LOTS OF SPEED IN NY SOPHOMORE FILLY GRADE III SPRINT
While this time of year is usually keying in on the 3 year old’s vying for a bid at the triple crown races, the female ranks are also trying to prepare and earn enough points to qualify for the triple tiara races as well. New York will be hosting the Grade III Cadoka stakes this weekend, a 7 furlong dirt sprint for 3 year old fillies. A full field of 14 have passed the entry box and will be trying to take home the winners share of the $150,000 purse and if successfull may just try to stretch out next time on the way to the bluegrass oaks.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)SAINTE CHAPPELLE(KY)—9/1—whitby send this filly out of CHAPEL ROYAL with a record of 9-2-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $132,580. She is out of the mare ASPIRATION ME who was 5/27 at the track and who has 3 foals on record of which 2 are winners including this stakes winner. This 40th divisional ranked filly races for the Lsumark stables based in Ireland. This filly became a stakes winner last time when she made a closing 2nd half move to win a Texas overniter in the slop over 6.5 furlongs while posting her lifetime best 98 speed rating. She has only missed the board once in her career and did have a 2nd place finish in a Grade III dirt sprint last August. It is very difficult to nail this filly’s running stlye down as she has shown both speed and also sat back running a last closing style and perhaps that ability can help her in this race as she can wait for the race to develop before committing to either style. The rider for today’s race will be Gunn (0%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—88.
2)TROPICAL TROPHY(KY)—14/1—deepblue sends this filly out of TROPICAL STORM with a record of 12-3-4-1 and lifetime earnings of $424,520. She is out of the mare WORLD CUP TROPHY who was 2/16 at the track and who has 2 foals on record, both winners including this Graded stakes winner. This 6th divisional ranked filly races for the Blacksoxuk Bm3 stales running at the Saltire Racing residency. This filly had a busy 11 race campaign last year as a 2 year old and managed to wire a NJ Grade III 6 furlong sprint stakes last August as an 8/1 shot. This filly showed early gate speed in most of her starts last year and did cut the early fractions in the BB Juvy Filly before tiring and ending up 8th in that race. She debuted this year in an 8.5 furlong overnite stake in NC where she got caught in an early race speed duel before tiring. She has a top speed rating of 89 so far in her career and will have to find a way to carry her speed to the wire, something that has been a problem for her in most of her starts. The rider for today’s race will be Seppy (5.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—85.
3)DEATH’S DOOR(KY)—8/1—lopo sends this filly out of CONSOLIDATOR with a record of 8-3-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $107,962. She is out of the mare PRO MUMMY who was 0/1 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including 1 Graded stake winner and another stake winner. This 72nd divisional ranked filly races for the Evil Empire stables of Lenny which are based at the GR Simsters. This filly was a 3 time winner last year as a 2 year old and became a stakes winner in her 07 finale where she posted a lifetime best 92 speed rating in a 6 furlong dirt stake right here in NY. She has not progressed as much as was expected so far in a pair of starts this year but she has been closing in the stretch in each of those starts suggesting the extra ground in this race today will be welcomed by this girl. One also wonders if perhaps a route start may be in the plans for this one if she should perform well here today. The rider for today’s race will be Migliore (12.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—94.
4)LUZERNE(KY)—7/1—malekfarms sends this filly out of PULPIT with a record of 6-2-3-0 and lifetime earnings of $98,750. This 109th divisional ranked filly races for the AMC stables based at Del/Penn National. This filly began sharply last year in her career winning her first two lifetime starts including a dirt sprint stake race in Ontario. She has shown some improvement in 2008 with a pair of 2nd place finishes while posting 91 and 92 speed ratings. Her mid pack closing style and the fact that she was still gaining ground in the stretch in both of those races suggests she is another who will take a liking to the extra ground in today’s race and her slightly better racing times have made had her picked as a lukewarm moring line favorite by the track handicapper today. The rider for today’s race will be Haffner (4.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—93.
5)STORM FORCAST(KY)—11/1—spewu sends this filly out of VISION AND VERSE with a record of 8-2-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $151,000. She is out of the mare GINGER LIABILITY who was 1/7 at the track and who has 3 foals on record, all winners including this stakes winner. This 92nd divisional ranked filly races for Keely’s stables based at Del/Penn National. This frontrunning filly was aggressively place in races after winning her debut MSW race by racing in Graded starts in 3 of her next 4 starts. She managed to pick up some minor share cheques in 2 of those races and did in fact become a stake winner when she won an overnite dirt sprint stake in Arizona in between Graded starts, her top speed rating of 93 was posted in her 07 finale. She made a Grade II start in her 08 debut in a 7 furlong sprint in North California and after a hard fought front end speed duel she tired with nothing left for the stretch drive. She could be dangerous if she gets loose on the lead but there are others who will try for the front here today and another question arises as to whether 7 furlongs may be a bit to long for her—we will find that out today. The rider for today’s race will be Child (13.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—90.
6)STREET CRYING(KY)—9/1—justicesmu sends this filly out of STREET CRY (IRE) with a record of 7-4-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $98,135. She is out of the mare LIQUID ASSETS who was 6/48 at the track and this is the only foal on record to date. This 94th divisional ranked filly races for the R&R stables based at the GR Simsters. This filly won 4 of 6 starts as a 2 year old including a pair of wins at todays 7 furlong distance. One of those races was a 7 furlong dirt stake sprint win in Argentina. She debuted with a 2nd place finish in a 7 furlong dirt sprint stake in MO this year while posting her lifetime best 95 speed rating. She looks to be most comfortable with the long sprint distances and her stalking style should suit her well here today and may give her a little edge as she will not have as much ground to close on the frontrunners in the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Davis (11.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—97.
7)OLIGARCHY(KY)—8/1—ovidius sends this filly out of SPEIGHTSTOWN with a record of 9-3-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $128,730. This 71st divisional ranked filly races for an independent and unafilliated stable. This filly is another frontrunner who along with others will ensure that the pace of this race will be honest and perhaps a bit on the fast side. This filly is a 2 time stakes winner and won both of those races, including her last start, in a wire to wire fashion but both came against short 4 horse fields which will not be the case in the Graded contest today. She tired badly in her only other career Graded start but that was an 8.5 furlong route which is probably not her favored distance to run at. She is another who’s results will probably depend on the speed of the early fractions of this race today. The rider for today’s race will be Lawton (24.7%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—91.
8)SILVER SPLENDOR(KY)—11/1—squity sends this filly out of BADGE OF SILVER with a record of 10-5-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $285,470. This 173rd divisional ranked filly races for the Baggio stables based over at Minnesota Downs. This filly’s divisional ranking may be misleading as she is the 26th ranked turf sprinter for 3 year old filly’s and will only be making her 2nd start on the dirt in today’s race. She started her career with a bang going on a 4 race winning streak early in her 2 year old seaon including a pair of Graded stake wins but she leveled off towards the 2nd half of the season and after not showing much progress in her 3 year old turf debut she was tried out on the dirt in her last start. She went on to win a 7.5 furlong dirt stake in NewMarket where she pressed the pace and took command in the stretch drive posting her lifetime best 91 speed rating which topped her ratings on the turf last year. Can she handle this full field here today and with an abundance of speed here it will be interesting to see how she chooses to run as she did show an ability to win while closing from the back of the field in both of her turf Graded wins. If she can run that style on the dirt here today she could be a major contender here today. The rider for today’s race will be Foster (10.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—94.
9)CLIFTON PARK(KY)—18/1—ticketman0 sends this filly out of FORESTRY with a record of 6-2-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $31,310. This divisional unranked filly races for the Right At Home stables based over at the NWRC. This filly won her first two starts of her career last year, both allowance contests but has yet to find the winners circle in 4 stakes starts since. She tried the Graded rankes in her 2008 debut in an 8.5 furlong race and did not fare well alway’s being outrun which has prompted her return to the sprinting ranks since. In 3 sprint stake starts she has cashed minor cheques each time. She is a stalker who sits just off the early leaders but will need to show that she can put together a challenge in the stretch drive to be able to win here today. As well, her mid 80’s speed ratings will need to be improved upon to be considered a challenge in this race but with the route race in the past perhaps she can now apply her self to improving in the sprint ranks. The rider for today’s race will be Hoskins (6.7%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—85.
10)TERRI IRWIN(KY)—9/1—hardygirl sends this filly out of LANGFUHR with a record of 12-3-3-0 and lifetime earnings of $111,480. She is out of the he-mare QUICK SILVER who was 0/5 at the track. This 188th divisional ranked filly races for Winnett’s Belair Stud stables based at the GR Simsters. After starting her career flip flopping between the dirt and turf in her first 4 starts she developed into a reliable dirt sprinter with 3 allowance wins and a pair of 2nd place stake finishes. She tried a Grade I dirt route race in her 07 finale and tired in the stretch prompting a return to the sprint ranks in 2008. She has posted a pair of 4th place finished while showing speed or being involved in a duel and then tiring a little in the stretch. This race may not set up for her liking due to the abundance of early speed here today and it will be interesting to see if she decides to change tactics here. Her top speed rating of 91 was posted in her 2008 debut in a Grade II 7 furlong dirt stake in North California. The rider for today’s race will be Manning (12.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—90.
11)BLACKJACK HENNY(KY)—9/1—chorwon sends this filly out of HENNY HUGHES with a record of 5-3-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $44,355. She is out of the mare GIN LANE who was 6/41 at the track and who has 2 foals on record, both winners including 1 stakes winner. This 293rd divisional ranked filly races for the At The Wire Thoroughbreds that is based at the RASH residency. This filly started her career last september and has posted 3 allowance wins since then. She made her stakes debut in MO last time out where she matched her lifetime best 92 speed rating en route to a closing 3rd place finish in the 7 furlong race. The fact that she was closing in the stretch and the expected quick early pace here today makes one take a second look at this runner today and if she can overcome the experience she is spotting others and dial it up a notch in the stetch could be a major contender in the outcome. The rider for today’s race will be Sturman (0%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—94.
12)CHANDRIAN(KY)—9/1—asoiaf sends this filly out of FORESTRY with a record of 5-4-0-0 and lifetime earnings of $70,380. This 418th divisional ranked filly races for Given’s Fire and Blood stables based at the GR Simsters. This filly had her 4 race unbeaten streak broken in Vermont last time out when she never took to the track and was outrun in the Grade I dirt route. She had wired a short 4 horse field in an Oregon 8f stake the race prior but as is the case with many short field overnite races many time you cannot determine just how good your runner is in those contests.She drops back down to a sprint for today’s race and it will be interesting to see what tactics are chosen, a front end running style like her last 2 wins or a stalking/pressing style like her initial 2 wins. Perhaps the abundance of speed here today will make the decision for her. Her top speed ratings of 93 and 94 put her right in the thick of things here today albeit both those marks were set in 8 furlong mile races. She is another who is spotting some experience here today and she is a tough one to rank in the list of contenders here today. The rider for today’s race will be Painter (9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—92.
13)VAN SADLER T(KY)—22/1—refinement sends this filly out of VAN NISTLEROOY with a record of 9-1-2-2 and lifetime earnings of $42,194. She is out of the mare ITOUPAVA’S FLOWER who was 2/26 at the track and who has 3 foals on record of which 2 are winners. This 195th divisional ranked filly races for the Tsyndicate stables based at the NWRC. This sire who is a son of Storm Cat had me puzzled so I looked him up and see that while he was fairly successfull early on in his career his prodigee numbers took a sharp decline last year in 2007. This filly will be spotting others with more wins here today as her only victory came in an MSW race last year. She has run in 7 consecutive stake races now and ha had to settle for minor shares as her best results. She posted her top speed rating of 84 last time out when she stretched out to 8 furlongs but she did tire in that race prompting her to drop back down to a sprint here today in her Graded stake debut. She should be chasing the early speed today but will need to significantly improve on her speed in order to be considered a win possibility here today. The rider for today’s race will be Tool (11.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—82.
14)SEEKING THE PRINCE(KY)—10/1—princessj sends this filly out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 6-3-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $70,705. She is out of the he-mare STORMY U who was 3/15 at the track. This 268th divisional ranked filly races for the Ldyssecret stables based in Vermont at the Pastures of Green. This filly has been a tough opponent in allowance matches but has yet to breakthru with a stakes win as of yet settling for 3rd place finished in both of her added money events. In her last race she sat futher back at the start and tried to close in the stretch and while her rally came up short she posted her top lifetime speed rating of 93 and the experience she gained running may help her today in a race where a closing style could be the ticket to a top 3 finish here today. The rider for today’s race will be Coomer (11.550. PROJECTED SPEED RATING—94.
As can be seen by the morning line this is a very difficult race to handicap with many having to be considered as top challengers for the top prize. One thing that sticks out is the abundance of speed in this race and with that in mind I am going to predict some fast early fractions and with that in mind I am going to go with #6 STREET CRYING who seems most comfortable with the distance and who can lay off the early pace yet still be in touch with the frontrunners.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO