Humane Distaff Lures Senorita Caballo, Liam’s Little Lady, Theoc Duo

The Humane Distaff features older fillies and mares going seven furlongs on the main track.  The weatherman says it will be clear and fast on Friday afternoon. 

Let’s meet the ladies in qualifying order:

The top qualifier is Liam’s Little Lady.  As you would expect, Liam started the five year old daughter of Redoute’s Choice on the grass.  She won her first two races handily and it seemed obvious she would earn her keep on the lawn.  But her next two starts, both against local bred conditioned allowance foes, were dreadful.  Back to the drawing board.  She rebounded nicely winning a dirt mile.  Following a disappointing effort at nine panels, she proved best again in a local bred conditioned mile.  Next time out Liam decided to shorten her up a bit.  It proved to be the right move.  The little lady has been nothing short of spectacular sprinting on the dirt.  Her last three races were all seven furlong G-1 events and she won two out of the three.  Her races are always well spaced so she should be primed for another big effort. 

Desertdog’s well bred (Uncle Mo x A.P. Indy x Seeking The Gold) Senorita Caballo has the credentials to take home top honors.  As with Liam’s Little Lady, it took her awhile to find herself.  After finishing unplaced in seven of her first eight starts, the light finally went on.  And it has been burning brightly ever since.  As with the above, switching to sprints was the key.  Although she has been successful at many venues, Kentucky is clearly her favorite track.  The Senorita won the G-2 Virginia Madison last time out and also won it last year.  In between those starts, she won the rich and prestigious G-1 Breeders’ Bowl  Filly and Mare Sprint in her only other Kentucky appearance.  Three for three lifetime in seven furlong graded sprints in Kentucky.  Anyone see a pattern here?  Drop from the clouds type looks like the one to beat.

Waremblem leaves a big footprint whether training or writing.  His message board diary is a must read.  And his Humane Distaff entry is a must watch.  The Third Bride finished second to Eclipse Champion Arkzana in last year’s edition of this event.  Given must have bred this filly for Waremblem.  She is by Tapit from Dan’s Hall of Famer Mother Of Dragons.  And she’s named for one of Todd’s better known literary works.  The Bride arrives in Kentucky fresh off an Illinois allowance win.  In addition to winning last year’s Equinics G-1 distaff sprint, the striking gray lass has been right there or thereabouts in several other graded sprints.  Strong contender.

About To Level Up is the wise guy horse.  Word of mouth from the URC has it that John’s Tapit filly has been training lights out for this event.  She ran a hole in the wind in her last workout stopping the timer in a brisk :57.43 for five furlongs.  She galloped out six in 1:10 and change and pulled up 7 in 1:24.  Couple this with her last race in which she ran a good field of fillies off their feet in the G-2 Davey Jones ‘Cap in a dazzling 1:21.04 (SP 114) wire to wire and you have a serious threat.

It has been awhile since I have had the privilege of covering a race in which Willyam had an entrant.  But he’s got a solid contender in here if you toss her last.  Maybe Taknittothestreets just had a bad hair day when she failed to raise a hoof while favored against About To Level Up last time out.  Those things happen.  Prior to that debacle, the daughter of Runhappy and G-3 winner The Street Life (Street Cry) had won four straight stakes including a G-1 in New York.  Ignore at your peril.

Winterfelled hails from the powerful Lenny barn.  The graded placed stakes winner is by Speightstown from stakes placed Starkhaven (Unbridled’s Song).  She has hit the board in three of her four G-1 attempts and won a seven furlong listed stake with a respectable 111 speed figure.  Nice filly but likely a fringe player against this bunch.

Gregarious Game is the first of two from Theoc.  The big bay filly is by undefeated Triple Crown winner Justify from Eclipse winning double millionaire Barden Bella (Street Cry).  Two back Gregarious Game just missed in The G-1 Santa Marina at her home track in California.  Her speed rating of 117 compares favorably to those of her main rivals.  In addition, she has won a pair of G-2 races.  Didn’t fare well last time out but her overall body of work deserves respect.  Can contend with her best. 

Deep closing Asaaj is the other Theoc entrant.  The rangy brown five year old is by Mastery from the stakes winning Deep Impact mare, Gleek.  Asaaj is unplaced in her only two G-1 efforts.  But she was a fast closing fourth last time out in the G-2 Virginia Madison.  And two back she flew late to win a 7.5 furlong listed stake posting an excellent 115 speed number.  Could upset the apple cart if she replicates that effort.

Pariquall finished mid pack in her only graded try last time out.  RWhisper’s Pariah filly earned her shot at the big girls in her previous race, a victory over listed mares at seven and a half furlongs.  Has hit the board in eleven of fourteen career starts and her 113 speed figure two back is not too shabby.  Nice filly in a tough spot.  

Deep Red Summer could be the dark horse.  After floundering on turf and poly in her first six races, she switched to dirt and won a high end claimer over an off track.  Mole’s Deep Impact mare is the final foal of twenty two year old Pool Hall Red (Summer Squall).  She has not finished worse than second in any of her subsequent races, all on the main course.  Last time out, in her first stakes try, she caught the leaders late in a 7.5f listed stake over this track while taking a serious 115 speed badge.  Even the slightest improvement could put her squarely in the picture. 

Veteran conditioner Smokeglack sends out his well bred (Bernardini x Danzig x Broad Brush) Mama Bear Halas for another shot at graded glory.  The six year old flirted with a graded badge last year when she finished third in consecutive G-2 races at seven furlongs on the dirt.  More recently she has been struggling against easier than she will face on Friday.  Not a good sign for a classy mare who is clearly past her prime.

URC stalwart Oakridge will be represented by his six year old Candy Ride mare, Dumaine.  As the only starter without a stakes win, she is really up against it.  Useful sort regularly pummels allowance foes between added money engagements.  But her first stakes win will not happen this week.  

Surfside Sue won a pair of seven furlong G-2 tilts last season.  Unfortunately, Massatoga’s pretty grey Zensational filly has fallen upon hard times.  Her last six starts. all in graded company, have resulted in very poor finishes and no triple digit speed numbers.   Another time, another place.

Deeprock’s Curedacord rounds out our star studded field.  She is a graded placed stakes winner by Recorder from the Smoke Glacken graded placed mare Smoke The Cure.  Arrives off a win against local bred allowance foes.  Eleven graded tries have yielded a pair of third place finishes.  Nice filly but in too tough.