A Dozen Beautiful Ladies are all set to battle it out in the California Sunshine at the G1 THE VERY VANE.
G1 – VERY VANE
A loaded field of a dozen top notch older fillies and mares have made their way out here to California for this year’s running of the G1 Very Vane. All but one of these runners have already earned a graded stakes win and 3 former Equine Of The Year winners have entered. The race will cover the distance of One Mile and a Quarter, or 9 furlongs, or 1800 meters depending upon your measuring choice. Let’s just hope that that have not installed any mirrors in the paddock area and all these lovelies will make it to the starting gates on time. Interesting to note that CURLIN was the sire of 3 of these ladies; could there possibly be some kind half sister cat fight in the stretch run. I just wonder if their connections have some kind of side bet on which one will finish first amongst the 3 of them? Half of the field comes to us from 3 trainers, as lenny271, mtk76, and canyongate will each saddle 2 of ladies for the race. A pair of the runners are returning from last year’s race after not finishing on the tote board.
1- KIFFLOM (11-1) lenny271
Drawing the rail is this 4 year old Bay that is the product of ORB and stakes placed mare DEFELECTION. Scored a 2nd last out in the G3 Poor Mona Lisa Handicap, her only ITM in 4 starts this year. Won the G2 Hunted By Lions in November. She has never shown any interest in getting to front early.
2- NUKA BREEZE (9-1) lenny271
The only runner not to have a graded victory is the 4 year old Light Grey daughter of GRAYDAR and the graded winning mare STORMY BREEZE. Has finished 1st or 2nd in 6 straight including all 5 this year. Will be making a return to graded stakes company for the first time since September. Early speed that likes to be at or very close to the lead.
3- IN MY NAME CONQUER (10-1) mtk76
This 5 year old Brown mare is the first of our daughters of CURLIN is out of the stakes placed mare MAKING AN ENTRANCE. She was the winner of the G2 D-Day Distaff last July and comes in here winning 2 of 3 starts this year both at the allowance level. Does her best work when she is near to the early pace.
4- TREACHEROUSLY II (8-1) canyongate
The scratch bred 5 year old Brown mare is one of our former EOY winners and is the offspring of MALIBU MOON. A 7 time graded stakes winner that included the 2017 Bluegrass Oaks, then was 5th against the boys at the Middle Jewel. She had the honor to compete at EQUINICS 2018. Won her last outing the G2 Golfer’s Wager. The closer will not be anywhere near the early speed.
5- OTHER STRANGERS (9-1) spinround
This 4 year old Bay has been a graded winner on the turf and is the product of FRANKEL(GB) and the stakes winning mare WINDS OF GOLD. Since the surface change this year she is a perfect 3 for 3 ITM including a third in the G2 My Lady last time out. Has never took the early lead but has never trailed by more than 4 at the first call.
6- JESS KILLIN TIME (6-1) canyongate
The 2nd of our EOY winners is the 5 year old scratch bred Bay mare daughter of AWESOME AGAIN. The 3 time graded stakes winner returned to victory circle last time out, her first since winning the Breeders Bowl Distaff in November. Faded to an 11th place finish in last year’s Very Vane. She will burst out of the gates trying to get the lead.
7- BEEF AND BEER (11-) mtk76
This 4 year old Light Grey is our 3rd EOY winner and our 2nd daughter produced by CURLIN and the graded winning mare BOSONGABOUTSEATTLE. She was a Gold Medal winner in the EQUINICS 2018 in the Mine Forest, but has not visited the winners circle since last June at the G1 Sister Hen Stakes. Likes to stalk just behind the early speed.
8- UNLIMITED FORCE (9-1) dixiedotco
4 year old Bay that is the offspring of DUBAWI(IRE) and the Hall Of Fame mare DANGEROUS REWARD. She is a 2 time graded winner with the last coming in January here in California at the G2 Encino Man. She will most likely stalk just behind the early leaders.
9- OUTBACK BAGUETTE (12-1) vyz
Our 3rd daughter produced by CURLIN is the 4 year old Bay scratch bred and has been tabbed by the handicapper as the longest shot in the field but she does not have long shot odds. Has won her last 2 starts including the G2 My Lady last time out. Hard to pin down her riding strategy as she has won with different plans.
10- LIAM’S FORTUNE (5-1) liam
The handicapper has chosen the 5 year old Bay mare out of DISTORTED HUMOR and the Hall of Fame mare RED DUHLERT as the ML Favorite. Has won 4 out of her last 5 starts dating to last October, including both of her graded wins; the G1 Original Margarita Invitational and the G2 King Classic. Will not challenge for the early lead but will keep them in sight.
11- DAN’S FLOWER (8-1) vkstables
This 4 year old Bay was sired by DANSILI(GB) out of the mare FLOWER MAMBO. She enters here on a 4 race win streak including last out winning the G3 Bringing Up The Rear Classic. Will probably settle in around mid pack before making her charge for the line.
12- IWILLDRYUPTHENILE (6-1) willyam13
This closer returns after finishing 5th here last year. The 5 year old Light Grey mare was the offspring of PIONEEROF THE NILE and the stakes winning mare TOGAINYOUMUSTGIVE. The 4 time graded stakes winner had a repeat victory 2 back at the G3 Route Sixty Six. The outside starting gate should not dampen the chances for this deep closer.
SUMMARY:
WOW! Is all I can say about the evenness of this field, and the handicapper obviously agrees; as the entire field is packed between 5-1 and 12-1 odds. This field has a cumulative winning percentage of 42%.
I see the early fractions being battled out by JESS KILLIN TIME, NUKA BREEZE and IN MY NAME CONQUER, followed by a group that holds OTHER STRANGERS, BEEF AND BEER, UNLIMITED FORCE, OUTBACK BAGUETTE and LIAM’S FORTUNE, and followed by KIFFLOM and DAN’S FLOWER, and then the closers TREACHEROUSLY II and IWILLDRYUPTHENILE.
My best guess as to how this will sort out in the stretch run:
12- IWILLDRYUPTHENILE
4-OTHER STRANGERS
6- JESS KILLIN TIME
Good Luck to ALL…………………………..JB3
Solid preview of a wide open affair. Fun race to watch.