Talented Field Face Off in the Deep Grand Canyon

Growing up in Arizona I had the pleasure of vacationing at the world wonder of the Grand Canyon every year.  The canyon with it’s breathtaking drops, rocky ledges, and soaring condors is where a young kid took refuge on a rock bench below the lookout studio, eating ice cream and writing my first stories. 

This race promises to be very interesting with a deep field of talented fillies that features three graded stakes winners, four graded placed fillies, and some very promising up-and-comers.

1. FAILED POLICY TB  10-1

Medaglia D’Oro, Burnin Bullet by Bernardini    

Owner:  testbarn8

Residency:  Minnesota Test Barn 

Ten furlongs is right in the wheelhouse of this talented filly.  Her top speeds have all been at the ten or ten and a half furlongs.  Only stakes placed, this filly has a lot to prove as she tries graded company for the first time, but ten furlongs seems like the distance for her to try.  Out of the dirt long he-mare Burnin Bullet this filly is looking to revisit her 109 speed figure, which she has achieved twice at this distance, and try to stalk her way to victory.

2. STRUCK BY A GHOST  5-1

Ghostzapper x Seeking The Gold x Storm Cat      

Owner:  sjfarms

Residency:  East-West connection

A stakes winner last out at the distance this daughter of Ghostzapper is looking to try graded competition for the second time.  All three of this talented fillies stakes wins have come at ten or ten and a half furlongs so it makes sense for her to show up here for her connections.  This classy scratch bred filly is making a short hop from Arkansas and has had nearly two months between her last race and her Grade One debut.  If she handles the class she will be in contention.  

3.  ANSIOSA   13-1

Tapiture, Greedy Haack, by Giant’s Causeway    

Owner:  haack12

Residency:  Latinos Del Mundo 

This fillies last race showed a sparkling turn of foot to close and win in an allowance race with a 111 speed figure.  That number puts her in the contentious competition here, though two back she only managed to close for fourth over the same distance here.  With speed in this race it should give options for the closers in the field, including this filly, to have a fair shake to see the winners circle.  A win here would prove her class and give a nod to her dam who was a ten furlong specialist herself.   

4. DOUBLE DAMNATION  10-1

Arrogate, Dangerous Reward by Kingmambo

Owner:  futurestar

Residency:  Midas

Out of the hall of fame mare Dangerous Reward this filly comes from an incredibly strong family and a mare that excelled at the ten furlong distance.  Her last start she fell short of the winners circle but posted a solid speed that keeps her in the graded company.  Flying in from Ireland will put her at a slight disadvantage but she seems to have traveled well in the past.  Her only graded stakes attempt came at sixteen furlongs and ended her seven race win streak that started with breaking her maiden.  If she can get back to her winning ways she certainly has the class to be in contention and will add another shining star to her dam’s illustrious record.  

5. BARBARA BITES BACK  14-1

Medaglia D’Oro x Capote x Forty Niner    

Owner:  zbarb8    

Residency:  Only Stayers

A Grade One winner at nine furlongs this filly hopes to stretch that to ten and get back to the winners circle.  She has been off the board in six of her last seven starts but she will get nearly three months between her last race and Sundays race.  Taking the time off might be the key to get this filly reinvigorated and back on track.  I think there is no reason she would dislike this distance though she has only been tried past nine once in her career.  Tough ask here but she has the class if the rest helped her.  

6. NEED SPEED CADET  6-1

Street Boss, Cadet’s Queen by Forty Niner        

Owner:  cadet3    

Residency:  Empire State Racing

Flying in from China this Grade Two winning filly is looking to jump back into graded competition and run away with this race on the front end.  Ultra versatile this mare has won most of her races on the loose on the front end however she tried closing two back and secured a good second.  This versatility may be a great asset as she tries to get the Grade One win.  Her career best of 116 came in a ten furlong grade three and puts her squarely in contention.  Conditioner cadet will certainly have her ready to fire. 

7. ME NASTY   25-1

Scipion, Nasty Indeed by Dynasty      

Owner:  hoosier21   

Residency:  Hoosier Racing

With most of this filly’s races coming in state bred races it will be a big jump in class to try graded company for the first time.  Her only start past nine was in a ten furlong stake against the boys where she ran fifth.  Stepping in with the boys may have been a little difficult.  Her race there was not all that bad however, she did run a speed figure over one hundred despite fading.  She likely will not get loose on the lead here and time will tell if she handles the distance and the class. 

8. KOCHI  7-1

Gold Ship, Solksjaer, by Deputy Minister      

Owner:  bezstables   

Residency:  All-Stars Racing

This mare has been running very consistently for a long time and most of her races have been at twelve or thirteen panels.  She has three really solid runs at ten furlongs, two stakes wins and a Grade Two placing.  Her last out (the G2) she ran a closing third, making her another filly in the field that can win on the lead or closing.  It appears she prefers to stalk or close at the ten furlong distance and her flashy speeds and consistency should put her in the mix to find the winners circle. 

9. APPROACH ANXIETY 3-1

New Approach, Fragile Lies, by Giant’s Causeway

Owner:  worldclass0   

Residency:  Universal Racing Club

Having shipped in via hot race from Thailand this four year old filly is ready to try graded stakes competition for the second time in her career.  Her first grade one attempt found her two lengths short in the Japanese Oaks as a three year old.  Since then she has been running through conditions in long allowance races.  She captured her second stakes victory three back with a flashy 112 speed figure at ten and a half furlongs.  With this race just half a furlong shorter she could pull a stunning upset.  Her second in Grade One competition proves she has the class if she puts the race together and can switch surfaces successfully.  

10. THREE DAY BLIZZARD 11-1

Empire Maker, Long White Snow by Sidney’s Candy   

Owner:  lenny16    

Residency:  GR Simsters

If the bettors had their way this filly might find herself going off the favorite after her two and a half length win in the Grade Two First State Distaff last out.  Clearly hitting her stride and finding her best distance she will pose a tough presence if she repeats her last performance.  Out of the Grade Two winning he-mare Long White Snow who also excelled at ten furlongs, her connections must be eager to try Grade One company again at this distance.  Having grown up a bit this filly is poised to bring snow to the canyon.  

11. MACHRIHANISH 13-1

Gleneagles, Paint Job, by Unbridled’s Song              

Owner:  gowans2015    

Residency:  Blazing Saddles

A lightly raced filly this daughter of Gleneagles has come into her own on the dirt.  Stretching out to ten furlongs for the first time this filly should be closing fast in the lane and the additional half furlong might be what she is looking for.  Her last three speeds have been pretty flashy, even with the bounce of her stakes debut (a winning one).  I would throw out the race two back since it was her first graded try, off a 3 month layoff, and she had a decent distance to ship.  The shipping might be a concern for her as well but she has more excuses for her faltered run so I would not throw her out. 

12. HANNAHZAPPER          11-1

Flatter, Hannahary, by Ghostzapper        

Owner:  harryanclr            

Residency:  Elite Racing Club

Another lightly raced filly, this daughter of flatter will be trying ten furlongs for the second time in her career and is really picking up steam.  Her last start was an electric 115 speed figure to win a nine and a half furlong stake.  If she can repeat that race on her second start back I see no reason for her to hit the brakes going out to ten.  This will be her first attempt in the graded company but she has proven she deserves the shot.  One to watch now and in the future.  

13. WITH SUCH CLASS   41-1

Distorted Humor, With Such Ease, by Encosta De Lago    

Owner:  verdugote           

Residency:  Hispano Parlente

It did not take long for this daughter of Distorted Humor to figure out her job.  Winning seven of her fourteen starts she has a lot of talent and her connections have a lot to look forward to.  Her odds here seem pretty high in such a contentious race and if she handles the graded company she could pull a shocker.  Her last two races she has put together a pair of wins, one in an allowance and the other in her stakes debut.  With four wins from five starts at the distance she is definitely an up and coming filly with a lot of class and a bright future. 

14. CAERLEON WIND      20-1

Acclamation x Danehill x Caerleon  

Owner:  piratesharbor            

Residency:  North West Racing Circuit

Drawn in the final gate this scratch bred daughter of Acclamation has spent most of her career in stakes company bringing home four wins from twenty four starts.  Trying graded company for the first time she will be in deep water after a long campaign. Her last start was disappointing and could be a sign of her starting to feel the strain of twenty-four races without a break.  She did show some spark two back over ten furlongs which is a good sign and if she shows the same again should put in a good run.