G3-Freiermuth Stakes Filly Showdown
Welcome to the 8th running of the Freiermuth Stakes in Longchamp. This is a 10 furlong race for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up. The weatherman is calling for a beautiful fall day, so we should have a firm turf track for the race. The stakes record is held by 2004 winner, A Gold City, trained by stevemunoz. She wire the field with a time of 2:01 4/5. This Seeking the Gold mare has retired and produced three offspring, including a stakes placed horse with over $200,000 in earnings. It is interesting to note that this race has never been won from post positions 1, 2 or 3, the favorite hasn’t won in 6 years, and the only jockey to win this race twice is J Ventura in 2005 and 2006 and the top jockey for Longchamp, B Wu, has never won. The favorite is out of post position 2 today, with B Wu as jockey. A lot of trends need to be broken if she is going to win today. Let’s look at the field:
PP 1 FAMOUS INDY (KY) (A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS x GONE WEST) bred and trained by peeps7 (Cobra Kai Racing Stables, 16%) Odds: 6 to 1
Out of post position 1 we have Famous Indy who is making her 10th career start here. She won her first try on turf, her first allowance try and then her first stakes try. Since then she has tried 2 graded and 1 listed stakes all at 12 furlongs. Her last time out she was dropped down to 10 furlongs, the distance of today’s race and had the worst finish of her career. Her game dam, She’s Famous Now, got all of her wins at 12 furlongs. With the early speed in this race Famous Indy’s deep closing style could benefit her, but I not sure the distance will.
PP 2 ARA PACIS (FR) (LAYMAN x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER) bred and trained by astinator0 (Astins Place, 24%) Odds: 2 to 1
Ara Pacis is a 3 year old scratch bred daughter of Layman. Layman is only his second year as a sire and Ara Pacis is his lone graded winner, but he also has 4 stakes winners. Ara Pacis has been patiently trained by astinator, representing EAAA Racing, who has an incredible 24% wins. Ara Pacis just missed the board in her debut and that try and one on dirt are the only two times this lightly raced filly has not finished first or second. And 7 of her 11 starts she has ended up in the winner’s circle. This will be her first time at 10 furlongs, but with her pedigree I don’t think she will have an issue with the extra furlong. She is coming off a win at the G1-Del Webb Oaks after winning 2 listed stakes in a row. She is looking to take her winning streak to 4 today.
PP 3 ALYDARZAPPER (KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x A.P. INDY x ALYDAR) bred and trained by xssessiv (B4rca Stables, 8%) Odds: 12 to 1
Alydarzapper is a homebred daughter of Ghostzapper making her 4th start on turf today. Her first 8 starts were on the dirt, where she had success, winning 3 times and coming in second twice. Earlier this year her trainer at B4rca Stables changed surfaces. She won her first try on turf with an impressive jump in speed in a listed stakes and then tried graded company. She was definitely in the mix, finishing 3rd. In her last race at the end of June she struggled, finishing almost 10 lengths back. Ara Pacis, today’s favorite was the winner in that race. She has had 2 ½ months of rest since that race and is looking to get back into form here. The longest she has gone is 81 /2 furlongs, so distance might be an issue for her here.
PP 4 SMILING ANGEL (KY) (KINGMAMBO x CAERLEON x SHARPEN UP (GB)) bred by cream and trained by donut (Toplight Stables, 23%) Odds: 7 to 1
Smiling Angel has been racing for just over a year and has 4 wins and 88% in the money finishes. Her list time out, at the G1-Del Webb Oaks, her graded debut, she had her career high speed of 98 (tied for lowest in the field), but her worst finish. She came in fifth, over 8th lengths behind Ara Pacis, the winner. She is out of game dam Jo Ann Christman, a grade A mare who has produced 3 stakes winners. Smiling Angel has 2 seconds in stakes, but is still looking for her first graded or stakes victory. Her late running style could serve her well her with so many others fighting it out for the early lead. She will need her career best to take home the win here.
PP 5 BRISEIDA (KY) (PULPIT x SADLER’S WELLS x BUSTED (GB)) bred and trained by rioja (Rafa Stables, 14%) Odds: 4 to 1
Briseida is a chestnut filly based on Glamor, who was a successful router. He got about half his wins and half his itm finishes on dirt and the other half on turf. Briseida has shown a definite liking for the turf, her speed jumping 20 points after her trainer switched her from dirt to turf. Her last time out was in the Equinics where she finished third behind Pazjazz Prayer and Miesque’s Gold. In her race before that she finished just under a length behind Friday Harbor, also in the field today. She is a graded winner and has proven that she can handle herself in this class. This will be her first time at 10 furlongs, so the distance will be the biggest question for her.
PP 6 MENZOBERRANZAN (ENG) (SAKHEE x RAHY x NIJINSKY II) bred by gr8bigsea and trained by lopo34 (Winterfell Racing, 15%) Odds: 9 to 1
Menzoberranzan began her racing career early in her 2yo year and has already raced 14 times. She has won 5 of those, 4 of those wins coming in her last 5 races. It took her a while to break her maiden, but once she did she has only finished out of the money once. Her recent wins have come at distances ranging from 9 ½ to 12 furlongs, including a 10 furlong win. This daughter of Sakhee out of game dam Two On The Dice is making her graded debut here. She has won against stakes company in her last two outings, wiring the field both times. There is a lot of early speed in this race, so she will really have to fight to take the lead.
PP 7 KIRBY’S YOUNG DOG (FR) (MIESQUE’S SON x RED RANSOM x KRIS S.) bred and trained by dirtydawg (Ojai Valley Stables, 16%) Odds: 9 to 2
Kirby’s Young Dow is making her 19th start here today. When she has raced on a firm turf track she has never finished out of the money and has won 7 times. This daughter of Miesque’s Son out of game dam Red and Young is making her graded debut here. She has been racing in stakes company all year long except her last time out where she easily won against an easy field in an allowance race. She has never tried 10 furlongs, although she has raced 10.5 on an off track. Three of her wins have come at 9.5 furlongs, so I don’t think the added ½ furlong will be an issue.
PP 8 FRIDAY HARBOR (KY) (STORM CAT x DANZIG x COASTAL) bred and trained by diabolical (The Squirrel Empire, 11%) Odds: 8 to 1
When I first saw that one of my bosses at the BTB had entered a race that I was covering I was nervous about making sure I had something good to say about her horse. I didn’t need to worry, this horses record speaks for itself. Friday Harbor is a 3 year old daughter of Storm Cat out of game dam Coasting. Coasting is a grade G mare, but has produced a stakes placed and a stakes winner and Friday Harbor who is a stakes winner and graded placed. Friday Harbor has only finished out of the money 3 times in her 14 career starts. And most of her wins and itm finishes have been against stakes company. She was injured in her first try over 9.5 furlongs, but after 3 months came back to win at 9.5 and in her last time out she finished second at today’s distance in the G1-Yolkshire Oaks. Friday Harbor’s high price today is because of the injury 4 races back. She should definitely be in the mix here.