Bargain Princess at Iowa
Iowa– Knightmare’s Bargain Bred Racing Series rolls into the Iowa heartland this week. The year-long Series is open to all Simmers. To run, trainers must nominate candidates with qualifying “bargain baby pedigrees” (50 BP price after the half-off deduction).
The $75,000 Bargain Princess will be race #14 here at Iowa. Turf distaffers three years old and upwards shall test nine furlongs over a firm turf course. Only eight runners drew tickets for the starting gate and they’re led by a very heavy 3/5 prohibitive favorite in younggroup’s Shoaib Akhtar(IRE). She is the Bargain Princess’ defending champion.
Shoaib Akhtar(IRE) is a 4yo daughter of the Red Ransom stallion Intikhab(IRE). Trainer younggroup first picked up the filly back in late 2006 for a mere $5k maiden claimer tag. Then a 2yo, Shoaib Akhtar won her maiden bow immediately for younggroup and developed quickly the following season into an effective Starter Allowance turf sprinter. By the end of 2007, younggroup had the filly successfully stretched out to short routes in the regular Allowance ranks. Such improvement prompted younggroup to enter Shoaib Akhtar in the 2007 Bargain Princess and the filly responded splendily with a 91 SP# victory. The win was part of a three-race win streak for Shoaib Akhtar — she would later go on to take a division of the Bargain Series “Bargain Bowl” on Breeders Bowl day. This year, Shoaib Akhtar continued in good form for her trainer, winning the Bargain Series’ Blueboonnet Stakes in March and placing in May’s Hunt Turf Cup versus males. She threw a 105 SP# versus open ALW company earlier this month. Oddsmakers and this handicapper love her to repeat as Bargain Princess champion.
Our next favorite breaks from the far outside in post # 8. Lgbost8’s Our Moon(FR) (4/1) is a 6yo daughter of the Be My Guest grandson Tzar Rodney(FR). This mare makes her 40th career start Saturday. She first came under Lgbost’s tutelage as a 4yo in January 2006. It was just her 7th career start and Lgbost signed the $3500 claimer cheque. Our Moon actually won the race which was her first start on the grass. She immediately eanred back the prize moeny in the Starter ALW ranks, developing into a very nice stayer over either surface.
Our Moon actually ran in the 2006 renewal of the Bargain Princess, placing a decent albeit distant 5th. Lgbost continued to place Our Moon effectively in Starter ALW marathons in 2007 as well as this year too. She should do well here if she gets some speed up front, though her best figures tend to be over the main track. Not without a shot for the board from this grand old racemare.
We switch back to the rail for our next contestant. El Condo Passa (AUS) (6/1) carries the dapper colors of Hawkz stables. By the Nureyev son Ne Coupez Pas, the 4yo El Condo Passa presents a 2-for-20 lifetime record. Hawkz bred this filly back in early 2006 for his runvus1 stable. The 2yo filly actually raced as a maiden in that year’s Bargain Bowl Juvenile, placing 5th versus colts over 7f on the grass. The filly eventually broke her maiden the following springtime in MSW company and didn’t see the claiming ranks until september of her 3yo year. El Condo Passa competed admirably in some high tag claiming events. She did win at $15k over a mile and placed over 9f, so Saturday’s distance won’t be a problem. The filly finished a dismal 8th in the Bargain Series’ Hunt Turf Cup back in May. However, she enjoyed a good breather afterwards and responded with a placing over a mile in claimer company late last month. We’ll see her closeup to the frontrunners with a fair shot at the board.
Knightmare himself sends out Simply Hush(GER) at 8/1. He bred this 4yo daughter of Alwuhush back in May of 2006. The filly took a whole year to finally break her maiden over a mile at the MCL $25k level. She’s since won three more races at the claiming level, definitely prefferring a grassy mile or 8.5f. Earlier this February, Simply Hush posted her top lifetime best, scoring a 90 SP# when running for a $15k tag.Simply Hush makes her 30th career call to the post this week. I wouldn’t discount her for the board either — she’s in pretty ggood form this season when placed properly in the CL ranks. It’s when she climbs out of the ranks though that she gets into trouble. I’d expect her to join the stalker group or sit up a bit closer and make a go for the top 3.
Hawkz sends out a co-entry here in King Of Wariuz(AUS) (9/1). The 3yo daughter of the spinning World stallion King Of Happiness found her way to Hawkz tutlelage last December where she promptly won at first asking. She had a couple of months off then and proved that her first race was no fluke, winning an ALW NW2L over 7f turf. Hawkz then took a chance on his 2-for-2 filly in a stakes race, but she drew a very tough full field and was no factor in the race. Since May, King Of Wariuz has two placings from 3 starts at the ALW level. She just missed by a quarter-length a month in her two-turns debut. Closing solidly down the stretch, the filly posted her lifetime best (93 SP#) so far. A real live sleeper in this youngster. Can she spoil the older distaffers? Strong dark horse.
Mahvaros stables enters Absolut Music(GB) (33/1), a 3yo daughter of the Southern Halo stallion Dubleo. This filly had a troubled start as a freshman last year. She went through three trainers before finally arriving in the mahvaros barn in May 2007. Absolut Music won that MCL $10k sprint over the main track. Her new trainer immmediately developed a sentimental streak for Absolut Music. She did not see the claiming ranks for almost a fully year. Mahvaros kept her safely in the ALW level where she nly managed two placing in 15 starts.
Over the grass, Absolut Music is 0-for-2. She prepped for Saturday running 12th of 14 in a 8.5f ALW NW1x over the lawn. Maybe we;’ll see this filly up front for a short while.
Distinctive Wariuz(FL) (46/1) is entry # 3 for Hawkz stables. The Congrats daughter presents a 1-for-8 lifetime record. Hawkz tried this filly late last year over the main track at first with no success. The filly however clearly appreciated the switch in surface in February 2008, wiring a nine furlong MSW field with a 78 SP#. She afterwards had a couple of subpar ALW efforts however which sent her to the CL ranks. The frontrunner most recently flashed some speed in a $5k claimer, recording an 80 SP# which is her bbest so far. We’ll definitely see her up front, trying to steal this one. Not without a chance for maybe the show spot or a minor share.
New player Alishan gets in on the Bargain Series action with Falveloose(AUS) at 52/1. Alishan’s kinjite stable resides at the new Blazing Saddles residency. Falveloose is a 3yo Falvelon daughter. She’s 0-for-3 so far over the main track and makes her turf debut this week. She’ll also try two-turns for the first time too. Falveloose has some moderate 70 speed figures so far and the turfy sire could see her take to the green stuff. Anything can and will go, so we’ll see what happens. Expect Falveloose to close from the rear.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Shoaib Akhtar should take this one easily for the 2nd year in a row. She has the most experience at the stakes level and proven backclass. I’m gonna go with Hawkz fresh face King Of Wariuz in a strong place spotting. Our Moon grabs the show.
Win: Shoaib Akhtar
Place: King Of Wariuz
Show: Our Moon
Good luck everyone and thanks for supporting Knightmare’s Bargain Series!