THE GIRLS SPRINT ON THE TURF IN IRELAND GRADE I FEATURE

There are 10 stakes races on Tap for this weekends racing card at Ireland with the Ireland residency having 8 resident restricted races on tap. The feature race of the day will be the Grade I Rock Of Cashel Stakes for fillies and mares 3 years old and up going 7 furlongs on the turf. The course has come up firm for the big day and a big field of 16 are entered and ready to sprint to the wire chasing the top prize of the $500,000 purse.

Let’s take a look at today’s field:

1)ALYCATZ—17/1—kinghaven sends this 4 year old mare out of WOODMAN with a record of 23-7-2-5 and lifetime earnings of $238,426. She is out of the mare AFRICAN SHIP who was 2/24 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including 2 stakes winners. This 62nd divisional ranked mare races for an independent and unafilliated stable. This mare had 2 allowance wins in her 2 year old season and was winless in 6 starts last year in her 3 year old campaign. This year she has 5 wins including 1 stakes win in The June Minstrel Memorial Stakes earlier this year. She posted her lifetime best 101 speed rating earlier this year in The Grade III Underscore Stakes over 6 furlongs on the turf at Longchamp, that was her only top 3 finish in 3 Graded starts in her career. She is a speed-pace presser who will challenge for the lead from the rail here today. The rider for today’s race will be Inch (5.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—97.

2)BRABASONG(KY)—26/1—brabant sends this 3 year old filly out of UNBRIDLED’S SONG with a record of 19-9-2-2 and lifetime earnings of $858,230. She is out of the mare BRABATA who was 14/54 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this filly who is a Graded stakes winner. This 195th divisional ranked filly races for the NWRC division of the Rafa stables. This filly won 7 of 10 starts as a 2 year old including 5 stakes hilited by The Grade II More Glare Stakes right here in Ireland and The Grade III Honey Dew Stakes in Ostend. This year she has added The Grade III Triangular Star Stakes in Hong Kong and a Smackdown III restricted stake race to her record. She posted her lifetime best 104 speed rating in the Smackdown race over 8 furlongs on the turf course. She is 0/4 lifetime with no top 3 finished in Grade I events. She usually likes to run up front either on the lead or pressing the pace and will be making her 2nd straight sprint start after having races her previous 11 starts at 8 furlongs or longer. She has struggled since starting to run against older company in her last 2 starts. The rider for today’s race will be Newcomb (7.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—95.

3)MIRARI’S WAKE(IRE)—11/1—sender sends this 3 year old filly out of NORTH LIGHT(IRE) with a record of 16-9-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $874,910. This 1st divisional ranked filly races for the Deadinthelane stables based over at the GR Simsters. This filly managed 4 wins including 2 overnite stakes victories in her 2 year old season. This year she has won 5 stake races including The Grade III Ain’t No Bugs On Me stakes in New York and the hilite of her career to date in a wire to wire win in The Grade I World Cup Ladies Long Turf Sprint, her only race against older foes so far in her career, where she posted her lifetime best 109 speed rating for the 7 furlong turf race. She came back in a Grade I last time out and pressed the early pace taking the lead at the top of the stretch but could not hold on and settled for 3rd. She is another who is expected to challenge for the early lead here today and there should be a hot pace generated by the inside horses here today. The rider for today’s race will be Kentucky (19.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.

4)LAMENTATIONS—8/1—astapor sends this 4 year old mare out of WAR CHANT with a record of 26-7-8-2 and lifetime earnings of $595,701. This 132nd divisional ranked mare races for Given’s Fire And Blood stables based over at the GR Simsters. This mare picked up 1 win in 4 starts as a 2 year old and last year added 3 more allowance wins to her record. This year she has won 3 races including 2 stakes hilited by The Grade II Pepperton Mile in Newmarket where she posted her lifetime best 107 speed rating over the 8 furlong turf race. She will be cutting back in distance here today to make only her 4th lifetime sprint start and first since June where she finished 2nd in a Vermont stakes race. She is another front running girl who will have lots of company seeking the front here today ensuring an honest pace. The rider for today’s race will be Shull (10.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

5)VICTORY STROKE—11/1—man0war sends this 4 year old mare out of VICTORY GALLOP with a record of 24-5-3-5 and lifetime earnings of $99,907. She is out of the he-mare ADMIRAL’S STORMS who was 3/39 at the track. This 265th divisional ranked mare races for the unafilliated Mv4ever stables. This mare broker her maiden in her lifetime debut race but was switched to the turf in her 3rd start after a disappointing stake effort. She picked up an allowance win on the turf in her 2 year old season and then was winless in 6 starts last year. This year she has picked up 3 allowance victories and will be looking for her first stakes win in her Graded stakes debut here today. She posted her lifetime best 105 speed rating two starts back while winning a NW4X allowance 7 furlong turf sprint in Kansas. She is a closer who saver her best stride for the stretch drive but will have to prove she can handle this jump in class for today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be Durst (9.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—102.

6)SADDLING WELLS(IRE)—21/1—pm2 sends this 4 year old mare out of MARTIN JOHN(IRE) with a record of 20-3-5-2 and lifetime earnings of $72,070. This 3359th divisional ranked mare races for PM racing based right here in Ireland. This mare broker her maiden in her 3rd lifetime start on the dirt as a 2 year old and finished that season with a pair of 2nd place turf allowance finishes when switched to the green surface. She would go 0/5 on the turf including a last place finish in The Grade I Ark De Triumph before being switched to the dirt for 3 races to close out the season in winless fashion. After debuting on the turf this year she was switched back to the dirt where she did post back to back allowance wins 2 starts ago. She has posted her lifebest 102 speed rating twice in the last 4 starts both 2nd place finishes in dirt sprint allowances. An unusual start here today as clearly her dirt performances are much better than her turf races and the rise in class could present a problem for this mare today. But alas, she will be running locally and this closer has to stand by the rule that you can’t win them unless you run in them. The rider for today’s race will be White (6.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—87.

7)EYE OF THE WORLD(IRE)—13/1—shamran7 sends this 3 year old filly out of DUBAWI(IRE) with a record of 18-7-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $811,120. She is out of the mare SACK THE CASTLE who was 5/37 at the track and who has 2 foals on record of which this filly is the only winner to date. This 2nd divisional ranked filly races for the Shamran stables based over at the EAAA residency. This filly won 4 of 6 starts as a 2 year old including 3 stakes hilited by The Grade II Treasure Got Ripped Off Stakes at Ascot. She has added 3 more stakes wins to her record this year including The Grade III Latonia Special in Montana and The Grade I World Cup Ladies Turf Sprint in Ohio where she posted her lifetime best 106 speed rating over the 6 furlong turf race. She struggled in a Grade 1 start at Ostend last time out and this closer may be more comfortable with the extra furlong in today’s race. This will be her 3rd straight start against older company. The rider for today’s race will be Reed (17.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.

8)DANCE SEEKER—7/1—rockriver sends this 4 year old mare out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 30-16-1-5 and lifetime earnings of $1,648,060. This 1st divisional ranked mare races for the Great Plains Residency division of the Rockriver stables. This mare won 2 of 4 starts, both allowance races in her 2 year old season which was raced exclusively on the dirt. She switched to the turf for her 3 year old campaign and immediately went on a 7 race win streak including The Grade III Latonia Special and The Grade II Celine Stakes. After the streak was broken she added 3 more stake wins last  year including The Grade II Wilted Petals stakes and The Grade I Queensland Filly Turf Special. Last year she raced in this race and ended up in 5th place and did not show her usual late kick at all. She has picked up 4 more Graded stake win this year including The Grade II Castle Point Stakes, The Grade III Las Vegas Handicap, The Grade III Viking Memorial Sprint and 3 starts ago she won The Grade II Hearty Appetite Sprint at Epsom. She posted her lifetime best 108 speed rating last year while winning on a yielding turf and has posted 4 consecutive triple digit speed ratings and 7 of her last 8 coming into this race today. She is a closer who will be meeting her 3 year old #1 divison leader counterpart for the first time today. The rider for today’s race will be Dirks (9.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.

9)BUDA FOR A DAY(KY)—8/1—vicki sends this 3 year old filly out of DAYJUR with a record of 18-9-2-1 and lifetime earnings of $1,427,050. She is out of the mare VICKI’S GAL who was 7/62 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners including this filly who is a Graded stakes winner and another stakes winner. This 3rd divisional ranked filly races for the GR Simsters division of the Twoofus stables. After a pair of lacklustre dirt starts in her 2 year old season she was switched to the turf where she promptly went on a 4 race win streak hilited by The Grade I High Flyer Stakes right here in Ireland. That win earned her a start in last years BB Juvenile Filly Turf where she rallied to a 5th place finish. This year she has won 5 Graded stakes including The Grade III Broadside stakes, The Grade III Appalooza Stakes, The Grade I 1000 Guineas, The Grade I Cremation Stakes and The Grade II Niedermeyer Cup. She has not won in her last 4 starts since July albeit she has finished in the top 3 in 3 of those races including posting her lifetime best 107 speed rating while finishing 3rd in The Grade II Roberto Clemente Handicap over 8 furlongs on the turf in California. While running mainly in mile races this year she dropped down to 6 furlongs last time out and her rally just came up short so the extra furlong here today could be the answer. It should be noted that she does show versatility in her running style which could help her as the race unfolds today but with the abundance of speed in the race it is expected she will try to close in the stretch drive here again today. The rider for today’s race will be Doyle (12.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

10)SEEKING STEPHEN—13/1—earthsong sends this 5 year old mare out of STEPHEN GOT EVEN with a record of 48-20–10-6 and lifetime earnings of $848,008. She is out of the he-mare SEEKING THE CAT who was 5/26 at the track. This 7th divisional ranked mare races for the RASH division of Barndog’s The Dog Pound stables. This mare picked up one allowance win on both surfaces in her 2 year old season and added 7 wins in her 3 year old campaign including 3 overnite stakes races. Last year she added 6 wins to her record including 5 stakes hilited by The Grade III Scuzzy South Stakes in Ontario. She has posted 5 more overnite stakes wins so far this year and will be looking for her first Grade I victory today. She posted her lifetime best 106 speed rating for the fourth time in her career 2 starts back while winning The Rigidly Within Sea Stakes in Washington over 6 furlongs on the turf. This frontrunning mare will likely be outside around the track today with the other speed inside of her but can still be tough to handle as shown by her steady efforts year to year and this will be her 4th start back from an apparent injury earlier this year. The rider for today’s race will be Robinson (7.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—102.

11)QUEEN DOMINIQUE(SAF)—25/1—dragon1 sends this 5 year old mare out of HORSE CHESTNUT(SAF) with a record of 42-3-8-10 and lifetime earnings of $276,946. She is out of the he-mare THIS KID CAN PLAY who was 5/32 at the track. This 72nd divisional ranked mare races for the Demoney Racing Stables based over at the GR Simsters. This mare was winless in 4 starts as a 2 year old and broke her maiden in her second start in her 3 year old season for her only win that year. Last year she won 1 overnite stakes race on an off track and has added another in February of this year when she won The Chaotic Goose Memorial Stakes in New Hampshire posting her lifetime best 105 speed rating for the 7 furlong turf race. While not having a very good win percentage this mare has managed to earn a good living with many top 3 finishes in her career. While she does throw in the odd good race nowadays her most recent form suggests she will have difficulty in handling this field today. The rider for today’s race will be Izalls (3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—92.

12)GREENLAND’S EDGE—8/1—dsanders sends this 4 year old mare out of THE CLIFF’S EDGE with a record of 27-8-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $271,414. She is out of the mare GREENLAND who was 8/41 at the track and who has 2 foals on record, both winners including this mare who is a stakes winner. This 37th divisional ranked mare races for the NWRC division of the Fabman Farms. This mare had 2 third place finishes in her 2 year old season and broker her maiden in her 2nd start of her sophomore year. She added 4 more wins last year including an overnite stakes race and has added 3 more overnite stake wins this year including her last race in The Six Captain Stakes where she posted her lifetime best 106 speed rating over the 7.5 furlong turf sprint in Victoria. Her stalking style sitting just off the early pace may be the way to go in this race with the abundance of speed and she should have good postion for the stretch drive if she can stay out of traffic problems. This will be her 3rd Graded start in her career and she did not perform well in her previous 2 tries. The rider for today’s race will be Collins (8.7%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.

13)RAISED BY DEMONS—8/1—lordbyron sends this 4 year old mare out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 23-8-7-3 and lifetime earnings of $311,053. She is out of the mare CATS IN THE CRADLE who was 2/23 at the track and who has 2 foals on record with this the only recorded winner to date. This 46th divisional ranked mare races out of the CR Racers racing club. This mare won 1 allowance race on each surface in her 2 year old season and picked up another allowance victory on the turf last year. This year she has This year she has won 5 races including 2 overnite stakes races including The Ourense(IRE) Handicap where she posted her lifetime best 107 speed rating over 7 furlongs on a good turf at Epsom. This pace stalker will be making her Graded stakes debut today and enters this race having posted triple digit speed rating in each of her last 6 races. The rider for today’s race will be Doyle (8.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

14)LA SANTA CRUZ—10/1—santacruz3 sends this 4 year old mare out of ALDERBARAN with a record of 28-6-7-5 and lifetime earnings of $392,350. This 78th divisional ranked mare races for the unafilliated Penamacor2 stables. This mare won her debut race in her 2 year old season and then had 4 top 3 finishes in 5 stake starts to close off her freshman year. Last year she won 5 races including 3 stake races hilited by The Grade III The Disney Special in NSW. She has been winless in 6 starts this year albeit she has finished in the money in 5 of those starts which have all been stake races. She posted her lifetime best 106 speed rating 3 starts back while finishing 3rd after trying to wire the field in The Nurse Storm Challenge Stakes in Minnesota over 7 furlongs on the turf. She has shown varried running styles which could come to her advantage as the race unfolds today. She has finished in the top 3 in a Graded stakes before but in her only other Grade I start she was outrun. The rider for today’s race will be Flint (7.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—101.

15)WILDEST SLEW—18/1—anymore sends this 5 year old mare out of FOREST WILDCAT with a record of 43-7-9-9 and lifetime earnings of $373,489. She is out of the mare ROYAL BOBBIE who was 4/15 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including this mare who is a stakes winner. This 48th divisional ranked mare races for Randy’s Oneworld stables based over at Minnesota Downs. This mare raced on the dirt for her 2 year old and most of her 3 year old season and actually broker her maiden in a dirt overnite stakes race as a freshman in Hong Kong. She was switched to the turf near the end of her 3 year old season and won 2 overnite stake races on the turf last year. This year she has picked up a pair of wins including another overnite stake race. She posted her lifetime best 101 speed rating 2 starts back while finishing 3rd in The Rigidly Withing Sea stakes over 6 furlongs on the turf and has 1 top 3 finish in three Graded stakes starts so far in her career. This speed stalker type probably picked a rough place to run today with both the 3 year old and older mare turf sprint division leaders also running in this field but should she surprise here today would reward her backers with some very nice exotic prices. The rider for today’s race will be Russell (11.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—96.

16)RANGER CHARLIE—11/1—billy sends this 7 year old mare out of FORESTRY with a record of 30-10-6-3 and lifetime earnings of $214,253. She is out of the mare BILLY’S SLEW who was 5/20 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this mare who is a stakes winner. This 175th divisional ranked mare races for the Tees stables based over at the EAAA racing residency. An interesting chart for this mare shows that 9 of her 10 wins came on the dirt and that she was away from racing in 2003 and only raced once in 2005. She was switched to the turf 4 starts ago in July and won her first race on the green surface last time out when she captured The Pro The Friendly Challenge stakes in North Carolina over 6 furlongs on the turf. She posted her best lifetime turf speed rating of 102 in that race versus her overall best rating of 108 earned on the dirt earned in 2004. Her only other Graded start was in The Grade I World Cup where she finished a no factor 8th in the race. She is the senior citizen in the race and should be hard closing from the back of the pack in the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Fontain (5.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—99.

Well we have quite the showdown here today with the #1 ranked 3 year old filly turf sprinter going against the #1 ranked older mare turf sprinter here today. While all eyes will be on those two starter there are many other talented girls running in this race and could spoil the party for either of these 2 who are looking for division honors this year. While either of those 2 great horses could win the race along with several others here i am going to go with a closer and my gut feeling which comes up with #9 BUDA FOR A DAY(KY) who I think is sitting on a big race today and will like the extra ground in this longer sprint.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING

THEO