EQUINICS – Great Sphinx will test 3yo fillies

Vermont (VT) Sunday, August 2, 2020 — 2:45 PM EST | Race ID : 2499112

Grade I / Group 1 – Sponsored – Purse : $1,250,000
3 Year Old Fillies Only – Owner Restricted
10 Furlongs | ~2000 Meters | One Mile and One Quarter Fast Dirt

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The Great Sphinx – ancient architecture, desert denizen, Egyptian enigma, world wonder. What secrets does it still hold ? Rumors of hidden rooms, a “Hall of Records”, perhaps a hibernating little green man ? Maybe some day we’ll find out. As for the secret of the horse race Great Sphinx, the winner will be revealed about two minutes after the starting gate opens. Late Sunday afternoon, the secret will be out – there’s a slew of new reigning Equinics champions and the winner of the Great Sphinx will be one of them.
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Three year old fillies will line up to run over the classic mile and a quarter distance on dirt (or ~2000 meters for the metrically inclined) in the Great Sphinx. A full field of fourteen distaffers will battle it out for Equinics glory over what should be a fast dirt surface at the fair grounds in Rutland, Vermont. There’s a $1,250,000 purse up for grabs, and the winning connections will always be able to say they are Equinics champions. Most of the big female route dirt races usually are run at a mile and an eighth; the extra furlong here will test these maturing ladies late in the lane.
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The handicapper settled on nybredtrot‘s UNE NUIT A PARIS as the 5/1 choice on the morning line, with a four ply group all rated second choice at 7/1 – wrecked‘s THE DALMORE, millerfarm1‘s ERRATIC EMPIRE, brightvalr‘s DECADES LINE and my rez mate harrylan0‘s CANDY READY. Thethumb4‘s MOFLAME and asrtapit‘s OCAPTAINMYCAPTAIN come next at 9/1 on the tote, while the rest of the field are held at double digit odds.
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We have a nice mix of running styles going to the post. Let’s take a closer look at the past performances in post position order and see what the figures may reveal.
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1
THE DALMORE…………..KY……..3F……..wrecked………………….S L Ledwith …………….7/1
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Heading up the post parade will be this beautiful bay filly, who seeks her sixth straight victory in her very first stakes appearance. She has relished the longer distances she’s faced going through her allowance conditions, and enters this event off a wire to wire score in an open allowance at 11 furlongs, zapping a 99 SP# in a jog around the track. Curlin cutie, out of the graded placed sim mare The Malvenie (by Galileo x Kingmambo) took a NW5L allowance at 10.5 panels in her prior outing, tracking the pace setter and then zipping past her and drawing away for a 92 SP# in a four horse affair. One back of that she won a NW4L allowance at 9.5 furlongs, zinging a 99 SP# in a stalking trip just off the early leaders. Wrecked protege travels a long way from Victoria Park in Australia, where those five straight wins were achieved; handicapper likes her chances as one of the four co-second choices on the morning line.
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2
KALI CHROME……………KY……..3F……..oakdreams ………………GD Mate ………………16/1
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She got a rude introduction to graded stakes competition her last two times over. California Chrome cubbie, out of the sim mare Lioness Rampant (by Lion Heart x Union Rags) tired to 8th in the G3 The Meadows Oaks at a mile and a sixteenth in her most recent try, catching a 100 SP# after some brief early interest. One before that she was 9th at 9 furlongs in the G2 Keep It Hot, casting a 92 SP# in a mid pack trip. She won her first stakes attempt in her previous outing in the White Hot Face stakes, also at 9 furlongs, crashing a 97 SP# from the back of the pack. Blushing bay filly broke her maiden at 9 furlongs in an open maiden in her fourth try. Both wins came at 9 panels, tries 10 here against some talented runners; could improve and surprise but faces tough task for owner/trainer oakdreams.
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3
ERRATIC EMPIRE………..KY…….. 3F……..millerfarm3……………… K Ledwith……………..7/1
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Owner/trainer millerfarm1 saddles this bodacious bay filly, who comes off a nice 3rd in the G1 Sister Hen Stakes at 9 furlongs over an off track, whacking a 106 SP# in an even effort. She won the G3 Timber stakes at 8.5 panels in her prior start, wrangling a 100 SP# in a six horse stakes. One back of that, this scratch bred Empire Maker empress (by Pulpit x Rahy), was a tenacious 2nd in the G2 Keep It Hot stakes at 9 furlongs, working out a 101 SP# while always prominent. She also has a listed stakes win at 8.5 panels on her resume. Look like she’ll be tracking the early fractions, looking to make a move to get the jump on the deep closers here; extra distance should be in her reach – the ‘capper holds her in high regard as one of the four co-second choices at 7/1on the tote board.
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4
MOFLAME……………….. KY…….. 3F……..thethumb4 ……………….D Raymond …………..9/1
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Blushing bay filly appeared to dislike the off track when an even 8th last out in the G1 Sister Hen Stakes at a mile and an eighth, tabbing a 100 SP# in an even try. One before that she made all the pace when an excellent 2nd in the G1 Black Middle Flower Stakes, also at 9 panels, tossing a 102 SP# in a big effort. Uncle Mo urchin, out of the stakes placed sim mare Brightflame (by Giant’s Causeway x Bernardini), wired a NW3L allowance at 9.5 furlongs in her previous run, throwing a 100 SP# while showing them all her tail around the strip. Runner from thethumb4 barn of lenny’s “Evil Empire” operation won both tries at 9.5 furlongs; speed is always dangerous and she has plenty of it; serious threat is the one to catch.
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5
SEASON OF LOVE………TUR…….3F……..westbanknola……………B Jungnitsch ………..37/1
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Pleasantly Perfect princess, out of the graded placed sim mare Well I’ll Be Damn (by Not For Love x A.P. Indy), gets a baptism by fire entered here in her first stakes appearance. She returned to the dirt last time she raced in a NW1x allowance at a mile, closing well for 3rd, and getting a 93 SP#. One back of that this bashful bay filly went in a NW2L allowance on the weeds; she was 10th and last all the around the oval, grabbing a 73 SP#. She won her prior outing in an open maiden at 6.5 furlongs on the dirt, gaining a 79 SP# with a nice late run. Dam was primarily a sprinter, so she faces a daunting task for the westbanknola barn going a mile and a quarter with this bunch.
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6
UNE NUIT A PARIS………KY……..3F……..nybredtrot ……………….T Small …………………5/1
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The handicapper’s choice at 5/1 on the tote board exits a stirring victory in the Political Route listed stakes at this distance, blasting a 111 SP# closing from way back in the pack. Bouncing bay filly was 2nd best in the G2 Start A Fight at 9.5 furlongs in her prior try, unleashing a furious late run to bank a 99 SP#. War Front waif, out of the G1 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Waki Notion (by Miswaki x Nijinsky 2nd), won the Lrods Songbirds listed stakes at this route in her previous start, bagging a 102 SP# coming from 15 lengths back at the second call. Nybredtrot trainee is 4-3-1-0 since stretching out; should be lagging early and become prominent into the straight; slow pace could upset those plans.
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7
INSTAGRAM MODEL……KY……..3F……..gowans ……………………P Bangs ……………….10/1
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Curlin cat, out of the G1 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Internet Sensation (by Tapit x Distorted Humor) came on late for 2nd in the First Ryder listed stakes at 9.5 furlongs in her most recent outing, snatching a 103 SP# in a mid pack trip. Lovely light grey filly won the Jack Razing listed stakes one back of that at 10.5 panels, sticking a 99 SP# in a stalking run. In her prior run she won a NW2L allowance at a mile and an eighth, stashing a 97 SP# from the middle of the pack. Athletic runner from the gowans racing group has shown good versatility thus far in her career; jockey tactics could be the key to her chances.
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8
IMPISH MISS……………..KY……..3F……..latrell………………………F Inzamam…………….13/1
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Bubbly bay filly seeks her third straight off a win in a NW3L allowance at this trip, crushing a 106 SP# in a four horse affair. Scratch bred Into Mischief impette (by Saint Ballado x Unbridled) got the money one back of that in an open allowance, also at 10 furlongs, with a strong closing move from the middle of the pack, crunching a 95 SP#. One before that she was a gaining 4th in a NW2L allowance at a mile, copping a 90 SP# from well back in the pack. Runner from the latrell racing group has seemingly found her distance; steps way up here in her very first stakes appearance, but a repeat of last out effort could put her in the picture for a medal. Handicapper thinks the class jump may be too much to overcome, rating her at 13/1 on the morning line.
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9
DECADES LINE……………ENG…..3F……..brightvalr ………………..W Cahill ………………….7/1
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The first of our two G1 winners is this Dubawi damsel out of the stakes winning sim mare Nike Suicide (by Giant’s Causeway x Dynaformer), who was a tiring 3rd at 9 furlongs in her first attempt on grass in the G3 The Feeling Bad, flinging a 97 SP# chasing the early pace. One before that, this Bucking bay filly was a nice 4th in the G1 Bluegrass Oaks, also at a mile and an eighth, firing a 104 SP# in an even trip. In her previous start she won the G1 The Key Lime, again at 9 furlongs, flashing a 104 SP# after setting all the early fractions. She started her career with four straight wins as a two year old. Owner/trainer brightvalr has the turf to dirt angle working here and she should be in the first flight early; handicapper shows respect listing her as one of the co-second choices; solid contender.
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10
ICE CREAM’S MOMMY….KY…….3F……..venhaack …………………O A Haack……………….25/1
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Ravishing roan filly exits a nice 2nd in a NW2L allowance at 9.5 furlongs, drilling a 102 SP# from the second flight. Sharp Azteca stepper, out of the G1 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Haack’s Mom (by Maria’s Mon x Easy Goer) was runner up one before that, also in a NW2L allowance at 9.5 panels, droppping an 89 SP# moving from last of six early. She got her initial win one back of that in an open maiden at … you guessed it, 9.5 furlongs, drawing an 86 SP# from just off the early pace setters. Runner from the venhaack racing operation improved noticefully last time over, will need another step forward as she still faces a tough task in inaugural stakes attempt.
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11
CANDY READY……………KY……..3F……..harrylan0………………….F Gossett ………………..7/1
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Our other previous G1 winner is this boisterous brown filly, who’s been freshened since a creditable, closing 5th in the G1 Bluegrass Oaks at a mile and an eighth, kicking a 104 SP# from the middle of the pack. Candy Ride closer, based on the sim he-mare More Of A Cat (by More Than Ready x Storm Cat) won the G1 Keep On Keeping On at 9 furlongs in her prior try, killing a 105 SP# in a mid pack trip. She won the Daylight Dreamer listd stakes at 8.5 panels in her previous outing, knocking down a 104 SP# from the back of the pack. Stretch runner from my rez mate harrylan0‘s sprawling racing conglomerate won the last time she took a three month sabbatical; favorable jockey change and extra distance suit; handicapper likes her chances as one of the four co-second choices on th tote board.
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12
BAMA BELLE………………KY……..3F……..lopo34……………………..R Whisper ……………..14/1
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Owner/trainer lopo34 saddles this Connect canterer out of the sim mare Hannah Montana (by Storm Cat x Alydar), who stormed down the straight for 2nd in the URC-Black Eyed Susan residency stakes at 9 furlongs last out, ripping a 101 SP# in a middle of the pack effort. One before that, this charming chestnut filly took down the Devine Legacy listed stakes at this distance, rocking a 98 SP# in a mid pack trip. One back of that she was a never in it 9th in the G3 The Lady Bourbon at a mile, reeling in an 88 SP# while making little impact. Improving sort could take another step forward, which could put her in a medal contending spot; handicapper doesn’t totally dismiss her at 14/1 on the morning line.
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13
OCAPTAINMYCAPTAIN..KY……..3F……..asrtapit ……………………H Artack…………………..9/1
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Tapit toughie, out of the G1 winning, million dollar earning sim mare Pioneersopioneers (by Pioneerof The Nile x Nureyev) exits an even 3rd in a hot race allowance at 7 furlongs over this racing strip, posting an 87 SP# in a four horse field. Lovely light grey filly won a NW3L allowance at 10.5 panels in her previous engagement, pounding a 103 SP# with a nice late run in a five horse affair. In her prior try she just missed in the same condition at a mile and an eighth, popping a 99 SP# from the back of the pack. Runner from the asrtapit racing group had a tune up over the track, and seems to like longer distances; she had a tough time in her last G1 attempt, but the handicapper likes her chances at 9/1 odds.
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14
ZAP THE CHEEZMO……..WA…….3F……..biggredd………………….Z Edwards ………………..15/1
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Watching them all exit the saddling area is this bouncing bay filly, who won a NW5L allowance at a mile in latest, smacking a 95 SP# in a stalking effort. Nacheezmo nipper, out of the sim mare Zap The Broad (by Ghostzaooer x Broad Brush), closed well for 2nd one back of that in a local bred allowance at 7 panels, stabbing a 98 SP# moving from last of eight early. Her start one before that was a tenacious 2nd in the same condition, also at 7 panels, snagging a 95 SP# in a pace pressing performance. Runner from the biggredd racing stables has never gone beyond a mile, but has been in the exacta in every dirt outing. Sprint pedigree likely won’t help; handicapper holds her at 15/1 on the tote.
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SELECTIONS: CANDY READY, UNE NUIT A PARIS, MOFLAME (gotta pull for my rez mate)
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Good luck everybody, and may they all come home fast, safe and sound.