G2 – Mike’s Hometown Cap
Mike’s Hometown Cap
Grade II
A mile and one sixteenth
Fast Dirt
$250,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
We have a terrific field lining up for this race, with some highly ranked mares taking on the up-and-coming fillies. Like all of the races here today this one is full of questions and what-if’s, so it will be a joy to just sit back and watch the race fold out I front of us and provide all those answers. The runners are:
IDIOT’S DELIGHT
Trainer: bellagirl
(High Yield x
Odds: 12/1 Earnings: 149,006 Runs/Wins: 20/8
A 6yo mare from Madhibby Racing and bred from an H class mare by crprize. A mare on a hat trick after a good start to 2008 after being off the track for over 7 months. As a result she has not raced as hard as she might have done and could be a lot better than the odds may suggest. Her first time in
TALE OF
Trainer: kyracing
(Tale Of The Cat x
Odds: 8/1 Earnings: 210,833 Runs/Wins: 38/6
A 5yo mare from Kyracing Stables and bred from a C class mare (Leslie’s Padres). A mare who looks equally happy on dirt or turf she is looking at her best right now and will be looking to produce something special here. She probably hasn’t won as many races as she should have in the past, and has yet to achieve a stakes win, but on paper at any rate she looks a big danger.
TATTENHAM CORNER(IRE)
Trainer: fatattack2
(Sadler’s Wells x Red Ransom x Gone West)
Odds: 13/1 Earnings: 298,779 Runs/Wins: 19/9
A 4yo filly from Lone Star Racing and bred from an A class mare (Red Tejas). From a dam who managed 3 graded wins and over $2m in prize money comes a nice young filly out to make a name for herself. Despite spending all of her first year on turf she was successfully switched to dirt mid-way through 2007 with great effect. Although her only stakes win was in her last race she is definitely going the right way and though this may be a hard race to crack, she will be around for a few years to come.
OTTO HISTORY
Trainer: capsized
(Deputy Minister x Fappiano x Buckpasser)
Odds: 5/1 Earnings: 4,208,760 Runs/Wins: 26/11
A 6yo scratch bred mare from Pierchinski Stables. Ranked #5 overall in this category she is the favourite here today. Her $4m earnings include wins in G2-Help…Mike’s Fallen & Can’t Get Up Stakes, G1-The KFC Special, G2-Mike’s Hometown Cap, G1-Bumblebee Classic, G1-The KyH Mint Julep Distaff, G1-The Delaware Mile, G1-Go For The Gold Stakes, G1-Orange Blossom. The winner of this race back in 2006 she must fancy her chances for repeating that win here especially as she seems in good form of late and she has retained the same jockey. Will History repeat?
CAROL OF THE BELLS
Trainer: deyoto3
(Hennessy x Private Account x Dr. Fager)
Odds: 7/1 Earnings: 1,016,290 Runs/Wins: 25/7
A 5yo scratch bred mare from Champion Lodge and bred by greylag. Surprisingly her first ever race was in a 3yo $13,500 maiden claimer where she was snapped up by her current stable. She didn’t win that race but has really come on a lot since then winning G2-Gowader Stakes, G1-World Cup Ladies Mile, and G3-Air Line Handicap. Despite now having earnings of over $1m she has looked a little jaded so far this year and really needs to find some of the old sparkle in order to feature here.
KATHERINEOFARAGON(FR)
Trainer: gipper7
(High Yield x Kingmambo x Ferdinand)
Odds: 7/1 Earnings: 1,902,381 Runs/Wins: 20/6
A 4yo filly from Gipper Stables and bred from a G class mare. Ranked #2 over this distance this filly has earnings of $1.9m after successes in G1-Getaway Stakes, G1-Movieland Starlet, G1-Black Middle Flower Stakes, G1-Sister Hen Stakes, and G2-Cotton handicap. 2008 hasn’t yet come alive for her and she was beaten in her last race by both Otto History and Balance(KY), so she has a bit to do to reverse those placings.
REEFER MADNESS
Trainer: super24
(Mineshaft x Fappiano x Private Account)
Odds: 6/1 Earnings: 780,043 Runs/Wins: 30/10
A 5yo scratch bred mare from More Evil Than The Evil Empire!. Another big mare who finally broke into the rankings this year with wins in G3-Sabian Handicap and G3-Sand Castle Distaff. Another runner with good turf credentials she certainly wont lack stamina as she seems happy over 10 furlongs so it will all be about whether she can stay in touch with the leaders for her usual last gasp finish. A new jockey takes the reins so lets hope he knows the game plan.
BIG UGLY
Trainer: jrogue
(Summer Squall x Graustark x Spectacular Bid)
Odds: 14/1 Earnings: 743,085 Runs/Wins: 37/7
A 6yo scratch bred mare from Jrogue Stables. A very experienced mare who has wins in G2-Razorback Distaff and G1- My Girl Handicap but has looked fairly ordinary in 2008. Her last win was almost a year ago and she has a real mountain to climb if she expects that situation to change in this race.
AWESOMESEEKNGOLD(KY)
Trainer: thebear20
(Awesome Again x Seeking The Gold x Nijinsky II)
Odds: 23/1 Earnings: 349,795 Runs/Wins: 17/5
A 4yo scratch bred filly from Willyam13 Stables. A nice win ratio and plenty of stakes victories in her form but she has yet to come good in a graded race. Her last run was over 10 furlongs and produced her worst ever result so her confidence is in serious need of a boost, and boy, what a race to have to recover in.
ROCK HARD SIX(KY)
Trainer: blackswan1
(Rock Hard Ten x Mr. Prospector x Nureyev)
Odds: 23/1 Earnings: 88,210 Runs/Wins: 9/3
A 4yo scratch bred filly from Blackswan Stables. A very inexperienced filly for her age who has come back from a long lay off to win both her races in 2008. She could provide a big surprise to some of her more exposed rivals, but this big jump in class may just be a bit too much for her.
THOUGHTFUL TYCOON(KY)
Trainer: optimal
(Stormy
Odds: 64/1 Earnings: 124,370 Runs/Wins: 5/3
A 3yo filly from Circusham Stables and bred from an F class mare. The only 3yo in the race and a very lightly raced one at that. She has had one graded race so far which didn’t go well and though she looks a good one to follow in the future, her odds pretty much sum up her chances of finding anything in this race.
BALANCE(KY)
Trainer: chloedawg
(Thunder Gulch x Kris S. x
Odds: 11/1 Earnings: 296,025 Runs/Wins: 25/4
A 4yo scratch bred filly from Right At Home Stables. Despite her notable lack of wins she looks very interesting prospect here. Beaten into third by the favourite, Otto History, a couple of races back in a G1 she has every chance of improving for that here. I’m not sure she is good enough to win, but she certainly shouldn’t be underestimated or ignored, and after not having won for over a year she is nothing if not hungry.
ALSKYE(KY)
Trainer: ma2nature
(Sky
Odds: 11/1 Earnings: 285,585 Runs/Wins: 15/5
A 4yo filly from MaNature TB’s ‘Organic & Homegrown’ and bred from a G class mare. A 4yo filly who could provide the shock of the race after a terrific start to 2008, including a win in G3-Last Jump Handicap. Her SP#’s are increasing exponentially and if she is allowed to get in her finishing run she may just pass everybody over the last half a furlong. She’s a bit of a puzzle, but that’s what this race is all about.
BEND IN THE RIVER
Trainer: jakster
(Distorted Humor x Theatrical(IRE) x
Odds: 6/1 Earnings: 272,520 Runs/Wins: 39/13
A 5yo mare from Infinity Farms and bred from an H class mare. An experienced mare who seems to be getting the ‘clever’ money after 2 excellent wins in her last 2 races. Surprisingly this is her first graded run and her first visit to
Summary
Another very open race but I think the outside ground may provide the eventual winner. Of the older mares Bend In The River has the late speed and is in good form just now, but may be embarrassed by the 4yo Alskye(KY) who looks a possible future champion. The favourite Otto History won this a couple of years ago and may just be galvanised into producing something a bit special.