G3 Pocahontas Sprint Stakes
The 16th race at Arkansas this week is the first running of the Pocahontas Sprint Stakes a G3 contest for fillies and mares over 6.5 furlongs on the dirt. A full field of fourteen have lined up for a chance at a share of the $125,000 purse including one speedy 3 year old filly set to take on the older mares for the very first time.
Post 1. IN JESUS NAME (KY) – (14/1) a four year old daughter of Came Home (Capote / Riverman) who is trained by Kyladar Stables. Winless in her last 5 starts against Allowance and Stakes company her earnings of just over $80,000 is the lowest earnings earned by any starter in the field. While she has consistantly posted 100+ speed numbers in 7 of her last 8 starts she comes into this race facing some very tough graded stakes competitors.
Post 2. MASPERO (NZ) -(9/1) a four year old daughter of Zabeel(NZ) (Danehill / Lypheor) who is trained by Ausracing Stables and who was bred by bjbandit stables. Winner of the Happy Project Stakes three races back at 7.5 furlongs on the dirt this mare cut back to a 6.5 furlong contest, the G1 Barbaro Memorial at Vermont, her last time out and secured a 3rd place check at odds of 15/1. Not surprising really considering her capability of winning on both dirt and turf surfaces as her record shows.
Post 3. FLEETWOOD MIA (TUR) – (7/1) a four year old daughter of Strike The Gold (Seattle Slew / His Majesty) bred and trained by Fleetwood Stables. A winner of 13 of 31 lifetime starts, Fleetwood Mia has the destinction of being the races only millionaire entrant earning just over the $1 million mark. Despite her 7th place finish two races back in the G1 Barbaro Memorial, where she was beaten by MASPERO (NZ), she last scored an easy allowance win four weeks ago and must be considered a definite threat to take home the winner’s check.
Post 4. FALSE PEACE (FL) – (8/1) a four year old daughter of Peace Rules (Vice Regent / In Reality) who is trained by Caerleon Stables. Winner of the Groom Groom Memorial Stk four races back False Peace has not raced since the G1 Barbaro Memorial event in week 3672 where she was beaten by the Post 2 and 3 runners in this race finishing 8th just 4 lengths back from the winner. This consistant mare prefers the 6 – 6.5 dirt distance and has been a regular money earner in stakes and G3 events.
Post 5 I SEE YOUR POINT (KY) – (10/1) a four year old daughter of Point Given (Storm Bird / Wild Again) bred and trained by Baggio Stables. Winless in her last 8 starts this mare is one of the competitors in today’s race that is a regular G2/G3 starter. However with just 3 wins in 32 lifetimes starts she seems to like the runner’s up checks as opposed to the winners share in these type of races. Jockey TJ Johnson looks to correct that pattern on the mare this week.
Post 6 LADY CENTAUR (KY) – (17/1) a four year old daughter of Ghostzapper (Storm Cat / Halo) is owned and trained by Bigrama Stables. Venturing into Graded Stakes competition for the first time in her career this week this lady seems to have her work cut out for her against many proven graded stakes competitors. Her four allowance wins in her last eight starts is certainly something to consider when playing exacta/trifectas on this race although.
Post 7 SEEKING POWER (KY) – (8/1) a four year old daughter of Seeking The Gold (A.P. Indy / Nijinsky II) bred and trained by Elenalag Stables. This mares 6th place finish last time out in the G2 GO FOR IT HANDICAP over the Arkansas dirt course was a respectable effort finishing just out of the money while being just 2 ½ lengths back of the winner. With a top jock (A. Weldon – 20%) steering her for this race she looks to rebound back to top form and must be considered.
Post 8 REDOUTE’S NINER (AUS) – (13/1) a four year old daughter of Redoute’s Choice (Deputy Minister / Forty Niner) owned/trained by Zewango2 Stable. Winless in her last eight starts this mares last outing in the G2 Hearty Appetite Sprint was contested over a firm turf course and obviously not to her liking. (finishing 6th out of a field of 6 runners) However dirt sprint racing, by her recent form, close to the lead is her forte and I expect Redoute’s Niner to run quite respectable today given her past race history.
Post 9 GONE WESTERN (KY) – (11/1) a four year old daughter of Dayjur (A. P. Indy / Gone West) trained by Alphabetso Stable. With one stakes win (The Long Gears Special) and two Allowance wins in her last eight races you might expect this mare to be a factor for this G3 race. However having not raced in seven weeks and having no recent graded stakes races under her belt will probably hurt her chances in this competitive field. Jockey X Jones is in the saddle.
Post 10 PULPRATS (KY) – (17/1) a three year old filly by Pulpit (Danehill / Saint Ballado) bred/owned/trained by Darny Stables. Ranked 33rd in the sim 3 yr. old filly dirt sprint divisional rankings this little speedball had recently stretched herself out last time running in the G3 Ontario BB Oaks stakes finishing 10th in a field of 14. But let’s not let that fool us. At 6 to 7 furlongs she has consistanly been in the money and has a recent graded stakes win in the G3 Love Muffins Stakes three races back. However all of these were mostly contested against females her age. And that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Post 11 MAIL ORDER BRIDE – (7/1) a five year old mare by Gone West (Nijinsky II / Round Table) bred and trained by Zapspride Stable. This hard knocking mare certainly deserves her contender status with 12 wins under her belt and earnings of over $600,000. Her most recent victory in the G3 Flying Pig Sprint showed her versatility winning the 5 furlong event in 56 3/5. Drawing post 10 may hurt her chances for today however.
Post 12 THE TEACHER – (11/1) a 6 year old mare by Awesome Again (Danzig / J. O. Tobin) trained by Manon Stable. A dismal performance in her last race over the Arkansas Dirt Course in the G2 Go For It Handicap doesn’t bode well for her today. She has the same post position today as she did in that race and is winless since week 3609. Manon and jockey A. Arthur hope to turn that all around today.
Post 13 BLACK GOLD COAL – (5/1) a 6 yr. old mare by Summer Squall (Roberto / Graustark) owned/trained by Jrogue3 Stable. Another one of the races hard knocking older mares, this runner seems to have been made the morning line favorite off of her last race win in the G3 Del Webb Distaff. While her 111 speed rating for the 8 furlong race was quite respectable she started from the 1 post in that race and will encounter much more high speed traffic than she did on that day. I look for her to charge late, or get caught up in a speed duel if jockey N. Rivers decides to head out straight for the lead.
Post 14 POSITIVE DISCISION – (17/1) a 6 year old mare by Pulpit (Dancing Brave / Forty Niner) bred/owned /trained by Firstmate stables. This mares last eight races have been at the 6 – 6.5 furlong distance but she has been winless in all of these races. Her last race, the NEVADA ALLIGATOR Stakes, showed her bursting out of gate 10 to duel for the lead. A tactic which did her in when she finished out of the money some 8 ¼ lengths back on a sloppy track. A different race tactic today by trainer firstmate seems logical but her post position in this race seems almost too much to overcome.
Morning Line Favorites:
#13 Black Gold Coal
# 3 Fleetwood Mia
# 11 Mail Order Bride
Reporter’s Picks:
# 3 Fleetwood Mia
# 2 Maspero
# 11 Mail Order Bride
Good luck to all the connections in the race.