Eclipse Champ Urban Quest 3-1 Choice in Les Bois Turf Mile

Grade III
One mile
Firm Turf
$125,000
Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up

 

PP  Horse                             Owner        Jockey         Odds 
1  DESERT THEATRE(KY)  chloedawg2  D Armstrong   5/1 
2  EYE OF THE WORLD(IRE)  shamran7  B Gulch   5/1 
3  MENDELA(IRE)  bossross  T Floyd   4/1 
4  URBAN QUEST(ENG)  battlers  D Kasay   3/1 
5  ROCKY STORM(IRE)  jmahls  B Taylor   9/1 
6  K’S STAND TALL  sledwith  K Kirby   4/1 
7  LEMON IN LIME(IRE)  lilmitsi  M Lund   5/1 
8  MOUNTAIN CHALET(TUR)  wdforty  J Kiddfan   20/1

 

 

 

It’s great to be back in Boise which has long been one of this reporter’s favorite cities.  Central Idaho has fun activities for all seasons.  Tubing on the Snake River in downtown Boise is great fun in the summer.  Watching the Boise State Broncos play football on their blue turf is exciting in the fall.  There are excellent skiing and snowmobile trails to traverse in the winter time.  And horse racing returns to Les Bois Park each spring. 

 

 

 

This week’s feature is the Grade III Sportnwood Distaff to be run at a flat mile on the grass. This will be the first graded event to be contested over the newly refurbished Larry Craig turf course.  The fillies are anxious to strut their stuff. So without further ado, let’s meet the ladies in post position order. 

 

 

 

Right At Home Stables’ steadily improving Desert Theatre arrives from France where she was a solid second in the Grade II Frank’s Love Stake last time out.  It was the big Theatrical mare’s graded debut and she clearly showed that she belonged despite going off at odds of 16-1.  Desert Theatre’s speed numbers have gone up in each of her last four races.  And she may not have reached her maximum potential yet.  The 109 which she earned in France would put her right in the mix with these.  Very dangerous if she doesn’t bounce. 

 

 

 

Grade one winner Eye Of The World ships to Le Bois from Nevada seeking a reversal of her recent fortunes.  The deep closing four year old owns a lethal stretch kick when she’s on her game as evidenced by her March listed stakes win at Ascot.  Since then, however, the daughter of Dubawi and Sack The Castle (Sakhee) has been unable to mount an effective rally in two graded efforts.  The flashy chestnut certainly has the class needed to win this race if things go her way.  She has already won three graded stakes in her career including the Grade I World Cup Ladies Turf Sprint.  Needs a wake up call in order to carry trainer Shamran’s familiar red and white colors to the winners circle.    

 

      

 

Rafa Stables sends out the razor sharp Mendela, who had a two race win skein broken last time out when she finished a solid fourth in the Grade II Frank’s Love Stake in France.  The striking Alberto Giacometti filly is best remembered as the heroine of Hong Kong’s Grade II Silver Spoon Juvenile back in 2006.  Mendela’s stalk and pounce style seems well suited to this event.  Should be in great position to launch a late bid with her good tactical speed.  Would have liked her even better if it had rained since she’s undefeated on wet grass.  Serious contender, nevertheless. 

 

 

 

Cashing any kind of check on Saturday will make 2006 Eclipse Champion 2 YO turf filly Urban Quest racing’s newest millionaire.  And Ozsteve’s homebred is favored to do just that.  The daughter of Rainbow Quest and Noble Princess (Kris S.) has been sensational since early in her two year old season and, most recently, has finished in one of the top three spots in seven straight races.  Although Urban Quest failed to win either event, she posted duplicate personal best speed figures of 108 in her last two starts.  This classy lady appears primed for another big effort this week. 

 

 

 

Six year old Rocky Storm has been a useful campaigner for trainer Jmahls.  The lightly raced turfer has started only twenty times thus far but has managed six wins to date.  The daughter of Rock of Gibraltar and stakes winner Storming Carson (Kris S.) has tried stakes company only once.  The result was a sound thrashing.  Top speed number is 101 and that won’t be nearly good enough against these.  Later with easier. 

 

 

 

Ledwith sends out his K’s Stand Tall for this test.  Santiago raced his superbly bred (Mineshaft x Nijinsky II x Mr. Prospector)  five year old exclusively on the dirt for her first twenty one starts.  And why not?  She won six stakes and was a powerful second in the Grade I Black Middle Flower after setting all the pace.  But now she’s a turfer.  And a pretty good one so far.  She won the Triangular Hill Stake last fall while posting a 109 speed number.  Last time out she won a California allowance with a 106.  Certainly figures in here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W D Stables’ long shot, Mountain Chalet, faces a few problems.  First of all, her past performances and breeding scream SPRINTER.  Yes, once upon a time she did win a stake at a mile on the grass, but that now appears to have been an anomaly.  Secondly, each of her last four races feature declining speed ratings, never a good sign.  And to top it off, the Turkish bred daughter of Mountain Cat has been getting soundly spanked in allowance races recently.  Double digit defeats in her last three.  Her chances of winning this graded stake?  None.  But if she shows up in a 6.5f conditioned turf sprint, give her a serious look.