TN Stakes Preview
2 year old stakes runners return this week to Tennessee for the 4th running of the HER QUESTS (GB) Special. This 8.5 furlong turf even has drawn 11 entrants including one filly who looks to beat the boys and secure her 3rd lifetime victory. The stakes record, set in 2005, belongs to ISLE OF REVENGE (Strong Hope x Nureyev x Nodouble) who covered the mile and one sixteenth distance in 1:44 1/5.
PP1) UNUSUAL MAGIC (CA) – (Unusual Heat x Miswaki x The Minstrel) – 14/1
This brostimpy trained winner of 2 of his 8 lifetime starts ranks 33rd in the 2 yr old male turf classic route divisional standings. With two lifetime starts under his belt at today’s turf distance, including a stakes win in the Raul In The Car Challenge at VA (week 3672) this runner seems a good bet at his ML odds.
PP2) HANNAH’S MUSE (KY) – (Limehouse x Sadler’s Wells x A.P. Indy) – 4/1
This regally bred colt has been nothing but impressive in his first five races. With two open stakes wins already under his belt this tokoroa trained runner boasts a lifetime best SP# of 91, at an 8 furlong distance, which happens to be the highest SP# of any entrant in this field.
PP3) EAGLE CAT (TX) – (Cat Strike x Mas Media (GB) x Danehill) – 12/1
Finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in all three of his lifetime turf races this wader trained colt is looking for his first win in open stakes company. His last time out, in the Judge Melody Memorial at IN (wk 3714), was the shortest race of his career at a 5.5 F distance where he finished 3rd 2 ½ lengths back from the winner.
PP4) LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (ENG) – (With Approval x Green Desert x Vice Regent) – 8/1
Going for his 4th consecutive victory today this soulbleed trainee has two victories in open stakes company already with lifetime earnings over $121,000. With his victories at 6, 6.5, and 7.5 furlongs the colt looks like he could easily handle today’s 8.5 furlong distance with his steadily increasing SP#’s.
PP5) STORMY RIVAH (KY) – (Teuflesberg x Stormy Atlantic X Mt. Livermore) – 8/1
Varivah’s trainee enters today’s race after a 2nd place finish in the Atlantian Bonanza where he finished just 2 ½ lengths off the winner while setting a new lifetime high SP# of 84 at a 7.5 furlong distance. It was the 2nd 7.5 F distance race for the colt in a row and he looks like a solid contender in today’s race.
PP6) RANSOM BORICUA (ENG) – (Red Ransom x Rainbow Quest x Royal Egyptian) – 9/1
A winner of his last race at a mile distance in allowance company this dscreetcat runner looks like he may like an even longer distance like today’s 8.5 furlong test. The colt posted an 84 SP# during that victory and has run against some tough stakes company, most recently in the Smackdown event at NY.
PP7) BOOK LOVER (NY) – (Ten Most Wanted x Septieme Ciel x Alydar) – 14/1
Jumping into open stakes competition today, after breaking his maiden at KY his last time out, this quagmire trained colt posted a nice SP# of 85 for 8 furlongs after an almost 3 month rest. All three of his other lifetime races were contested on the dirt, or on a turf course labeled at yielding, at a 6 F distance.
PP8) MARCUS ANDRATTICUS (IND) – (Marcus Andronicus x Monsun (GER) x Caro (IRE) – 7/2
With four consecutive 80+ SP’S in his last four races, and with all of those races being in G1, G3 or open stakes competition, this darnath3 trained colt is the deserving ML favorite of the race. Equally impressive is the colt’s record in those races, 0-2-1-0-1, and he definitely is a threat to win it all today.
PP9) DOWNSIZE (JPN) – (Alkaased x Galileo (IRE) x Danehill) – 5/1
An Allowance NW2L victor his last time out at 8 furlongs this Avalon trained frontrunner posted a nice 87 SP# in that race. He has yet to finish out of the money in all three of his lifetime races and looks as if he also might prefer longer distances after posting 70+ SP#’s in his first two races, 5.5 F events.
PP10) HEROIC DOOM (KY) – (Arch x Mill Reef x Ribot) – 11/1
Kaif032 sends out the only filly in today’s field after previously running against other filly competition at 7 furlong distance races. The filly is 2 for 3 lifetime with her only out of the money finish coming in the G3 Escapade Juvenile (wk 3658) where her speed didn’t hold against 12 other runners.
PP11) CAUSE FOR MAMBO (KY) – (Kingmambo x Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x Fappiano) – 11/1
The outside post brings us this super12 trained runner who has finished 1st or 2nd in his last three races while running in MSW or AllowanceNW1x company. Switching to turf after his first 2 races the colt has increased his SP#’S the last 4 races and has an off the pace running style which may suit him well today.
2008 HER QUESTS (GB) Special Selections
Win – #2 HANNAH’S MUSE (KY) Place – #8 MARCUS ANDRATTICUS (IND) Show – #9 DOWNSIZE (JPN)
Good Luck to all the horses and their trainers in this years race.
And a special GOOD LUCK to these trainers and their horses who are entered in one of Saturday’s BREEDERS BOWL RACES at California and who also raced here at the Tennessee track during 2008.
G1 BREEDERS BOWL MARATHON ENTRANT
SAMALAMAN ISLAND (JPN) trained by Profly
Winner of the 2008 TEX A. P. Challenge Stakes
G1 BREEDERS BOWL MARE SPRINT ENTRANT
SARACEN (KY) trained by dixiedotco
2nd in the 2008 CAPOTE STORM Stakes
G1 BREEDERS BOWL JUVENILE TURF FILLY ENTRANT
CUPS (KY) trained by yesguy
Winner of the 2008 LORD BET Stakes