The URSULA Handicap Stakes
And even though the race is ungraded, we do have a full field of fourteen fillies, including favorite, 14th Ranked, SILVER DESIGNER at 7/2. The full field is as follows:
1 115541 DESERT BAGMAN(FR) attalaq J Snowlynn 8/1
Solid 4yr thats finished top two in 16 of 20 dirt tries (80%!). She’s only faced stakes company once in her career, where she finished a disappointing 8th, but that was back in 2006 as a 2yr old. Have to give credit to her trainer for placing her so well, and waiting til she’s proven herself with back to back wins before trying a stakes. Last time out a her best SP111, makes her a legit contender, look for her to try to wire the field
2 132749 STOCKING FILLER(KY) jennah2 B Langhorne 18/1
Four time winner out of Cat Thief has yet to face stakes company, and has struggled verus allowance fields in her last four tries, with only one 3rd place finish. Before that she did win three straight, but I would like to see more from her before I backed her in a stakes race.
3 57376 NANTRAY(JPN) vestario K Tusten 22/1
Another four time winner, has faced stakes company twice before and finished well beaten in both attempts. Last time out she placed 5th in an open allowance at 6f. Doesn’t look up to this level of competition at this time.
4 117237 GRANNY’S SINS(IRE) simpubhdcp E Stinson 7/1
Four time winner out of Sinndar, proved herself in the allowance ranked as she put together six straight top 2 finishes before stepping up to in the 8f – Minnesota Oaks and placed 7th in a field of 20! Last time out she finished 4th of 7 in a open 6.5f Stakes with a decent SP of 104. Five straight SP100+ races make her look like a strong contender for the money.
5 110424 HIGH CHATEAU chateau2 R Buckle 12/1
Our first stakes winner in the field is still eligible for NW4L. That stakes win came back in April of 2006 as a 3yr at a mile, she also placed 2nd in four stakes races, including a 9.5f race last time out against a field of five. Her lone race at the distance did tie her career best SP, a 102 in a 2nd place allowance finish. Has a outside chance to steal a part of the purse.
6 112102 I NEVER BLUFF(KY) simsters4 G Bungard 9/1
Again we have a four time winner, she finished 1st twice and 2nd twice in four consecative allowances before take the step up to stakes company, where she finished solid 3rd in the 7f Quiet Royal stakes in November with a career high SP107, out of that she placed 7th in the 6f Jill Burn stakes with a SP102 only beaten 2 3/4 lengths. Strong closer looks suited for the distance and she be passing horses down the lane. *At 9/1 she a nice value play*
7 57782 MOON OF CAIRO zipchippy F Shaw 14/1
Eight time winner, and four time stakes winner, has last won back in 2006. That win was at the distance with a SP104, and she’s no stranger to the distance as 13 of her last 21 have come over the 7.5furlong distance. 9 back she posted a SP107 in a 2nd at the distance but since hasn’t posted a SP over 96 in eight tries, and only managed a pair of thirds… They were her last two starts, but I still need to see more before I take her against this field.
8 111310 SILVER DESIGNER ufsldowns RK Evans 7/2
Silver Designer is looking for her 10th victory, the daughter of Silver Ghost has over $500,000 in earnings and is clearly the standout in the field. The 14th ranked filly/mare has a win the the 7.5f -G3-Trail Mix Stakes – with a SP111 last may, and a 2nd in the 7f G1-Ode to Barbaro – back in 2006 only beaten by 1/2 a lenght with a SP107. Coming off a 2nd in the 7.5f-G3-The Kentucky Milady Stakes -with a SP107. Hard to imagion her losing, but that why they run the race.
9 73856 PLEASURE SLAM jpritchett W McClendon 10/1
Another four time winner, has yet to find her way to the winners circle in a stakes. Her best stakes finished did come at the distance last June with a SP102 2nd in Ohio, since then she’s had 8 races, 6 of which were stakes, and only managed one top three, and that was in a 7f Allowance. Like the lead and seems to fade in the scretch against the tougher fields.
10 126532 GLAMOROUS(KY) deyoto4 J Skinner 18/1
Again a four time winner, this one out of Speightstown. She is a stakes winner two races back, in the 9f SISTER ORBIT Bonanza with a SP101 over the sloppy course. Last time out she took a huge step up into the G1-Three Smokestacks Stakes at 9f and placed a disappointing 7th of 10. One question mark is all her wins have been routes, and she last seen a sprint in 2006. If the distance isn’t to short, 18/1 could offer value in your exotic bets.
11 124977 MUNGERANNIE(KY) aussie C Wolff 11/1
4yr old out of Forest Wildcat is a three time winner, and has yet to hit the board in a stakes. She has proven she can earn a check at this level by running 4th in the 7f – G3-The That’s My Baby Stakes – two tries back with a SP104, and last time out placing 5th in a open 6.5f stakes with a SP103. Another horse that will look to steal the race from the front end, and will most likely try to hold onto a piece of the purse as the hit the scretch.
12 129599 MT. FEVER(KY) isittrue D Fendlay Jr. 7/1
Five time winner out of Stormin Fever will have me in the saddle on Saturday, she put together seven straight top three’s in the allowance ranks before stepping up to a Added Money Allowance at 7f two starts back. That race was over the track, and she finished down the track in 7th SP94 (one of her worst recent races). Possible the off track was to blame as she rebounded to finish 5th in a 7.5f Stakes -St-The HANNAH’S PROSPECT with a SP102. Does have a career best SP109, so she is definitely capable of running a big race.
13 131107 AZ A COMMANDER(IRE) nickesyd T Tippins 21/1
A two time winner, one on the dirt and one on the turf would find a NW3L much easier, but she did place top three in five straight allowances before stepping up in the 7.5f – G3-The Kentucky Milady Stakes last time out and placed 6th with a career best SP100. No match against today’s favorite last time out, and nothing hints that Saturday will be any different.
14 130031 UNO GATO(FL) qhorseguy S Gravina 10/1
Rounding out the field is a 7 time winner out of Macho Uno. Couldn’t start her career off any better then she did, winning four straight (3 of which where stakes), before stepping up and finishing 2nd in a Grade II, been awhile since then, but she’s still capable. Just three races but she won a 6.5f stakes with a SP106, she’s coming off a pair of Added Money Allowances here at Vermont where she ran 4th and 3rd (SP97/104); Jockey S.Gravina is aboard for the third time, and should benefit from the experience with the horse.