A Trip to Victoria-Complete with Horses!!
After receiving my info pack and tickets from my editor (Ms. Roys) I am soon lifting off from Albany for my trip to Victoria. As soon as we take off I remember that I have forgotten to bring my faithful old typewriter that I used many years ago to cover Chicago for the SRF. Rats!!! Much later as I am waiting to change planes in Istanbul, Turkey (?) I wander into the gift shop where I inquire as to the possiblility of buying a typewriter. A lady wearing a veil goes into the back room, where I hear her rummaging around for about 10 minutes. Out she comes with a dust covered old typewriter, much to my delight. She informs me that this machine was once used by Ernest Hemmingway to write his Turkish stories. Hmmm I don’t remember any Turkinsh stories but I pay the 12 Lira or Euros or whatever it is and walk out with my find. Later, on the plane I clean up the old typewriter in the kitchen area with the help of a friendly stewardess.
Upon arriving at the airport in Victoria, I hurry to my hotel and drop off all my stuff. Perhaps 12 bags was too many for this trip but since the BTB was paying I wanted to be prepared. Grabbing a cab I arrived at Victoria Track 15 minutes later-what a beautiful place it is! I made my way to the ultra modern press box and settled in ready for action. The buffett was unbelievable featuring many local specialties, which I can’t identify but they were delicious!! As I was setting up my Hemmingway typewriter I noticed several of the other international reporters giving me strange looks-I realized I was the only one without a laptop! (Remember to put that on a list for my editor). but I soon forgot about that. After careful study of the BTB past performances and a trip to the stable area I am very happy to present my ramblings on the Adelaide Oaks!! Let’s take a look at these beautiful fillies in post position order and see what we’ve got.
1) FLYING KITTEN (KY) Sorrento (14.6% P. Boyd (7.4%) 9-1
My first reaction here is that this Kitten’s Joy 3yo seem to be in a bit over her head here. She has only one win in the past year and is 0-8 in her career at route races. Of course, the unknown here as we will see with all these young ladies is that none of them has run 12 furlongs before but I would be very surprised if this filly was in the mix at the end of this one. I’ll pass.
2) SELL AND BUY (SAF) Mcmancus (11.1%) C.C. Johnson (0%) 7-1
Here we have another filly with distance questions. Daughter of National Emblem is a 3 time winner sprinting but 0-3 lifetime at anything longer. Going from sprints to a 12 furlong Gr1 doesn’t really seem like a great idea at this point. Topped off by the fact that the rider is 0-27 this year makes this a hard package to get excited about. Not much to like here. I don’t know what the track handicapper was drinking or smoking but the odds on this filly are strange.
3) DECREE OF JUSTICE (AUS) Steller3 (21%) A. Snappa (12.2%) 8-1
Filly by Fastnet Rock (Aus) comes off a nice Stakes win at 9 furlongs in Northern Cali. It was a small field (4-much more about this later) but her SF was a respectable 94. Seems like she might like a longer distance. This soph is always a factor in her races, showing up 1st or 2nd in her last 7 starts. I think she can be a factor here. We will consider her a live horse in this bunch.
4) ZANDRAMAS (IRE) Ceclaim9 (13.3%) J. Garcia (10.5%) 15-1
Continuing on our journey through this Adelaide Oaks field-here we have a filly by Sadler’s Wells who has only 3 starts so far. She has won an MSW and an Alw but this is her first stakes try. The good news is that both of those starts were at 11 furlongs but her SF of 85 leaves her with too much of a mountain to climb today. Let us look elswhere.
5) THIS IS SPARTA (IRE) Fairhaven (30.2%) R. Bailey (15.6%) 6-1
The (Not So) Evil Empire enters this nicely bred Sadler’s Wells filly. She has been perfect since taking to the lawn, going 4-4, including 3 Stakes wins. Her last was at 11 furlongs but in one of those short fields (4) that in my opionion don’t tell you much so her 90 SF doesn’t look too bad. The extra furlong should not be a problem for this girl. I would certainly pick this filly to be on the board somewhere. Use in all your exotic wagers.
6) BODOG BANDIT (KY) Turfking32 (18.9%) G. Adler (13.6%) 17-1
Unbridled’s Song filly has been very consistent with 10-13 races on the board, including 4 Stakes wins. However all those were sprints. Lifetime she is 0-5 going the longer distances, which doesn’t bode especially well for this one. I don’t think 12 furlongs will be a good distance for her at all. Another problem is that she has never broken a 90 SF. Not today.
7) DUBAI PROPERTY (ENG) Lgbostz L. Ward 10-1
Unlike most of the fillies in this race, this 3yo Dubawi filly has lots of graded stakes experience, finishing second and 3rd in Gr 3 races. She has closed nicely at 8.5 and 9.5 furlongs and may like the longer distance here. As with all in this race, it’s hard to tell. Just because a horse closes at 9.5 doesn’t mean they will continue to close at 12. I have a feeling this girl could be in the battle coming down the stretch here. A Factor.
8) FAMOUS INDY (KY) Peeps7 (13.4%) J. Kohlmorgen (10.4%) 11-1
A.P. Indy filly comes into this race off of a nice win in the The Rt.Sixty Six Stakes at Washington. She closed from 14 back to win going away, posting a very solid 98 SF for the 11 furlongs. That race is a really nice set up for this race-the extra furlong should certainly be to her liking. Famous Indy is a definite contender here-hard to believe that she’s being held at 11-1. Looks like a pretty juicy price to me.
9) SISSONS LIGHT (KY) Deathstar (11.8%) B. Johnson (5.4%) 10-1
3yo filly by Northlight arrives from Texas where she ran 2nd in the Soaring Softly (one of my alltime favorite race mares) Stakes posting a very solid 97 SF for the 11 furlongs on the turf. She will be running somewhere near the front-as with all of these girls, the question is whether the extra distance will help or hurt her. I believe her SF in that last race makes her a contender in this one.
10) RAINSTORMS (KY) Kevoman3 (21.6%) I. Pegram (15.8%) 11-1
Here’s a fascinating filly. Rainstorms is by Storm Cat but her “Mom” so to speak is the great Rain God, who is now in the sim HOF. She flies in from North Carolina where she won The Sociable Emblem Stakes in her last start, posting a solid 96 SF for the 9.5 furlongs. As with the other fillies the distance is the question but I kind of like her in here. Rain God loved this distance and I feel she will also. Why not?
11) THE DREAM IS DEAD (IRE) Lenny271 (22%) D. Evans (30.5%) 18-1
Another filly from the (Not So) Evil Empire. 3yo filly by Montjeux hasn’t done much wrong so far. She’s coming off a short field (4) Stakes win at New South Wales at 11 furlongs. The speed rating is that race was a mediocre 74, (here we go again with these 4 horse stakes-lol) but two races back at the same track she was closing at 9F for a lifetime best 96. Pretty nice odds for a filly thats 5 of 7 in route races for her career so far.
I think she has a longshot chance here.
12) VAANDA (KY) Zoshka (14.3%) M. Mcmillan (6.7%) 7-1
A daughter of the late Hennessy, this sophomore miss is coming off her first stakes win a month ago in Washington (quite a long van ride to get here). She wired that 4 horse field (not again) to post a 95 SF for the 9 panels. I guess it sounds familiar but the only question with this very consistent (9-9 on the board) filly is the 12 furlong distance. She will be in the mix early and maybe more than that.
13) LOOK AT THE STARS Stablefred ( 10.2%) S. Nightingale 15-1
Speedy Medicean filly could very well be fighting for the early lead in this race. Her last race is a second (by 3 1/4) in The Californication Hdcp at Ascot. As usual the big question here is whether she can carry her speed over the 12 furlongs. It just doesn’t appear likely to me with only a top SF of 90 at 9.5 furlongs.
14)PELENNOR FIELDS (KY) Stormboot2 (21.5%) N. Hartel (6.8%) 10-1
3yo Aragorn filly from the always dangerous Dixiedotco Racing Empire. This filly here for me is a big question mark. Her last two races are alw wins but both are in the dreaded 4 horse fields, the last one with 2 CPU horses in the race. She had a 95 SF two back at 11 furlongs, which is good in here but the old cliche “who did she beat?” seems to apply here. Like I said- ??????? I just don’t know.
So that’s the field for the Adelaide Oaks. A very tough race to pick due to the many questions surrounding these young fillies. I think Famous Indy would be my top pick but I would suggest some kind of exotic box with all the possibilities. So I think I’m actually gonna go and bet this race (I think you can still do that in the sim, can’t you?) with a $10 four horse exacta box of 5-8-9-10 for a bet of $240. Maybe I can make enough money to buy a laptop at a local yard sale. (Reminder to put that on the list to mention to Roys)
Another thing I just noticed is that my info pack from the BTB does not include a return ticket to Vermont. I wonder if anyone over here would like to buy a typewriter used by Hemmingway in Turkey?
Best of luck to all the fillies and trainers in the Adelaide Oaks. It’s been fun covering the race. Should be a very interesting one to watch !!! Rich-Lilbitfarm