The FULL A.P. Handicap

The ladies are featured for yet another week in Alabama. Switching back to the turf course, this group of three year olds will go a mile and a sixteenth in this ungraded stakes and the winner will take home $36,000 of the $60,000 purse.

1- THE DARK MARK(IRE) 3-2-1-0 M Ross 3/1

ID # 139372 3 Year Old Homebred Chestnut Mare

Stable sunshine87 MONTJEU (IRE) x SHARPEN UP(GB) x GREY DAWN II

Although The Dark Mark(IRE) is lightly raced, she has shown tremendous improvement to begin her career. She broke her maiden as a first time starter at a mile on the turf (81 SP), then she stayed in Nevada to win A-nw2L race also at a mile on the turf, in her second start (83 SP). Finally, she shipped across the country to Florida to run in an ungraded stakes on December 29 of last year, she ran second as a 2/1 favorite (91 SP). She also ran against Rothkehlchen(ENG) and beat him by 5.5 lengths head-to-head. Watch out for her on Saturday, because even a slight improvement on her last effort could be enough to get the job done.

2- FAST ‘N’ LOOSE(IRE) 8-3-2-1 D Andersen 4/1

ID # 90104 3 Year Old Homebred Chestnut Mare

Stable bradyboy SHAMARDAL x FORTY NINER x EL GRAN SENOR

Fast ‘N’ Loose(IRE) is out of a grade “G” mare who only grabbed one win on the turf and never won a route race, but she has already outshined her mother. She started her two year old campaign in February and won a $125,000 ungraded stakes at 6F on the turf. Her last three races have all been Grade 1’s, so Saturday’s race will be a major drop in class. While she was competitive in her Grade 1 efforts, she did get beaten head-to-head by High Motions(IRE) in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly, where she ran seventh (83 SP). Look for her to pass a few tiring horses late in the race on Saturday.

3- HIGH MOTIONS(IRE) 10-5-3-2 R Pollard 8/5

ID # 43468 3 Year Old Homebred Brown Mare

Stable mstrinity1 HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x THEATRICAL(IRE) x IRISH RIVER(FR)

High Motions(IRE) is based on the grade “D” he mare Perfect Motion(IRE), who actually preferred the dirt (13 of his 14 lifetime wins were on the dirt). Her second place finish in the Grade 1- Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly makes her number #6 in the division. The 94 SP she ran that day set a career high for her, which she matched last time out in the G3- Broadside Stakes in Texas. She is 2-1-1-0 at this distance and is well suited for the class. This small field is packed with talent, but High Motions(IRE) is the most talented.    

4- ROTKEHLCHEN(ENG) 9-1-1-3 C Riddle 7/1

ID # 87423 3 Year Old Homebred Brown Mare

Stable robroe RED RANSOM x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x BLUSHING GROOM(FR)

After breaking her maiden as a second time starter last June, Rothkehlchen(ENG) has shown some improvement with her SP’s, but she has not gotten back into the winner’s circle. When she got that win she closely stalked the pace and then pulled away from the field winning by 2.5 lengths in that 6F race on the turf. She has never gone more than a mile and this distance will be tough for her to get. The only good news for her is that she ran a career high SP (83) last time out at 7.5F, which is only a furlong less than what she will be going on Saturday. Unfortunately, she ran 3rd based on that effort (and lost to The Dark Mark, who ran second that day) in an ungraded stakes and she was beaten 7.75 lengths, expect a similar fate on Saturday.

5- NIEDERMANIA(KY) 5-4-1-0 A Lee 9/2

ID # 143952 3 Year Old Homebred Light Grey Mare

Stable lastfarm COZZENE x SADLER’S WELLS x GONE WEST

Niedermania(KY) is out of the well bred grade “C” mare Goin’ to the Well, who has produced three winners and two stakes winners from three foals. Goin’ to the Well did all off her damage on the track in turf route, so the breeding suggests Niedermania(KY) should like this distance. She bounced a bit last time out at 9F, but the turf was yielding and she still ran second with an 82 SP. The turf will be firm on Saturday and Niedermania(KY) is 4-4-0-0 on firm turf in her career. Her SP’s aren’t the highest in the field, but her finishes are very impressive- expect her to compete on Saturday.

6- TEST MY PATIENCE(AUS) 7-3-0-2 E Sharp 7/1

ID # 144766 3 Year Old Homebred Chestnut Mare

Stable nobiz TESTA ROSSA (AUS) x BROKEN VOW x QUIET AMERICAN

She is a tough horse to figure out, because in just seven starts, she has run at least twice on the dirt, on the turf, on an off track, in a sprint, and in a route. Her career high SP on a firm turf course was a 79 at 7.5 furlongs. The distance should be no problem for her, she won at 9F last time out, but with no showers in the forecast, I would count this mudder out on Saturday.

FINAL ANALYSIS

This field is small, but has some true talent within the three year old female division. With R Pollard being on a hot streak, I will pick the 8/5 favorite, #3 High Motions(IRE) to win the race. My top 4 are as follows: 3-5-1-2.