Distaff sextet in the Trash Can Mile in Mexico

Trash Can Mile
Grade II
One mile
Firm Turf
$250,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

None of these turf milers are ready for the trash can.  A sextet of spectacularly bred fillies and mares lines up in the smog of Mexico City this Saturday to contest the Grade 2 Trash Can Mile.  While the outside horse is the only female here who clearly likes to run in front, the rest are happy to press the pace.  As a result, we are unlikely to see anyone speed to the wire with easy fractions.

1 76878 SADLER’S BABY  tripleaaa  B Brown  18/1    

This six-year-old from serious sires (SADLER’S WELLS x SECRETARIAT x VICE REGENT) followed up a promising 106 speed ungraded stakes win in South Dakota with two big whiffs in Grade 1 company, the last in the Flower Pot in New York.  Whether the company was too tough or the big win was just a fluke is open to question.  Cutting back two furlongs to a mile might help her preferred stalking style, but jockey B Brown is having a poor year.  This rail mare seems the longshot her odds indicate.

2 52525 RUNNING SCARED(IRE)  crazyjoe  F Valenzuela  8/5    

This millionaire four-year-old is from top turf stock (EL PRADO(IRE) x ROBERTO x RAISE A NATIVE) and has been ultra-consistent.  She was just nipped by BARB DYLAN in her last, a Grade 3 at 6 furlongs.  Her mile races are as good as anyone’s, including a third in the G1-World Cup Ladies Turf Mile.  She is an ocean crosser as well, working on her sixth intercontinental trip this year coming into this race.  That hasn’t tired her yet.  She looks to be third or fourth through the early going before making her move.  Top contender.

3 111027 BITER  upperhand2  J Lynch  5/1

A four-year-old as well-bred as any in here (KINGMAMBO x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER) steps back up to graded company after a fourth in the GR Simsters Mile last month in New York.  She has become a turf mile specialist, and ran a nice 108 two races back in California.  That said, the class jump is significant for her, and she may find a crowd following the likely lead horse on the outside.  Her solid jockey should help.

4 52934 COSMO GIRL  theoc2  M Buck  3/1  

Mom NIJINSKY TUNE was not too fast, but her pedigree power (GONE WEST x NIJINSKY II) plus top sire Storm Cat is enough to propel this four-year-old into the Grade 1 winning ranks.  After five straight graded stake trifecta finishes, she tried the boys for the first time last out in the Breeders Bowl Mile.  Her disastrous showing in that race could have been a faster pace set by the males, or the beginning of a downturn.   She too has crossed oceans more than a half dozen times this year. Her pair of recent 111’s gives her the fastest recent races here, and she simply loves the distance.  Having the leading jock aboard completes the picture of a filly who can upset the favorite.

5 96298 NORTHERN PULP  theogbarn  M Olsen  2/1    

This fourteen-time winner keeps knocking on the door in Grade 1s, and has another top chance today.  Her breeding looks as good for dirt as the green stuff (PULPIT x NORTHERN DANCER x BUCKPASSER), but she has become a turf route specialist this year.  Her last two Grade 1 tries were narrow losses, and her consistent speed numbers would have her right in this one at the finish.  She has some speed but could be the furthest back early, and in this crowded pace scenario that could work to her benefit.

6 130455 THE WITCHING HOUR(JPN)  buffy8  Y Cross  10/1

The only three-year-old in the bunch is out of Grade 1-placed dam BAKU, giving her another strong pedigree in the race (FANTASTIC LIGHT x DANZIG x PRIVATE ACCOUNT).  She’s been judiciously raced, with only nine starts, but six are wins.  In her last, the GREEN MONSTER Special, she was less than a length from her first Grade 1 win.  She was uncharacteristically off the lead in that one, and perhaps let winner EAAAXMASGIFT(IRE) slip away with one on the lead.  Although it seems unlikely, she could use her blazing speed to hold the rest of these at bay and steal the win at a price.