Thirteen Fillies For Showdown Over the Turf

One of the numerous graded races on the card this Saturday here in Florida is the Smackdown 4 Grade I races. Race thirteen on Saturday’s card will come over six furlongs on the inner turf track and will be open to fillies and mares of age four and older. Last year’s smackdown winner was rocky79 owned and trained Lindt (AUS), who will not be running again this year. The weather here in Florida for the past few weeks have been greeted with pleasant but hot mornings, followed by severe afternoon thunderstorms that have lasted well into the evening. It looks like we’ll probably be getting a reprieve from these showers this Fourth of July weekend, and we can probably expect a firm turf track at post time Saturday afternoon. Despite a clear bill for weather and the prestige of the Smackdown racing series, a medium-sized field of thirteen fillies and mares have drawn into the race. Despite coming up short of the maximum twenty horse field, the race is sure to be an interesting one.

1. Harney Hornet – tsunami01 – M. Jaeger – 33/1

In the first post from the Great Plains Residency is this Tsunami six-year-old, (Forest Wildcat x Black Tie Affair (IRE) x Explodent). The bay mare is out of multiple Grade I winning mare W. Affair (IRE). The six year old mare has seen most of her races over the dirt. Her last race came in allowance company in Jamaica over six furlongs on the dirt. The mare finished eleven and a half lengths back in third in the race, setting a speed figure of seventy-four after settling just off the pace in second before fading. The majority of her races over the dirt have been more impressive with speed figures averaging in the 80s and 90s over the dirt. The mare has run in a few listed stakes during her career, to which her best finish was in the Again Listen Special in 2006 when she finished second. The mare’s single turf start came in 2005 during a nine furlong allowance caliber start. The mare broke out of the gate in third and lost ground throughout the race, eventually finishing a disappointing thirteenth, twenty-four an three-fourth lengths off the pace of the winner with a speed figure of sixty-nine.

2. Dehenny – tsunami01 – F. Lincoln – 99/1

In the second slot is a second entry for Tsunami Stables, in this four year old filly (Dehere x Hennessy x Caller I.D.). The brown Kentucky-bred filly is out of the race winning mare Starfire Again. This four year old has been having a hard going of it lately. Her last race was last month in the Steahemp Handicap (G1) over eight and a half furlongs over the dirt where the filly fade late in the race to finish twenty-three lengths off the pace in fourteenth. The fillies best finish during her last eight starts was under previous owner sein2912 during a $2,000 claiming race where the filly finished sixth. The filly has only had two starts over the turf so far in her career. The most recent one came with her current trainer in the NY Island Cap (G1) where she finished a well-beaten twelfth after fading again later in the race. Her other turf start came with her previous owner in the six furlong Miss Adventure Stakes in 2006 as a two-year-old. The filly finished eighth in this race, but was only three and three-fourth lengths off the pace.

3. Tenacious V – peeps4 – O. Barrett – 9/1

Next in the field is this powerful chestnut five year old mare (Vindication x Lear Fan x Buckpasser), who is raced by Cobra Kai Racing Stables of the GR Simsters residency. This chestnut mare has been run over the turf for the majority of her racing career. Her most recent race came early last month in the Gimme An A For Effort Special (G1). The mare was held off the pace in mid-pack during the race and wasn’t sent forward to challenge until the final furlongs. She went on to win the six and a half furlong race by one and one-fourth lengths while setting a speed figure of ninety-nine. With a recent prep over the same distance and surface as the Smackdown race, the filly could be a threat to the win if she posts some bigger speed figures against this tough field. The mare is well capable of this, with six of her last eight starts brining in triple digit speed figures.

4. Ganglord – simsters6 – L. Buchta – 7/1

Following is this striking roan mare (Devil’s Bag x Mr. Prospector x Northfields), who is out of the graded placed mare Together Hustle. The five year old roan mare is raced by The Evil Empire and is a member of the GR Simsters residency. This mare has seen twenty-nine of her thirty career starts over the turf and has earned a total of $1,435,966 in career earnings. The mares last race came early last month in the six an a half furlong Gimme An A For Effort Special along with competitor, Tenacious V, who will be starting to the inside of this mare for this race. Ganglord finished second in the six and a half furlong race, settling one and one-fourth lengths behind Tenacious V who was the eventual winner. The roan mare set a speed figure of ninety-six after finishing second in the race. She too has scored in the triple digit speed figures before as well, with five of her last eight starts lending triple digit speeds. It should be interesting to see what this mare can do against her old rival in the Smackdown.

5. Whispering Sound – given2 – C. Strubbs – 10/1

In the fifth post is this chestnut mare (Miswaki x El Gran Senor x Hail The Pirates), who is owned by Given Stables and from the GR Simsters group. The six-year-old mare has seen most of her starts over the turf and has a lifetime earnings of $1,219,825. The chestnut mares last start came in late May during the F Arse Domination Continues (G1) over a mile on the turf. The mare finished last in this race, fourteen and three-fourths lengths off the pace with an uncharacteristic speed figure of eighty-nine. The mare had broke out of the gate in sixth, but faded badly when the field rounded the turn into the stretch. Her previous accomplishments include a win in the Deep Wells Special and a third place finish in the Frank’s Love Stakes (G2) and the Mrs. Cleaver Stakes (G2), where she earned speed figures in the three digit range,t he best of which was a one hundred eight in the Deep Wells Special.

6. La Santa Cruz – santacruz3 – W. Case – 8/1

Next up is another chestnut mare (Aldebaran x Mr. Prospector x Danehill), who is trained by Penamacor2 Stables, who belongs to the Blanco Encalaa y Molina residency. The five-year-old chestnut mare saw her last race in June during a six an a half furlong allowance caliber race overseas in South Africa. The mare won this race by one-fourth of a length after setting off the pace in fifth and picking off other horses early on in the race. Though impressive at allowance level, the mare has fallen short in her last few starts start. She finished sixth in the Short Female Sprint (G3) and sixth in the Doctor Can Stakes. However, she has also finished second in the Rock Of Cashel (G1). After the brief step down into allowance company, the connections off La Santa Cruz hope for the mare to rebound coming back into graded stakes races.

7. Lightseeker (IRE) – lenny3 – A. Darling – 4/1

Up next in our field is yet other chestnut filly, this striking four-year-old Irish-bred (North Light (IRE) x Awesome Again x Seeking The Gold), is raced by The Evil Empire, making her the second entry for this stable with the GR Simsters. This filly will surely be a threat to the win this Saturday if she stays true to her race record. Her last race came last month in the seven furlong Senorita Plunder Handicap where she stalked behind the leader about two lengths back in second. She went on to win the seven furlong sprint by one and one-fourth lengths with an impressive speed figure of one hundred thirteen. Pocketing yet more money to her already over one million dollar amount in career earnings. She also won her previous race, the Zero Contradiction Handicap by one an one-half lengths. The filly has done so well she hasn’t finished out of the money at any time during her last twelve starts. Her last graded start was in the Mumtaz Mahal Handicap (G1) in which she finished second, beaten by just one-fourth of a length and setting a speed figure of one hundred eight over five and a half furlongs.

8. Bullets To Spare – sdmf4 – W. Baumann – 12/1

In the eighth slot is this four year old filly (Gone West x Nijinsky II x Blushing Groom (GR). This Kentucky-bred chestnut filly is raced by Black Label Stables who is a member of the DelPenn National residency. The four year old filly has only raced once over the turf in her career. This start was her most recent one and came in late May during the Creepy Dancer Special over eight and a half furlongs. The filly broke out of the gate and went straight to the lead, looking to make a wire to wire finish in her turf debut. However, the chestnut filly faltered in the stretch and faded to fourth, back by two and one-half lengths and posting a speed figure of one hundred three. Hopefully with the cut back in distance in the Smackdown race, the filly may be able to hold on to a speed position in a shorter race. She may be one to look out for if she can get the jump on the field and run away with the lead on Saturday.

9. Point Counterpoint – tsunami10 – N. Torres – 99/1

Next up with have yet another entrant for Tsunami Stables, the third in this race. This six year old brown mare (Point Given x Alazao x Unbridled) is out of the stakes placed mare Al’s Bride. The six year old mare has seen eleven races over the turf which have brought her $24,466 in earnings over this surface alone. Her most recent race came last month in the ten furlong Rich And Famous Handicap (G1) where the mare finished a well-beaten ninth after setting a speed figure of sixty-three. She broke out of the gate in fifth but faded as the race progressed. The fillies last on the board finish was under previous owner cylla1111 during an eight furlong claiming race over the dirt. The mare broke out of the gate trailing in third and was sent to challenge in the stretch, winning the race going away by three lengths with a speed figure of ninety. Though the mare has finished on the board in a turf race, at this point in the mares career, it seems as though her forte is probably over the dirt.

10. Hollaback Girl – super23 – P. McJulien – 8/1

In the tenth slot for the Smackdown race is this six-year-old mare (Danzig x Capote x Devon (FR)). The brown mare is raced by More Evil Than The Evil Empire who is a member of DelPenn National. The six-year-old daughter of top stallion Danzig saw her last race in May in the six and a half furlong Inchanting Lady Handicap where she won the race by three-fourths of a length after stalking back behind the front runners in fourth. She finished the race with a speed figure of one hundred one. The mare has been a bit of a hit and miss with wins in the Inchanting Lady Handicap and Seventh Heaven Challenge, yet finishing tenth in the Las Vegas Handicap (G3) an the Cootie’s Sprint (G3). Quite accomplished in listed stakes, we’ll she where she ends up in her return to graded caliber races after her start in the Las Vegas Handicap. Don’t count the filly out just because this is a grade race however, she finished third earlier this year in the Castle Point Stakes over six furlongs on a yielding turf track.

11. Rudy – stupor1 – V. Gardner – 3/1

Drawing the eleventh post in our field for the Smackdown is the pre-race betting favorite, an impressive five-year-old mare (Bestyoucanbe x Distant View x Sovereign Dancer), who is owned and trained by The Evil Empire. The brown mare had her last start early last month in the Arkansas Splash Memorial over six nd a half furlongs overseas in North Korea. The mare finished second in this race. She struck out of the gate and went to stalking in second, but never seemed to be able to get past the leader in the six and a half furlong sprint. This race was followed by the Rapid Challenge in which she impressively won by a length with a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. She also won the Castle Point Stakes (G2) by one and one-fourth lengths earlier on in the year. The filly has not finished off the board in her last fifteen starts. The last time the mare finished off the board was in 2007 during the Zero Contradiction Handicap. With the mares consistency, top speed figures and stakes wins, she is being considered a sure thing to finish in the top three by bettors that are wagering on the Smackdown.

12. Three Taps – slewsback – R. Jones – 12/1

In the twelfth post of this race is this light gray Kentucky-bred filly (Tapit x Dixie Union x Distinctive Pro), who is out of the race winning mare Led’s Holidays Joy. The light gray filly is currently race by Slewsback Stables, who is a member of The CR Racers residency. The four-year-olds most recent race was a five furlong allowance caliber race overseas in Tasmania where the filly won by a length after settling off the pace in eight and making her move towards the end of the race to finish with a speed figure of one hundred one. This was a step down in class for the filly after some out of the money finishes at listed stakes level. Recently, aside from the aforementioned allowance race, the filly also won the Woody’s Affairs Challenge over six furlongs this past January. The fillies only grade start came in the Castle Point Stakes (G2) over a yielding track where she finished four and three-fourth lengths back in seventh.

13. Redoute’s Niner (AUS) – zewango2 – C. Calhoun – 9/1

Last in our lucky field of thirteen horses is this four-year-old bay filly (Redoute’s Choice (AUS) x Deputy Minister x Forty Niner), who is out of the stakes winning dam and proven broodmare Deputy Danzig. The Australian-bred Redoute’s Niner (AUS) is raced by Black Label Stables, the second entry for this stable in this Smackdown race. The bay filly has been raced primarily over the dirt with only two races coming over the turf for the filly. Both of these starts came under previous owner/trainer jockeymax. The most recent came in February of 2007 at an eight an a half furlong allowance caliber race in Michigan. The filly finished third in the race, three and one-fourth lengths off the pace with a speed figure of eighty. Her only other turf start also ended in a third place finish in another allowance race, this one over six and a half furlongs. Quite accomplished over the dirt with an in the money finish in the Real Danger Handicap (G2) and multiple wins at the claiming and allowance level, this filly is returning to the turf yet again. It should be interesting to see if this filly has improved over the turf since her year absence from the surface.

Sorria’s Picks
Win: Rudy
Place: Lightseeker (IRE)
Show: Tenacious V