Fillies Vs. Colts In Voodoo Song

In 2018 a horse named Voodoo Song was named New York Bred Champion Turf Male based on wins in the Forbidden Apple Stakes and more importantly the Grade One Fourstardave at Saratoga. He was a son of English Channel and in his career he earned just shy of a million dollars. On this New York Bred Showcase Day eight two year olds will race seven and a half furlongs on the lawn in his memory. The field includes two fillies, one of whom is the favorite Ten Queens. But the field overall is very evenly matched with three others listed as co-second choices at 4/1 and the longshots only at 12/1. Let’s take a look at the field.

#1 Mr. Salomon 4/1

From the prolific stables of Donny Beisbol comes Mr. Salomon. This gelded son of Solomini out of an Invincible Spirit x A.P. Indy mare descends from the stakes winning and graded producing mare Kristi Yamicuchi, one of the all time great sim names. Mr. Salomon broke his maiden going six and a half furlongs on the dirt but otherwise his career on that surface was unremarkable. After his fourth start on the dirt he was gelded and turned out for nearly four months before returning in a HOT race on November 19^th. He went wire to wire in that five horse field going a mile and ran a career best 80 speed. Hard to say how he will respond in a ‘real’ race on the grass.

#2 Name That Van 12/1

Name That Van represents the Ace stables. He’s a gelded son of Name Changer out of a Trinniberg x Dixieland Band mare with second dam Dixieland Deputy being a grade two winner in dirt routes. Name That Van’s last two starts have come on the lawn. In August he battled for the early lead before inching away from six other rivals in a five furlong local bred maiden. He ran a 73 speed that day, a career best. He returned at the end of October in a first level allowance against local competition and grabbed the early lead in a four horse field before being run down late to finish second. That race came at six and a half furlongs so stretching out again in distance will be a question for this horse.

#3 Snow Ape 9/1

Snow Ape is the first of our runners who has run for a claiming tag. That came in his most recent start when he ran for a $12,500 tag in a non-winners of three lifetime race going six and a half furlongs back in October. He finished second that day with a 79 speed. It was his second start on the grass having finished well back in a one mile allowance the month prior. Snow Ape broke his maiden in his debut on the dirt in March. He’s never actually run against local bred competition before and might surprise here. He’s a son of Snow Trouble out of a Gloria De Campeao x Dubai Millennium mare. This Augustop stables trainee’s second dam is a stakes winner.

#4 Zainpour 4/1

This Bezza14 stables runner has only two starts under his belt. Both came at six and a half furlongs against local competition. He broke his maiden on debut at the end of July by wiring a twelve horse field while running a 79 speed. Zainpour returned under the same conditions at the beginning of October and ran the same speed but while he again got the early lead he was collared late, finishing second by a length. He’s a son of Fog of War out of a Lemon Drop Kid x Rahy mare. Zainpour would be the first stakes winner for his family.

#5 Sushi Is Gross 4/1

Sushi Is Gross has the most wins for any horse in this field with three coming from four starts. His name no doubt is derived from his sire Japan and perhaps the sire of his dam, champion Japanese sire King Kamehameha. Sushi Is Gross’ second dam is by Galileo. On this day last year Venezuelan Nalgas finished second in the filly version of this race, the Capades. She is a half sister to this gelding. He began his career with a seoncd place finish in a residency race going six furlongs. He broke his maiden next time out going seven furlongs and his last two races have come in routes. His career best speed of 80 was earned in his most recent start going a mile and a sixteenth. All of his races have come against local competition. His wins have seen him sit off the pace and make one run. He hails from the stables of Lgbost.

#6 Disco’s To Blame 12/1

Another hailing from the inimitable beisbol stables is Disco’s To Blame. Fittingly a daughter of Disco Partner out of a Blame x Elusive Quality mare, she is the first foal for her dam. Disco’s To Blame is undefeated in two career starts but both have come on the dirt. She broke her maiden going four and a half furlongs against local competition back in August. She didn’t start again until mid-November when she won a five and a half furlong $10,000 claiming race against open-breds. Both races came in four horse fields and saw her sit just off the pace before moving on to the win. She ran a 72 speed last time out but obviously the questions here are what will happen as she tries turf, males and adds a quarter mile in distance.

#7 Ten Queens

Ten Queens is another filly in the field. Owned by Dundey stables she’s undefeated in one start on the grass. That was her most recent race, a seven furlong first level allowance. The race was against open-breds and she sat a good bit off the early leaders but made a strong stretch run to get up to win by a half length. She ran an 83 speed that day, slightly higher than her previous races but overall she has been very consistent in her speeds. She made two starts on the dirt, a six furlong debut maiden score against open-breds which she won with an 80 speed and then a second place finish in a New York-local going seven and a half furlongs against fellow females. She ran an 81 speed in that spot and was much closer to the early lead than she was in either of her other two races, making a move around the turn and then tiring late. She’s a daughter of Tencendur out of a graded placed stakes winning Awesome Again x Kingmambo mare. Her four year old brother by Bluegrass Cat is a local stakes winner in Turkey and the three year old brother is a stakes placed Connect horse.

#8 Louisville Throne 8/1

Atthewire stables’ Louiville Throne has made one start and it was a winning one. It came in early November in a $3,500 local bred claimer going five furlongs on the grass. Interestingly it was not a maiden claimer but one for non-winners of four lifetime. That said he only ran against three others including two CPU owned runners. He won nicely however, sitting just off the early pacesetter before collaring that one in the stretch and winning by a quarter of a length with a 75 speed. He’s a son of King For A Day out of a stakes winning Scat Daddy x Williamstown mare. He is her thirteenth foal and none of the others have managed a stakes win but his second dam is also a listed winner.

Good luck to all!