Distaffers Set Sail In Yellow Submarine
A classy field of 14 fillies and mares, five of them millionaires, are set to contest the Grade I Yellow Submarine in California over a mile a quarter on the firm turf course. Here’s the field:
1. Hamster (lilbitfarm) 11/1
This three year-old daughter of Rock of Gibraltar has never been off the board in her 11 career starts, with five stakes victories from her eight total wins. She’s been patiently handled by the solid lilbitfarm, (over 200 victories), and was successful in her first try in graded company last time out, easily winning the GII Bird Legs Cup in wire to wire fashion at today’s distance. Will be among a crowd of horses on or very near the lead in this one, which will should provide evidence as to just how good she really is. Lifetime top is 112. Represents good value at 11/1.
2. Sheza Maniac (willyam20) 11/1
Graded stakes-winning daughter of Medaglia D’Oro has been lightly raced this season, with the restricted Smackdown ($500K) as her only victory in just six starts. She earned a lifetime best SR of 107 in that one, but bounced in her latest and finished a distant sixth. She’ll need her best to be a factor in here, and will do her best running late. Can go over the million-dollar mark with a win.
3. Lead Actress (peeps11) 8/1
Ultra-consistent four year-old has topped the 100 SR mark in her last six starts. Began her career late in her three year-old season and has blossomed of late for the Cobra Kai Racing Stables. Tried graded company for the first time in her last start and ran a strong second to Kepler of Rainbow, who’s in here as well. One of several speed types in this field, and the distance is of some concern, too. Throw in a slumping jockey (just two wins in 56 mounts this year) and this one must be considered an underlay.
4. Freezing (aggots) 7/1
Graded stakes-winning daughter of Zabeel tried Grade I company in her last and did not disgrace, leading the G1 Demona Hcp field to the stretch before fading to third. She earned a lifetime best 113 in that effort, but had two months rest before that start and may still be fresh. This one will go as fast early as necessary to make the lead, and that will require some real effort among today’s competition. She’s also unproven over ten furlongs, which makes her a slight underlay as well.
5. Condemnation (lenny14) 8/1
The self-proclaimed Evil Empire sends out this beautifully bred five year-old daughter of Kingmambo fresh off a lifetime best 112 SR as runner-up in an overnight stakes in Denmark. A possible bounce is a concern. She has a graded stakes win to her credit, but while seemingly slower than most in here, her closing style should be advantageous in a race with so much early speed.
6. Kepler of Rainbow (bobo) 9/1
This millionaire daughter of Rainbow Quest from a Sadler’s Wells mare has 14 career wins, all on turf, and eight already this season, having blossomed into a top horse in her four year-old season. Marre is doing a lot of things right with her and his limited group of five stables, with three millionaires among them. This one’s seven career stakes wins include two Grade 1s and two Grade 2s. Her lifetime top, however, is just 107, and despite a Grade I victory over 9.5 furlongs, she’s done most of her racing at longer distances. Will probably get a stalking trip in this one.
7. Sindee Slew (goody5) 13/1
Hard-knocking graded stakes-placed mare does not yet have a stakes win of any kind to her credit and was thumped in her last two starts. Looks to be fresh for this, and her lifetime top of 107 is somewhat competitive, but will need the race of her life to take down all the money.
8. Publik Enemy (pygmalion) 10/1
This six year-old daughter of Rainbow Quest is as consistent as they come, having topped the 100 SR mark in ten of her last 12 starts. (Her lifetime top is 106.) She boasts nine stakes victories among her 13 career wins, including a Grade 2, and has placed in five graded events. She’ll go over the million-dollar mark should she hit the board in this one. Likes to settle back in the early going and should get plenty of pace at which to run.
9. Upgraded (d1) 20/1
This homebred daughter of Montjeu is star of the young d1 barn, having won her first stakes race last time out in convincing fashion. She takes a major class jump for this one, however, and will need to better her career best SR of 103 to be any kind of factor.
10. Jena Berlin (astinator5) 9/2
The strong morning line betting favorite hails from the high percentage Astins Place barn, which boasts a remarkable 24.3% win rate over nearly 8,000 total races. This is a sharp outfit, and its millionaire daughter of King Kamehameha, (that sire’s only graded winner), has won 12 of 20 lifetime on the lawn, including three in a row and five of her last six. She ran for a claiming tag very early in her career, but became a different horse at marathon distances on turf. She has won six stakes in all, including the restricted $1 million GI Heifer International. She’s two for two at this distance and comes off two consecutive lifetime tops, having earned a 115 in her last. Usually gets a stalking trip and may have some traffic to negotiate as some of the speed tires. Leading rider Gossett adds to the appeal. Appears a solid favorite.
11. Horrifying Storm (jrogue3) 15/1
A four year-old by Storm Cat out of a Danzig mare, this filly has won seven of 16 lifetime turf starts, including four stakes, most notably an upset victory in the G1 Flounder Turf Distaff in July. Her lifetime top is 106, but she comes into this race off two consecutive sub-par efforts and seems a cut below the best of this division.
12. Kneel Before Zod (willyam40) 17/1
Another entry from the willyam13 master stable, this millionaire daughter of Rock Hard Ten competed at the highest level of her division in her three year-old season, winning the G1 Adelaide Oaks and finishing a good third in the Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff. The rigors of that campaign seem to have taken a toll, however, as she has been uncompetitive in stakes company this year. She was freshened for her last, a strong allowance victory, which may have perked her up a bit. Her lifetime top is 111, but she hasn’t gone over 100 yet this year. The pace scenario is in her favor, as she closes from the clouds.
13. Derockery (theatrical) 11/1
Like her legendary owner/trainer, this one returns from the sidelines after a few months off. Another of the millionaire distaffers in this contest, this daughter of Rock of Gibraltar has won ten stakes lifetime, including a Grade 1 and two Grade 2s. She was a top three year-old turf filly last year, but comes into this one on a five race losing streak. The time away may help, and her 112 top puts her right in the thick of this one, but she’s likely not sharp off the long layoff.
14. Desert Alley (lenny25) 19/1
Lenny sends out another in this event, this one a millionaire daughter of Green Desert. A multiple stakes winner, she earned the second Grade 1 victory of her career in her last start over a soft turf course in Argentina. While her lifetime top is only 104, she appears to be another who will benefit from a hot pace up front. An overlay at 19/1.
In a field marked by classand an abundance of pace, favored Jena Berlin is the logical choice, with Hamster looming as a danger from the rail.