Making Their Entrances
Two year old fillies. Summer fading to fall. High stakes, higher drama. A new hot horse each week. A rising star for every fallen hero. Its September, and that means only one thing: the racing world is beginning to converge on
PP | Horse ID | Horse | Owner | Jockey | Odds | W / P / S |
1 | HANKIN MINISTER | 16/1 | Speedball has little in her line to inspire confidence, but she’s well bred and may be good enough to stick around for minor awards. Barring a huge upset, she’s not a threat to win. | |||
2 | COFFEE | 7/1 | A G2 winner, this filly found the SmackDown series a little too tough for her liking last time out, but has to be afforded a huge chance in this race, especially since despite the apparent disappointment in Delaware, she ran an 86 speed figure, a stellar number for a two year old filly at this point in the year. Furthermore, her name is simply brilliant; lovers of the black gold (like yours truly) are probably all kicking themselves wondering why they didn’t think of this name for ourselves. | |||
3 | CAPOEIRA(IRE) | 9/1 | A 4: 2-0-1 record would tend to force an observer to forgive the oddities in this one’s performances: started with a solid win on turf, the next three efforts have been on dirt. While they’ve been rather successful, carrying this filly to the top 50 in the division, I can’t help but think that this one must desperately be looking forward to a return to the lawn. | |||
4 | CRABBY PATTIES | 6/1 | She’s fast, but its an all-or-nothing proposition; 6: 3-0-0 doesn’t bode well for her in a race where there seems to be plenty of speed. Can’t help but notice that her top speed figure matches Coffee’s, and Coffee’s was recorded in much tougher company. May be lacking in seasoning to respond to a challenge when headed in the stretch, even if she does make the lead out of the gate. | |||
5 | STORM O HOLLANDIA | 9/1 | A closer who has proven herself very versatile, she comes into the race off of a turf placing, where she recorded a nifty78 speed figure. Previous lifetime best is in the low 80’s, so she’ll need a little bit of imporovement to threaten for the win, but its not entirely out of the question. Can’t ignore the jockey on top: Foster knows how to win. | |||
6 | FUSAICHI FLAME | 12/1 | Gunn isn’t much of a step down from Foster, and Fusaichi Flame, on talent alone, looks to be a big jump up from Storm O Hollandia. With only two starts under her belt, she’s still a maiden; while she may lack seasoning, its hard to ignore horses that have done everything that’s been asked of them. Great play at 12-1. | |||
7 | EZ PZ LEMONSQUEEZY | 8/1 | Undefeated daughter of Lemon Drop Kid can run like something else, but I need to see her back up her 80 speed number and possibly improve on it before I can write her in as a contender in the division. Hard to dislike an undefeated filly that’s bred to handle more ground though. | |||
8 | GRAND CAUSEWAY(IRE) | 8/1 | 4: 2-0-1, untouched in her last three. She’s a stalker, and will be just off of what should be a blistering pace, so she may get the advantage of first run at the top flight as the field turns for home. Love the pedigree, which indicates anything from 6 furlongs to 1 ¼ miles. Will be a real test of maturity for this filly. | |||
9 | ITS YOUR CALL | 7/1 | Stalker has found graded company a little bit too tough these last few outings, and I’m not sure whether she’ll be able to turn things around. Needs a lifetime best speed figure to compete for the win, but her pedigree is oriented a little more towards these sprint distances than Grand Causeway’s. | |||
10 | BUILDING EMPIRES | 7/1 | Hard to ignore the 7th last time out, or the two Belmont Stakes winners in her immediate pedigree (Empire Maker/Touch Gold). Gets some speed from Gulch, but she should need longer, and I don’t really see her making an impact on this group. | |||
11 | HANCOCK POND | 4/1 | Gorgeous pedigree, and this one is straightforward: if she repeats her last performance, she won’t be caught by anyone in this field. If she bounces, its anybody’s race. Flip a coin if you must, but I’d look for her to come back down to earth and run somewhere between a 83 and 87 speed number today, not an 89. |