Bluegrass Oaks heroine Sabbath Point leads girls again in Black Middle Flower(G1)
Maryland– Here we go with the 2nd leg of the Filly Triple Tiara! The Grade 1 $500,000 Black Middle Flower Stakes matches the Bluegrass Oaks’ nine furlong main track distance. And we have the Oaks heroine in the field too — Malekfarms’ Sabbath Point chases Sim filly triple glory. She’s one of the hottest horses in the entire Sim at the moment too, riding a three graded stakes win streak. Yowsa!
But several of her Bluegrass Oaks challengers run right back on two weeks again to spoil the triple dream. Black Flag Flying, Equivocations, Sisson’s Mark, Grandstand Delight, and Silent Screem all wheel back from the Oaks. We’ve got fresh outsiders and some gals in it just for the Middle Flower post parade too. Nevertheless, it’s a great race pageant in store for us all.
They’re chasing filly dreams in the hoofprints of great sophomore fillies Alone That Baby, Mother Story, Swift Kick, and more. All those fillies as well as last year’s Middle Flower heroine Katherineofaragon. Can Sabbath Point take the next step on the road to Sim immortality? Or will she suffer from her vigorous schedule and take that dreaded “bounce” in the Sim?
Let’s chase the dream and see what the Sim has in store for us………………
1 Sabbath Point(KY), 3yo filly by Seeking The Gold Last Race: 1st in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Other ’08 Victories: Fantasy Stakes(G2), Fantasia(G2)
Odds: 9/2
April showers sure brought May flowers for Bluegrass Oaks heroine Sabbath Point. Well, technically anyway. Sabbath’s Point’s impressive victory over sloppy going in the March 29th Fantasy Stakes had Tony (malekfarms) doing rain dances prior to this year’s May classic. He should’ve saved his tap shoes though — Sabbath Point plain leveled the Bluegrass Oaks field, fast track and all.
The filly’s final time of 1:48 flat buried most of the 3yo colt Derby prep races such as the Florida & California Derbies, Wooden Indian, Vermont Is 4 Lovers, and Chief Snow. The filly joined Pro Mon (Sand Castle Derby) and Wireless Eavesdrop (Chicago Derby) as the lone graded stakes sophomores to whack the top-speed 107 SP# mole. My goodness. And this gal ran a 108 SP# in the Fantasy a month prior!
No doubt about it — Tony has one of the hottest horses in the Sim at the moment. She’s won three grades in a row, all by daylight. The top fillies looked very nice this year with some great winning speed figures, but Sabbath Point appears just head and shoulders above them all right now. Will the flashy demonette stalker return to us mere mortals?
And that’s where this nitpicky ‘capper comes in and chimes, “Ah Ha! I got you Tony and Sabbath Point!” Five races since March 1st? Five races in 11 weeks? You got away with two weeks rest there once, twice, but I don’t see three times in that 2 3/4 months stretch. I don’t think I’d run her even if she was ready to go last week.
But what do I know. I can hear Tony yelling at the monitor, “Look at the scoreboard, Snowchief! Will you look at the PPs scoreboard and tell me who’s the man with THE wild Sim plan now?” Ha!
Those Supers. Always up to their smacky riff-raff stuff. 😉
2 Grandstand Delight(KY), 3yo filly by Rock Hard Ten Last Race: 6th in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Biggest ’08 Victories: Jockey Guild Stakes(G2)
Odds: 10/1
Stretch!!! Woogedy boogedy, boo boo! 🙂 This is shocking! I can’t remember the last time I wrote about one of your horses in a graded stakes article (what is this, a DelPenn restricted race?)?
Ooo, ouch! I’m just teasing, silly. Pat’s one of the sweetest sweetpeas in the Sim. Drives all the ladies crazy like a tickle-me Elmo. *tickle, tickle, coo, coo!* Ok, I’ll try to lay off the cutsie-wootsie for the rest of this article…. not. 🙂
Ahem, back to Grandstand Delight. Wow, she made up a ton of ground in the Oaks, coming from dead last to finish 4 1/4 lengths behind Tony’s gal. And you took another aggreesive race placement schedule with a couple of two-week intervals over the last couple months. Lovely filly. But you know, there’s not a lot of speed in this group this time around. That and the two weeks rest again will probably hurt your filly’s chances.
Definitely a contender though on the upswing and well worthy of spoiling Sabbath Point. A lot of questions marks though and I’m tossing out all of the closers for the win Saturday. Hope you win though Stretch. **HUGS**
3 Silent Screem(KY), 3yo filly by Kingmambo Last Race: 14th in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Biggest ’08 Victories: City Of Angels(G1)
Odds: 9/1
Ryan, cover your eyes! Don’t read this, trust me! LOL! ‘Coz I’m picking your horse to win Saturday. I really like Silent Screem to rebound from a poor also-ran effort in the Oaks. There’s only soft longshot speed in this field and I think Silent Screem can sit right behind the frontrunners and overpower them midway through with plenty left in the tank. I suspect Sabbath Point to sit quite close to this filly, but Silent Screem has more space between her races to recover from the difficult Oaks outing.
Granted, Silent Screem is lightly raced at only 7 starts. But I love her steady progression in speed figures climbing from 83 all the way to 103 in just 6 starts. If she wasn’t groggy last week and she’s sharp this week, I think she’s your winner. Has to hold off the closers. Don’t worry about tossing her out over 9f either — she’s bred mucho bigtime for stamina. I’d just chalk up the Oaks as a bad race.
OK, you can open your eyes now, Ryan! Dratted Snowchief ‘Capper curse-karma. LOL!
4 Sisson’s Mark(ENG), 3yo filly by Mark Of Esteem(IRE) Last Race: 4th in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Biggest ’08 Victories: Lool Oaks(G1)
Odds: 7/1
Binzaman over at Pastures of Green hopes to add another ’08 classic for the rez. Royal female family for Sisson’s Mark, but her turfy sire Mark Of Esteem goes for a value each week. Very smart sophomore season for this filly — Binzaman has spaced out her races well and she’s won 2 of 5 from downtown.
I like how this filly’s speed figures rise with each distance increment. She’s definitely two-turns and kept that form going with a fine rally for 4th in the Oaks, just 2 3/4 lengths bahind Sabbath Point. Sisson’s Mark matched her top 104 SP# in the Oaks. Again, I don’t like the closers Saturday, but I can see this one rallying for a lioness’ share despite the lack of pace. And if you like Grandstand Delight, then you’re gonna love this filly too. Very similar fillies, but Sisson’s Mark has a lot more black type experience. That could be just the ticket to put her in the winner’s circle.
Bottom line, Sisson’s Mark deserves major respect. Dangerous.
5 Crushing Ignorance(KY), 3yo filly by Pulpit Last Race: 6th in Lool Oaks(G1) over 8.5f
’08 Victories: 2 Allowances
Odds: 26/1
Well, it’s a regular DelPenn National party! Or maybe Super & F’ARSE are in collusion here with SDMF tossing in this longshot rabbit. 🙂
So, what is it? Collusion, setting up Sabbath Point with some mild speed? Or collision, running all-out on the pace to ensure fair play for the closers (specifically fellow F’ARSEer Texasace’s Weekend Update)? In cahoots or hold onto your boots?
But maybe SDMF thinks he has a chance with the lack of speed in this group. Mild speed figures for Crushing Ignorance — SDMF passed up the listed level to run against Sabbath Point in the Fantasia Handicap(G2). It was Crushing Ignorance’s 7th career start and the gal did run 6th after fading on a solo lead. She faded again when getting into a pace duel in Sisson’s Mark’s Lool Oaks(G1).
Stranger things have happened in the Sim, but I just don’t see this filly going forward after barely treading water in her last two efforts. She’s overmatched. *slap, slap for rushing this expensive filly* Ha!
6 Weekend Update(KY), 3yo filly by Distorted Humor Last Race: 1st in DelPenn Oaks (owner-restricted) over 9f
Other ’08 Victories: 1 Allowance
Odds: 15/1
Wayne!!! Let’s just move this race to the DelPenn dude ranch and we can have a good ol’ fashioned barbeque Texas-style! Ha! Hey, this filly has some black type further on down her resume. Weekend Update closed well to pick up 3rd in the Mother Story(G1) on DPCD day last year. Been kind of average this season though, but maybe we can toss out the sloppy trip in the Fantasy(G2).
Well, I entered a NW2L and a NW3L in the DelPenn Oaks. They were well overmatched, but I wasn’t too impressed with that field — it was a glorified ALW (the colts’ version was pretty good). Weekend Update of course won at low odds with a 97 SP#. I can’t fault you for trying to benefit from the upswing in form. But I don’t really like her against the top-level here. Not a bad entry, but has lots to prove. Odds indicate that she’s reaching, so we’ll what happens against tougher closers and of course the lack of speed in the race. Still, you get some *HUGS*, you rabbler! 🙂
7 Equivocations(KY), 3yo filly by Dynaformer Last Race: 3rd in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Biggest ’08 Victories: Louisiana Oaks(G2)
Odds: 6/1
DelPenn National forever, baby! Kookookachoo! Where’s Revelation? He like has to give a speech or a toast or something. We got the Supers (Tony, Laura, & Jeff) and, of course, that’s no surprise. They’re always represented somewhere out there, each and every week in Sim cyber graded racing. They’re a powerhouse.
Equivocations was a Grade 2 winner last year and has tons of black type to her stats. She’s carried her talent well over to this year too, winning down in Louisiana in fine time. Equivocations was also 3rd after duking it out in deep stretch with Silent Screem in the City of Angels(G1). And I must say that she probably was a bit too far back than the Supers would’ve liked in the Bluegrass Oaks. She broke 12th and probably ran into traffic woes. But a respectable 3rd place effort again looks fascinating. She also has a bit of a history of stalking. If she can do that alongside Silent Screem….. may the best filly win!
Equivocations is definitely in my trifecta. Don’t count her out. Mmhmm.
8 Woette’s Venture(JPN), 3yo filly by Agnes World Last Race: 3rd in Allowance over 8f
’08 Victories: 1 Allowance
Odds: 43/1
Woette from Benelux throws caution to the wind here with a good old fashioned longshot. Woette’s Venture has never raced in a stakes race and finds herself facing the very best Saturday. The filly has won 3 of her last 4 starts since breaking her maiden late last season. She very much appreciates 8f and more though and possesses a versatile running style, near the pace or rallying from midpack.
In all honesty, Woette’s Venture is overmatched. Her top speed figure is 94. That’s not going to cut it anywhere remaotely near the winner’s circle in this field. Very little chance.
9 Holy Soup(AUS), 3yo filly by Lohnro(AUS)
Last Race: 1st in Mellow Breeze Handicap(G2) over 8f
Odds: 13/1
Graywolf’s Queensland Racecourse contingent sends out an up-and-coming outsider. Holy Soup is far more than just a funny name — she’s a Grade 2 winner in her last start. Graywolf races his horses ambitiously and often. Holy Soup makes her 8th start in this year Saturday, my goodness. The closer looked talented if not quite there yet in the stakes ranks this season. Her speed figures were pretty average too.
But Graywolf places his horses agressively and sometimes that strategy pays off in spades. Holy Soup however won the Mellow Breeze over six other fillies. That Grade 2 was a short field bottom line. Despite the 103 SP#, she’s gotta prove that she can handle this class level. She was at very low odds in that field — I gotta suspect the quality of competition there.
Interesting, especially if Holy Soup can put a foot forward, stepping up in form. But she has her faults on paper. Let’s see what she does on the track.
10 Lovestruck(KY), 3yo filly by Smart Strike Last Race: 3rd in The Senorita(G1) over 8.5f
Biggest ’08 Victories: Sunny Florida(G1)
Odds: 10/1
Knowlton gives Pastures Of Green its 2nd in this race. Lovestruck has a working girl-type female family with Summer Squall x Law Society. And she’s run like a professional too, winning 6 of 10 lifetime calls to the post. The filly started out 2008 with a fireworks spectacular, bowling over the Sunny Florida(G1) 15-horse field with a huge 105 SP#. I wonder if that was the fastest speed figure to date by a 3yo filly at the time. The filly missed a phto 5 weeks later, then ran a bit so-so at New Mexico a month later.
Hmm…. Knowlton sidelines Lovestruck afterwards. She’s been idle then since March 29, a good 7 weeks then. This is the kind of sleeper that sneaks up on a poor ‘capper. She’s fresh and can run off of layoffs. Can she throw a huge # though after a layoff against this quality of a field? A bit of a puzzle. We’ll see what happens from about midpack or so.
11 Black Flag Flying(KY), 3yo filly by A.P. Indy Last Race: 8th in Bluegrass Oaks(G1) over 9f
Biggest ’08 Victories: Santa Jazebel Stakes(G3)
Odds: 5/1
Here’s Ryan’s star filly. Black Flag Flying has got all the goods. She’s got a memorable name. She’s got the Movieland Starlet(G1) trophy. She’s got the wham-bam start to her sophomore season, winning the Santa Jezebel(G3) in January. The ‘Flag even has the breidemaid streak, fueling her hunger for the winner’s circle. She finished 2nd in the Vermont 4 Lovers(G2), Louisiana Oaks(G2) as well as a 105 SP# heartbreaking listed thorn.
And Black Flag Flying has revenge tenfold on her mind too. She didn’t get a hold of the Kentucky racetrack in the Oaks so much, floundering and flopping her way to an 8th place finish, beaten five lengths in a race for the show spot.
The # 2-ranked filly in the Sim is better than this. Sure, she’s a closer and needs speed up front (and won’t likely get it this week). But, bottom line, this royally bred filly has mucho class. But I like Silent Screem better in this race’s scenario. Oops, sorry, Ryan! I gave my pick away after telling ya to just turn away, turn away, baby, turn away!!!! 😉
12 Deathcraft(KY), 3yo filly by Mineshaft Last Race: 3rd in Fantasy Stakes(G2) over 8.5f
’08 Victories: 1 Allowance
Odds: 14/1
I don’t know about Ryan’s (Lenny) 3rd-stringer. She’s got improving speed figures with a couple of stakes placings. Definitely adores short routes too. But she looks a bit too rushed. Deathcraft was a well beaten 3rd behind Sabbath Point in the Fantasy(G2).
I like her climb in speed figures though. And she’s a fresh horse too after a 7-week breather. Talented, but this is throwing all your marbles in one hat. I just like to see wins and good speed figures in consistency before a big Grade 1 like this. Doubtful.
13 Heartbreakers(KY), 3yo filly by Grand Slam
Last Race: 3rd in Double Platinum Special (listed) over 8.5f
’08 Victories: 2 Allowances
Odds: 22/1
Ohio Thoroughbred Racing gets in on the action. Trainer Zman sends this Grand Slam filly making her 9th career start. She’s won 2 of her last 3, but both of those were in the ALW ranks. Nice rally for a show cheque in a listed stakes LTO. I imagine Heartbreakers will join Crushing Ignorance and Silent Screem on or near the lead.
It’s just that her numbers indicate that she’s far overmatched. You gotta beat something and she’s just beaten short ALW fields. Worth a crack at it, but I’d rather at least see her beat short fields in the stakes ranks before leaping up to this level. Very doubtful.
14 Messy Missy(KY), 3yo filly by Woodman
Last Race: 2nd in Greatest Romance Memorial (listed) over 9f
’08 Victories: Stolen Love Challenge
Odds: 16/1
Messy Missy bagged the Grade 3 Reflection Futurity in her final start at age 2. Excellent off pace rally in that race and I like how she kept going forward into her sophomore season. The filly won in her 2nd 3yo start over 9f with a 97 SP#. It was over a near full field in a listed stakes, so that’s pretty indicative. Messy Missy has some fire and sassy spice to her.
Unfortunately, she really coughed it up when returning to the graded ranks at New Mexico. I wouldn’t read too much into her runnerup spot versus the listed level LTO. It was a short field over 9f and she’s a closer. Maybe she needed more pace up front to run at. Bottom line, she’s gotta put forth her 1st 100+ SP# in order to win here. but I wouldn’t be too surprised to see her pick up a minor cheque. Three weeks rest for this filly who’s possible for your exotics.
Snowchief’s Picks:
You gotta be nuts on paper to pick against Sabbath Point. She’s just a girl for springtime. Black Flag Flying, Grandstand Delight, and, particularly, Sisson’s Mark deserve major respect. Equivocations is very, very interesting too.
But I like Silent Screem to take advantage of the lack of speed. Maybe some fresh horses will jump in there for the board like Holy Soup and Lovestruck. Tired Sabbath Point should at least hit the board though.
Win: Silent Screem
Place: Equivocations
Show: Sabbath Point
Longshot: Messy Missy
Good luck everyone!