough.

Sremel’s Thoughts – I like her breeding and she clearly likes the distance. a very sharp claim that paid dividends after given some time. She should be tough in here although there are a couple in here that can catch her, like they did last time. I think she is the deserved favorite is consistent

 

#2 Sing Your Praises                                                        12/1

4yo Congrats x Indian Charlie x Easy Goer

Biggest Win – The Princess Looney G1 7/1/2018

 

Spin’s Thoughts – this filly has won four of seven starts on the year including her first G1 in the Princess Looney but her last two starts have been disappointing. She’ll have to rebound big time to make an impact here. She likes to close from a good bit back but there should be a good pace for her in this race.

Sremel’s Thoughts – Lovely 4yo filly that is very lightly raced but the distance may just be a half furlong to long for this level. She definitely has the ability to improve but her last couple leave more to be desired.

 

#3 Malibu Tempest                                                         13/1

4yo Filly – Malibu Moon x Street Cry x Storm Cat

Biggest Win – A Time For Speed G1 12/15/2017

Spin’s Thoughts – This filly was good enough to make the field for this race last year, although she only ran seventh. She did win a G1 shortly after that but has dropped two listed stakes in a row which is worrisome.

Sremel’s Thoughts – This filly has been going steady her entire life. She is a grade 1 winner but her attempts at the 7 furlongs have been uninspiring. I think she would prefer 6 furlongs and will have a tough go of it against this packed field.

 

#Take What’s Given                                                       14/1

3yo Filly – Pioneerof The Nile x Forty Niner x Halo

Biggest Wins – Movieland Starlet G1 12/16/2017, California Oaks G1 4/7/2018, Chestnut Stakes G1 6/8/2018, Exam Stakes G1 8/5/2018

 

Spin’s Thoughts – I love this filly’s chances. She’s 4 for 4 sprinting including a g1 win. Her last two starts were at seven and seven and a half furlongs and she won both with speeds of 111 and 108. Her sprint races have seen her on or near the lead so you should know within the first furlong how her chances will be in this spot.

Sremel’s Thoughts – Take What is Given is on a roll right now and the distance is clearly in her wheelhouse. She is very lightly raced and has only had one off the board finish. She is absolutely a threat in here since she just keeps improvingoh and that off the board finish was in the G1 Equinics going 9F early this year

 

Rubinetto                                                            10/1

5yo Mare – Tapit x Medaglia D’oro x Storm Cat

Biggest Win – Princess Loony G1 7/2/2017

 

Spin’s Thoughts – Rubinetto was based on the hemare Cavallo Verde who won the BB Turf Sprint back in 2013. She’s a war horse with seventeen wins from 30 starts and it always makes me worry when horses get up that high in starts that they may be over the hill. She is 6-4-1-1 on the year including a G3 win so maybe she’s got some big races left.

Sremel’s Thoughts – Tapit mare ran fifth in here last year and is coming in off of a 5.5f race and seems to prefer the 5-6F races although she does have a G2 placing two back going 7 furlongs.  No doubt there is talent here but the 7 furlongs must be of concern

 

 

Slick Power                                                         18/1

3yo Filly – Mastercraftsman x Unbridled’s Song x Seattle Slew

Biggest Wins – The Stonerstop G2 4/8/2018, The Girl Up Front G2 3/4/2018, Yanta Snez Stakes G2 1/13/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – Dam Extended Power won this race back in 2010 when she was named Champ Sprinter. That year the mare won the Priceless and the Exam (both G1s) while this year her daughter finished 2nd in both of those starts. Slick Power faltered in her first start vs. older in the Nutcracker but many 3yos rebound the next time they face older. An interesting runner

 

Sremel’s Thoughts – Slick Power really wished it would rain but also takes well to a dry surface. Facing a few others in here two back in the Nutcracker she faltered and ran 7th. I think you can throw that out because it was quick back and her only bad performance ever. She clearly likes the distance here and has always been first or second in her races other than her one dismal finish

 

#7Bugle Meerup                                                              11 / 1

Four Year Old Filly – Flower Alley x War Front x Carson City

Biggest Win – The Quote the Raven G2 10/22/2017

Spin’s Thoughts – how can you not like a winner of 10 of 15 starts? She finished third in this race last year but has had a less ambitious campaign this year. She won 3 of 5 starts including two listeds but didn’t run in a grade until her most recent start where she finished 4th. She did run a 109 speed in that race which ties her career best (she’s hit that number four times including in an allowance this year). that race may have been a wakeup call for her and she could surprise here

 

Sremel’s Thoughts – Ran third in this race last year as a 3yo and is back for more. she has had a couple bad races this year but after that found her stride in the sorter races. I think she will enjoy getting back to the 7 furlongs and if she can continue to run well should be considered

 

#8 White Wisp                                                                   8/1

4 Year Old Filly – Tapit x A.P. Indy x Kingmambo

Biggest Win – The Nutcracker G1 8/25/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – gorgeously bred filly has been on fire this year. She’s won three grades including what might be the best race of the division so far, the G1 Nutcracker and she did that in STYLE, coming from last to win going away. Her speeds are some of the best in the field and with only 11 starts to her name she still has a lot of room to improve. She’s been off since the Nutcracker score at the end of August which can be either a good thing or a bad thing for a horse coming into a big race like this.

Sremel’s Thoughts – Tapit filly surprises me she is not the favorite after her incredible win in the Nutcracker last out. She likes the 7 furlongs and is still improving. Her off the board finish in the G2 UNthinkable stakes going 7f was her only trip outside of NY until now. The question here is if she will travel better this time

 

#9 Icantremembernow                                                 9/1

Five Year Old Mare – Awesome Again x A.P. Indy x Nijinsky II

Biggest Win – Unthinkable Stakes G2 4/22/2018, Delta Tau Chi Sprint G2 7/1/2018

 

 

Spins’ Thoughts – Defeated White Wisp in the G2 Unthinkable, also has another G2 win on the year. Both wins came at 7f with Icantremembernow sitting midpack before making her move.  Her last two starts were a bit strange with a stretchout to a mile, a failed experiment and then a so-so effort when going back to 7f. In tough

Sremel’s Thoughts – This mare has been all over the board this year. Two grade 2 wins over the distance are nice but she can’t seem to follow through at times. She is a good filly but she might be showing some age with her inconsistency and you do not know which horse will show up. She could show up in here…or not

 

#10 Parted Ways                                                              8/1

Four Year Old Filly – Tapit x Forty Niner x Danzig

Biggest Wins – The Gleaming Invitational G2 6/30/2018, Lil’ Leprechaun Dash G2 8/12/2018

 

Spin’s Thoughts – Third Tapit filly in the race seems to either love or hate the distance with 4 wins and three losses at 7f.  She does have three wins on the year including two g2s at 7f.  Her speeds have been on the high side for this field.  She does have an interesting training pattern coming up to this race, her prep was at a mile where she ran creditably well finishing third but see if that gives her a boost in stamina here.

Sremel’s Thoughts – Cutting back to 7 furlongs after a strong run going a mile last out, this filly is no stranger to the distance here. She has yet to try grade 1 company but so far has handled G2’s with flare. Looks like she could have more in the tank but we will have to wait and see. She has had a couple falters but nothing to suggest she is less than capable of G1 company.

 

#11 Deep Pact                                                   17/1

Five Year Old Mare – Deep Impact x Miswaki x Nijinsky II

Biggest Wins – Breeders’ Bowl F & M Sprint G1 11/3/2017, Equinics G1 2/24/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – last year’s victor in this race, Deep Pact added another g1 win to her resume by taking the F&M Sprint race at the Equinics this year. After the Equnics race she hit the board in two more grades but her recent form has taken a turn for the worse. I have a hard time seeing this fine mare defend her title her but she’s got the back class that anything is possible

Sremel’s Thoughts – Winner of this year’s Equinics Sprint and this race last year she is trying to defend her title. Her last couple races suggests she decided she liked the turf better but she clearly shows up in the big races. She has the class and could once again show up when it counts.

 

#12 Malibu Malice                                                           7/1

Four Year Old Filly – Palace Malice x Malibu Moon x Storm Cat

Biggest Win – The Slave to Tradition G2 3/3/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – first foal of a G2 winning mare who earned the chance to run in this race back in 2014. This filly ran a strong third in the Nutcracker behind White Wisp and Belladonte. Her G2 win actually came at a mile but she seems comfortable at seven furlongs, having also finished a solid second in the Humane Distaff G1 earlier this year.

Sremel’s Thoughts – this filly has been hitting the board regularly in her graded races and has just not been able to get there recently. She does have the G2 victory but the sprinting distances just come up a tad too short for her. She will put in a good effort to pick up the pieces but getting the win may prove difficult

 

#13 Cocaine Donuts                                        28/1

Three Year Old Filly – American Pharoah x More Than Ready x Seeking the Gold

Biggest Win – The Priceless G1 6/30/2018

 

Spin’s Thoughts – this filly had a busy summer in NY. She won the G1 Priceless Stakes and a month later tried to take on the G1 Exam. She didn’t like the offgoing that day but still returned three weeks later to try older mares in the Nutcracker where she finished next to last. She rebounded when returning to 3yo company in a G3 on October 7th where she finished 3rd. This filly has had a long campaign with a lot of races in a short time period. a dicey proposition

Sremel’s Thoughts – from the second crop of Triple Crown victor American Pharoah, this filly still has a lot of developing to do. Her one race against older she finished 13th and has only broke the 100 speed figure twice Heavily raced she looks like she needs some time before she tries to face older again. You can’t win if you don’t run

 

#14 Indy Street Pro                                         6/1

Four Year Old Filly – Street Sense x A.P. Indy x Mr. Prospector

Biggest Win – The Boom Boom Handicap G2 9/22/2018

Spin’s Thoughts – this filly has really blossomed as a four year old. She won her first listed in February and added a second and then a G3 in short order. She took the Grade Two Boom Boom Stakes last out at six and one half furlongs with a strong 112 speed. She’s never run in a G1 and this is a deep, deep field to dip your toes into.  She certainly she deserves to be short odds.

Sremel’s Thoughts – First try at a grade one but this filly clearly has the talent. The 7 furlong distance has seen her post 3 110+ speed figures. She looks to be ready for a big performance off that last race where she ran 6.5 furlongs to win a grade 2. Definitely a dangerous horse in her.