The SLEEZY TOE Memorial Stakes, Newmarket
Welcome from Newmarket,here in the UK. We have a dry forecast for race 10 on Saturdays card, The SLEEZY TOE Memorial Stakes, ran over six furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares 3 yo +. We have a field of eight trying to put their best feet forward to lift the winners share of the $75000 pot. It will probably need a triple digit run to do it and the bookmakers reckon their are only two in with a sniff and are predicted to give us a nailbiting finish, but i can smell trouble afoot for the oddsmakers as a 3 yo looks to sock it to them at 8/1. Lets look at the runners and riders.
1) CAME CLOSE Houseriot T Cooper 6/1
5 yo mare
Came Home x Danzig x Seattle Slew
39 runs 6 wins 5 seconds 7 thirds $150851
Frustratingly inconsistent mare, has often put in a nice effort, but never managing to sustain the highlights of her form. Coming off a lifetime best effort lto when leading into the last furlong at Dubai, going under by 1 1/4 lengths in a six furlong female stakes.Ran a 104 and a repeat of that would see her a major player here.Will she run up to that? Your guess is as good as mine but at least she is in good form and goes again in similar conditions.
2) AIM FOR THE MOON Teamfoppa K Grimes 2/1 jf
5 yo mare
Woodman x High Yield x Dare and Go
39 runs 13 wins 5 seconds 6 thirds $550516
Classy at best and showing recent signs of a revival in allowance class.She has been a great servant to Ldyssecret`s racing empire, the highlights of her career being grade 1 and 2 placed, triple grade 3 winner and triple ungraded stakes winner. Im sure after racing she will be a great broodmare. In fine form at present,2 runs back finishing 2nd in a 6.5 furlongs $26000 female allowance, beaten 1 3/4 lengths and returning a 102. Confirmed her return to form lto when dropping down to six furlongs in a small allowance in Portugal and earning another shot in stakes level with a 104.Must go close in this company.
3) VITRIOLENS et13 A Craig 2/1 jf
4 yo mare
Johar x Caerleon x Lyphard
26 runs 9 wins 3 seconds 5 thirds $153153
Versatile stakes winning mare sent out from Teddys lage racing concern. Her trainer has had the midas touch with this one,a $25000 claim back in January. She has improved out of all recognition, winning 4 of her 9 races including 2 stakes races,at distances ranging from 5.5 to 7.5 furlongs and breaking the magic 100 barrier on no less than 6 occasions. Good chance on the book and will try to stay as close to the action as possible and quicken.
4) NICKS BADBOY wv Bo Edwards 5/1
4 yo mare
Dixieland Heat x Big Bet x Ascot Knight
28 runs 6 wins 5 seconds 5 thirds $121198
Consistent sort of mare,highly tried in the past but looks allowance class. Appeared to be going the right way 3 runs back when she broke 100 for the first time in her career in a 6.5 furlongs stakes in Hong Kong, finishing fourth 3 3/4 lengths off the winner. Has appeared to be just a little over the top 2 subsequent trips to the track,fading badly lto when holding a nice lead in a small 6 furlong allowance in Malaysia. She would need a pb by a clear four or five speed points to take this,so may be up against it.
5) ELUSIVE OTTO Verona B Beaton 8/1
3 yo mare
Rahy x Elusive Quality x A.P.Indy
10 runs 6 wins 3 thirds $169862
A big baby running against seasoned professionals, the classy Aim for the Moon has more wins than Otto`s had runs, you may think Ive gone mad to make Otto my selection but I like her a lot.She represents everything I like in a racehorse, quality bloodlines, lightly raced and an improver. Winner of her last 3 in allowance class, she gets a deserved step up in class today. She smashed the 100 barrier for the first time lto in a valuable 6.5 furlongs allowance at South Africa, waltzing away with victory with a huge 106. Steps back 1/2 a furlong today but that shouldnt be a problem. Only 10 runs on the board so should be as fresh as a daisy and such generous odds.
6) NEVER SMILES jakebarn J Bradley 11/1
3 yo mare
E Dubai x Giants Causeway x Sadlers Wells
14 runs 4 wins 3 seconds 3 thirds $109496
Another well bred improving youngster, going the right way but she doesnt excite me as much as Otto. Showing steady improvement of late,and has ran a pb speed figure in each of her last 3 races, culminating in a 98 in the same race in which Otto won with a 106. That result leaves her with a bit to find,and improvement for her, plus maybe Otto having a bad day is a must if she is to enter the winners enclosure. She didnt smile before and I dont think she will be smiling after.
7) HANSELBOURGH spain H Jackson 28/1
3 yo mare
Johannesburg x Hansel x Halo
11 runs 2 wins 1 second 2 thirds $46332
A youngster again, but not the class of the previous two. Still has time on her side,but needs to show improvement soon to show she is just not another claimer. Has been highly tried before with poor results. Currently struggling to show anything in allowance class and very little chance here.
8) TRICKY PULPIT Epcotlen A Tuscha 10/1
4 yo mare
Pulpit x Phone Trick x Halo
29 runs 5 wins 4 seconds 3 thirds $148520
Allowance class mare,returned to form with a bang lto after some months in the wilderness. Broke 100 for the first time over 7 furlongs at Athen, winning a $35000 nw1s allowance. Drop back to six may not suit and a hardish looking task here. Needs everything to fall her way and a massive new pb to boot. Not for me
Pogo Predicts
While i dont overlook a horse the class of Aim for the Moon lightly, I love the way Elusive Otto is progressing.It wont be easy for her,both Moonie and Teddys Vitriolens are sure to be chasing her hard but i will take Otto to come out smiling. 5 to beat 2 with 3 in third.