G1, Princess Di Cap

This week we will be headed to New York where they have a big race on the card for Saturday.  The G1, Princess Di Cap will run at the distance of 9 furlongs across the turf.  This race is restricted to 3 year old and older Fillies and Mares only.  The field of 9 contenders will show up to compete and attempt to get this G1 win on their résumé.  Last year we saw the horse Performing Artist who is out of the Foxon master stables get the win here in the Princess Di Cap by two and a quarter lengths and a 111 speed rating.  Performing Artist is still racing in her 5 year old season but Foxon has elected to not bring her back for a second attempt in the Princess Di Cap this year.  We should have an exciting race this Saturday with no horse in the field going off above 10/1 in the morning line.  Speaking of the morning line they have set the odds for this race and the post positions have been drawn.  Let us now take a quick preview of the horses that will be running in this year’s G1, Princess Di Cap.

1

FACE OF REJECTION

IRE

4F

redhill28

E Seifert

15

6

73%

$1,031,470

64.00

5/1

Coming out first we have this 4 year old Light Grey Filly (CARAVAGGIO x SEA THE STARS x KINGMAMBO) who is a prior G1 winner and that has hit the boards in her most recent back-to-back G3 starts.  Two starts back she would get the win in the G3, Natacha Atlas Vase.  Her most recent start she would run in Virginia going 9 furlongs and get a second place finish with a 110 speed rating.  The owner brings her back out this Saturday here in New York and she will head over to the turf representing the Empire State Racing residency.

2

TOO LONG TO WAIT

KY

4F

goodwood

T Kavanagh

13

4

85%

$161,245

4.44

10/1

This is a 4 year old Chestnut Filly who is a scratch bred (QUALITY ROAD x MUNNINGS x FOREST ATTACK) that has had a couple of recent difficult starts as she tries to break into the graded scene.  This season she transitioned over to the turf and had a couple of successful Allowance races earlier this year.  Last time out we saw her running here in New York and she would go 10 furlongs in the G2, The Epicenter.  She showed up sluggish off of a short rest and was never a factor in this race with an 89 speed rating.  The owner has given his horse well over a month off and hopes she will come out of the gate on fire when comes out this Saturday to represent the Down Under Racing residency.

3

INDULGE ME

AUS

4F

sremel17

L Kraft

13

4

54%

$178,051

15.00

9/1

Next, we will see this 4 year old Bay Filly (SNITZEL x INTO MISCHIEF x ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS)) that has run will with improvement in her two most recent starts.  She was second in Florida in an Allowance race two starts back.  But she came back out for her most recent start in Louisiana going 8.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Goofy Turf Mare Route.  She had a nice run with a 115 speed rating and would take home the prize as she walked away with the win by two and a half lengths.  She will make her way out of the paddock this weekend and will be here representing the Empire State Racing residency.

4

I AM A FREAK

AUS

5F

tripwire

T Ace

24

10

79%

$607,995

52.00

7/2

Here we have a 5 year old Bay Mare who is a scratch bred (I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) x MR. PROSPECTOR x SADLER’S WELLS) who has been running well this season.  Two starts back she would get up for the win in the G2, Hannah Barbera Cap after closing sharply.  But here good fortune would be halted in her most recent start in Deauville going 10.5 furlongs in the G2, The Corridor.  She did not seem to like the added distance in this race and was never a factor finishing well back in seventh.  The owner drops her back down in distance this Saturday and hopes to see a big rebounding effort out of his horse when she breaks from her gate representing the GR Simsters residency.

5

ZITKALA SA

KY

4F

valesa2

H Teige

18

4

61%

$434,558

10.50

7/1

Next, we will see this 4 year old Roan Filly who is a scratch bred (KITTEN’S JOY x DUBAI MILLENNIUM x WAR FRONT) that has been doing well in her four starts this season with only one miss on the boards.  That miss came in the G3, Queen Of New York Turf Special of which see finished up in fourth.  Last time out we saw her on the New Jersey track going 8.5 furlongs in the G3, The Eastwood.  In normal fashion she was trying to make a gate to wire run but would be caught at the wire in a photo finish and would come in second with a 112 speed rating.  She looks like some speed in this race, and I expect she will break quick out of the gate and try to get out in front when she breaks from her post representing the Empire State Racing residency.

6

DUBAI BYE BYE

ENG

4F

xpansion8

W Cahill

13

6

77%

$713,534

98.75

5/1

This is a 4 year old Bay Filly (DUBAWI (IRE) x PIVOTAL x MONTJEU) who has been doing very well and picked up the win back in March in the G2, The Saint Ana. This horse in her most recent start was switched over to the dirt track in West Virginia to travel 9 furlongs in the G2, D-Day Distaff.  She was firmly set in her ways on the turf and failed to give her best performance on the dirt.  She finished well back in seventh with a 106 speed rating.  Back to the turf she will come this Saturday and the owner feels she will rebound with a nice effort this time out being back on the grass.  They will make their way out at post time representing the Midas residency.

7

GIFT OF THE GOSPEL

ENG

5F

appower

M Kelly

21

7

71%

$561,525

56.00

5/1

This is a 5 year old Bay Mare (DUBAWI (IRE) x UNCLE MO x STREET CRY) that has made her four most recent starts at the G2 level.  She has hit the boards in three of those starts and picked up the win in the G2, Trash Can Mile.  Her most recent trip to the track came in California where she went 8 furlongs in the G2, The Call For Cash.  She found a little cash when she closed on the field to get in there with a third place finish and a 110 speed rating.  The owner feels his horse is going to be challenging in the stretch run this weekend here in New York when they head out representing the GR Simster residency.

8

RANGI

TUR

4F

hesgone

K Proehl

10

5

60%

$214,600

20.00

8/1

Here we have a 4 year old Bay Filly who is a scratch bred (POWERSCOURT (GB) x MISWAKI x EL GRAN SENOR) that has shown she is improving again after a couple of disappointing starts.  She has only one prior graded start and that was at the G3 level in her last race of her three year old season.  This did not turn out well for her and her first start this season would be disappointing as well.  But in her most recent start in Iowa it appeared she had put things back together again as she went 8.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Sadlflys Dubai Turf Mare Route.  She went gate to wire in this race and finished with a nice 115 speed rating.  As she moves back up in Class this weekend, she needs to bring that kind of speed with her when she comes out at post time representing the All-Stars Racing residency.

9

IVORY COAST ROX

IRE

4F

dettori

C Capper

17

5

65%

$259,756

19.00

6/1

Breaking from the final gate will be this 4 year old Chestnut Filly who is a scratch bred (LOPE DE VEGA x DEEP IMPACT x CAERLEON) who showed a little improvement in her most recent Allowance start.  Back in November of last year she would run a career high 114 speed rating and pick up a Listed Stakes win in Kansas.  Since that time, we have not seen her run with that kind of speed.  Last time out we saw her here on the New York track going 8.5 furlongs in a NW1s Allowance race of which she closed very nicely to pick up the win by three strides and a 110 speed rating.  The owner liked that effort and hopes to see much the same or better when she is sent out of the paddock representing the British and European Racing Club residency.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

1-Face Of Rejection:  Likes the distance and has two good recent starts.  Can she put together another?

4-I Am A Freak: Might like the drop in distance this time.  Can she rebound here in New York?

5-Zitkala SA:  She has speed and ran career high in most recent start.  Can they catch her?

Tarton’s Long Shot

3-Indulge Me:  This horse is coming into Saturday’s race well rested and is going off at 9/1 in the morning line.  She had her career high speed of 115 in her most recent Listed Stakes start.  She is taking a big jump in class this weekend and will be a first-time graded starter.  I will have my fingers crossed that this filly sired by Snitzel is ready for this big challenge that awaits her when I head to the betting windows this weekend.  Let’s give her a little support on some exotic tickets.