MD Distaff G3 Preview

MD Distaff – Grade III – $150,000

  After nailing the winner, the exacta and backing into the tri last week at The Lonesome Cowboy Bert Special in New York, I learned how a sharing my monetary windfall could help influence where this cub reporter’s next assignment might be.  When I arrived at the BTB to find out my next assignment, I was bummed when I saw Malaysia was my next port of call (nothing against Malaysia).  Instead of crab cakes in Maryland, I was to be boarding another plane heading far away from the Triple Crown trail.  That is when I got lucky (if bribes are considered luck) and fate gave me a second chance. I realized that maybe a quick conversation with my cash strapped assignment editor could alter the course of events. Good fortune has its price and a few dead presidents later I am pleased to announce I am on my way down to Maryland.  Instead of many unwanted frequent flier miles, I will get a birds eye view of the second jewel race, plus the fantastic under card. Never underestimate the power of a few well placed credits young writers to be!

    Anyway getting on to the assignment at hand the Maryland Distaff is a time honored tradition, run on the second jewel card, for as long as there has been a second jewel.  Perhaps the greatest incarnation of this race went down back in 2006, when Squall is a Storm won over Empire Reef and Waki Notion.  Those three legends would go on to earn nearly 10 million between them. Last year, the morning line favorite and current millionaire Irreversible ran an off the board fourth.  The winner, a horse named Chocolate Pigeon, had been claimed three times (tags as low as 5k) before finding herself a trainer who saw her potential.  Chocolate Pigeon ran a 106 spf last year to win this Grade 3 race and today after 31 races it is still by far the fastest she has ever gone. The history shows that any horse in this race can win no matter how humble their pedigree or the past performances might look. After all Chocolate Pigeon was Markella x Hollywood Brat.  Well enough about the past, lets get down to Terps, Black Eyed Susan’s, and figuring out who is going to win this years Distaff.  Man, am I glad to be in Maryland. The Distaff is for fillies and mares, 3 year olds and up, going a mile and 1/16 and we have quite a top flight field assembled.

The Field :

Bold Peggy- PP 10 ML fave 5-1 Tr. Conniecpu

Bold Peggy comes into this race looking as good as any older horse in training. Ranked 8^th among route runners, this lovely gray mare is closing in on the million dollar mark in lifetime earnings. The classy 6 year old has won her last two races impressively at nine furlongs with spfs of 108 or better. Looks poised to run her eyeballs out Saturday and it will take a huge effort from one of her competitors to stop her win streak from moving to three. It is always nice when you start your handicapping on one like this because she is the one to beat.

Dixieland Deputy- PP 9 ML 17-1 Tr. Lurch

The 5 year old chestnut mare had a nice outing in a very small field and ran second, but before that things are nowhere near as rosy. She has tried longer, shorter, turf and off surfaces to no avail and her speed figures and race record don’t stack with Bold Peggy, until you go back nearly a year to October of 2007.  It was a Grade 2 race but too long ago for any bettor to think it still matters. At her best she figures, but she will be proving me wrong.

Fusaichi Indeed- PP 2 ML 7-1 Tr. Riverland

Has been in excellent form over her last five races and has shown the capacity to put up speed figures at this distance. Likes to rate just off the lead or take control of the pace if it her jockey wants to. This is a very talented horse and looking at her charts you almost wonder why she doesn’t win more.  She is as good as any mare in the race but does she want to win badly enough? Certainly would be no surprise if she brings her best.

Surgewell- PP 12 ML 6-1 Tr. Isisbabe

Surgewell has dazzled crowds in Cali with three allowance scores and a “just miss” in the G3 Can’t Find Anything Else. Now she is shipping cross country for her first race off of the wrong coast in a long time. The 10f effort she has turned in New Mexico two back was breathtaking.  You wonder how this one is ranked 87^th among routers despite winning 6 of her last 7 by open lengths and missed a nose or would 8-8.  Brought into this one ready to win and just might do that.

Early Spring- PP 7 ML 6-1 Tr. Mattress

Early Spring has been campaigning at or around the mile mark recently and brings a series of nice efforts to the crab state.  One can question if 9 panels will be here best distance and the pedigree feels a bit “spirintier” than most of her foes.  After tilting at every windmill for awhile, she comes in off only two races since November. She may need this race to find her best form or may spring a big one. Worth a second look.

Buda at the Rodeo- PP 4 ML 7-1 Tr. Fiat

Buda has been quite the globe trotter, running dirt races all across Europe before getting his passport stamped on the Eastern Shores.  She seems to struggle if she does not stay up close to the action, but has the tactical speed to be with the early pace. Has talent, but you find yourself wondering if it is graded stakes talent.  Not always at her best in the biggest races and maybe just a shade under the best in this race. No surprise, but not my pick.

Glorious Morning- PP 13 ML 7-1 Tr. Seeking49er

I would like to get this one together with Early Spring on race day, so we can have a glorious morning in early spring.  Tip your waiters and waitresses please. Glorious enters the gate on a very impressive three race winning streak and has been on a trend of up and down spf’s that are swung in the right direction for the distaff.  Her big late closing kick really fits the likely pace scenario, and she should have the chance to swoop around her tiring opposition and maybe grab the big check. A major threat, highly playable.

The Tormentor- PP 6 ML 8-1 Tr. Pjlracing

What is in a name you ask? Well I am guessing more than a few folks have asked the connections of this aptly named mare if they new the future when she was foaled. Her two highest spfs on her recent chart are 109 and 111 which shows that she is real fast.  The fact that they were both in losing allowance level efforts has to be well, tormenting.  To be fair for most of her career she has been more pleasure than pain, but 08 has been sans pictures and I am not sure that the streak ends here.

Cat Mill-PP 3 ML 25-1 Tr. Deelynette

One of the younger ladies at this dance, comes in with far fewer gold stars on her report card than most of her colleagues.  If it wasn’t such an insult to females I might be tempted to say she lacks the class to hang with the others.  Instead I will just point out she needs a career best effort here to get it done and even then she might lack the turn of foot required. A bright future more than likely lies ahead, but I don’t think it starts today.

Memoriesofageisha- PP 1 ML 17-1 Tr. Applestone

A very long an interesting name shows patience in those that need to write it on the entry card. But that virtue may have been lacking when they signed her up for this race. Memoriesofageisha’s last race was a starter allowance and a real nice run, but she may be calling for oxygen when she realizes how far she is stepping up. Flopped facing stakes competition earlier this year, and will have to be much better to avoid doing the same in this race. Nice horse wrong course may be the slogan.

Prayer of Love- PP 11 ML 45-1 Tr. Hidden

The baby of the race at only 3 years old, comes in off a very nice effort in the Ambition Stakes last out.  The lack of triple figure spf’s on her dance card shows the connection took the name of the stakes effort very seriously and are ambitiously placing this one up in class and with older horses.  She is improving in leaps and bounds and would not be surprised if she could win this race… Just look for her to do it next year.

Rawhide– PP 8 ML 16-1 Tr. Forli

Rolling, rolling, rolling Rawhide!  Well sort of apropos in that Rawhide ran a big race in her third back from a layoff.  Not sure if that high quality allowance score puts her on level footing with the best of this field, but it is a reason for support. Her connection are still looking for some answers as far as distance and track condition go, and I would raise an eyebrow if she hit the board against this field.  Has a punchers chance but I will look elsewhere for a live longshot.

Apache Princess PP 5 ML 7-1 Tr. Fatattack

This late entry comes in with great numbers in the spf column (except in her last) but the wrong type of numbers in the order of finish, only one win.  Has been competitive at this level and has all the ingredients required in she can get them to gel into the same race.  I think her odds of winning are greater to 7-1 so I can’t in good conscience pick her, but would smile and nod at anyone who did. I think she is just a tad short against the best of this field but will be in the mix.

Final Thoughts–

I am very lucky to get to be here on the triple jewel trail and see all of the best of the best that are running here today.  I was hot last week with the picks so view these with caution of knowing this blind squirrel already found his nut.  I like Glorious Morning, Surgewell and Bold Peggy as the three to get on the board. Going to box em in the tri, and exactas… For value on a superfecta tri add a Prayer of Love and use the baby at 45-1