Sunday Celebration on Saturday
Time to celebrate! Eight mares will be going to post in the Sunday Celebration, a fourteen-furlong affair on the bright green California grass. Almost half the field are three-year-olds taking on their elders.
1 PIGS IN SPACE Simsters4 7/2
This thoroughly respectable Kayf Tara mare is making her 18th start, sixteen of which have been turf routes. She’s been on the board 12 times in her career, making her an exceptionally reliable mare. She’s been running at this distance almost exclusively lately, though most of her starts have been in allowances. She’s had a little more trouble in stakes company, though she’s still quite capable of hitting the board. She has a mediocre jock up, but should still manage to get up for a paycheck and has a very good shot at hitting the board.
2 HEMINGWAY’S FABLE Trazi4u 30/1
Hemingway’s daughter has been awesome in midrange claimers at these long distances, but this is a huge step up. Speed figures in the high 70s are just not going to get it done in this field. Love her in the right setting, but this isn’t it.
3 DEO VINDICE Sal4792 5/1
For the curious, here’s an interesting little blog about the translation of this mare’s name: http://littleurbanity.blogspot.com/2004/12/deo-vindice.html . This mare’s tried her luck at a variety of distances and levels. She’s won overnight stakes going a few furlongs shorter than this one and has pulled a paycheck at nearly this distances. She may get a boost from switching surfaces after her last race, but in this field her best hope is probably to earn a check and a few breeding points.
4 OBSTINATELY Fb 3/1
One of the morning line cofavorites, this Woodman filly has earned the confidence of top jockey F Gossett. She’s as consistent as can be in overnight stakes at this distance – almost always on the board. Her best races have come a little shorter, but she’s more than capabale of running well here. Her versatile running style should suit her well this weekend.
5 IAMBRE Jefahl 6/1
Sophomore has really flourished as she has stretched out, winning her last two stakes easily. She’s on a roll and almost never is off the board. Consistent gal has beaten her elders before, so they don’t intimidate her. She likes to be at or near the lead and will do her best to hold on from there. She’ll need a strong race to win, but looks fit and capable.
6 JENA BERLIN Astinator5 7/1
Sophomore daughter of King Kamehameha has won 6 of 12 starts, a record with which it’s hard to argue. Exclaimer has been steadily improving in recent starts, though her last race at 16 furlongs may have been a hair long for her (but she still finished a fighting second). She won five in a row before hitting that 16 furlong race, including a race in which she posted a very strong 98 speed figure at this distance. If she can replicate that run, the race is likely hers. She’s another one who likes to be up front, so hopefully the early race for the lead won’t wear her out. Rock-solid jock E Land should be able to help her conserve her energy.
7 BLAME Bigblueone 9/1
Kaif’s gal seems to have found her niche – allowances at 16 furlongs. Unfortunately, this race isn’t a perfect fit for her (though it may have been the best one available this week) – being both shorter and tougher than the races in which her picture is taken. Still, she’s been absolutely domininant in her last three races (all wins), so she’s earned another shot at stakes company. Four-year-old daughter of Galileo is a tough, steady earner who’s likely to find herself a bit outclassed in this outing.
8 ZIPPY DA DO DA Sloma 3/1
Sloma’s gal has faltered in recent graded outings, but now is heading back to a level where she can excel. A bridesmaid type of horse, she almost always hits the board in races like this one, but hasn’t won in quite a while. City Zip’s daughter likes to come from way back, which should benefit her this weekend and the skilled steering of M Staples will help her avoid traffic trouble. Watch for her to catch u pwith tiring leaders late and hit the board if she’s on her game.
Good luck, everyone!