Breeders Bowl Undercard Filly Long Route
Welcome to the 3rd running of the Breeders Bowl Undercard Filly Long Route. California is the location for this year’s Breeders Bowl and our race today is sandwiched between the G1 Breeders Bowl Dirt Mile and 13 other G1 Breeders Bowl events. Today the ladies will race 12 furlongs to take home their share of the $250,000 purse, just a fraction of the $25,875,000.00 total prize money to be won today at the 2008 Breeders Bowl. While the race today may by the undercard, it has attracted many top trainers and 7 of the top 20 ranked fillies and mares in the dirt long route division, 4 in the top 10. Let’s take a look at what the top 10 fillies and mares in the division are doing today:
Number one ranked Bon Bon and number 2 ranked Full Measure are not racing this week. They both have been racing a full two miles recently. The third ranked mare, CSI Super is racing against the boys today in the Breeders Bowl Marathon as a long shot. Ranked 4th and 5th are K’s Araku and K’s Hasty ‘N Nasty, both trained at Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation, but trainer seinfeld3 decided to give stablemate Kuba the start today (post position 5). A.P. Princess, The Trident, Go Ireland and Criminally Insane are ranked 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th, respectively, and are all in the field today. Number 9 is Disasterpiece, who is racing in the Breeders Bowl Distaff as a co-favoritre along with number 11, Black Tuesday. So, even though this is the undercard, many of the top fillies and mares that race this 12 furlong distance are in the race today and it should be a good one.
Here is a look at the previous winners:
Last year winner was The Trident from Given Stables: Fire and Blood. She enjoyed that victory so much she is back this year to try again. After running just off the pace for the first half the race, Trident passed Desperado’s Mambo (also in the field today), Hostility and Big Brown to take the lead. Two deep closers, Frozen Four (another making a repeat performance) and CSI Super weren’t able to catch her and finished second and third.
2006 found Otto Overrated in the winner’s circle. Otto Overrated won as a 3 year old from post position 9. There was an early speed duel between Lifeshaft and Estrogen and Otto stayed well off the pace until the last turn where she shot ahead to win by over 3 lengths. And she was able to hold off two deep closers, Waki Bullet and Dynamic, who finished second and third. She is trained by wilko stables and continues to compete, representing the GR Simsters. Although Otto Overrated hasn’t won stakes since the 2006 Breeders Bowl she has finished in the money 11 times in 17 tries and brought home over $330,000 for Pierchinski Stables.
Here it the field for the 2008 Breeders Bowl Undercard Filly Long Route:
PP 1 LESS THAN KIND (IRE) (SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY x KRIS S.) bred and trained by sdmf6 (Black Label Stables, 17%) Odds: 40 to 1
Less Than Kind calls Black Label Stables home and represents DelPenn National. She is the long shot in the field with the morning line at 40 to 1 and will have a lot to overcome to find herself in the winner’s circle here. She is making only her 4th start on dirt, having been raced on the turf the majority of her career. Her last two races were on dirt and she finished first in an allowance race and second last time out in the G1-The Birthday Bash, where she earned her first graded placing. She shouldn’t have trouble with the distance, having success anywhere from 10 furlongs to a full 2 miles. She hasn’t posted a speed factor over the century mark and will need to do that here to be in the mix. As a daughter of Sadler’s Wells, who tends to sire late bloomers her best races are probably ahead of her.
PP 2 ROME (ENG) (DUBAWI (IRE) x THEATRICAL (IRE) x RAHY) bred and trained by kevoman2 (Coolk Stables, 21%) Odds: 24 to 1
Out of post position two we have Rome. When in Rome do as the Romans do. And if you are kevoman2 from Coolk Stables, that means following the text book for training. The only three year old in the race, this daughter of Dubawi breezed through her conditions and has won both stakes and graded stakes, including the 10 furlong G1-Child Focus at the Equinics, earning one of EAAA’s gold medals. Like Less Than Kind next to her, she started her career on turf, but she has been racing on dirt since early this year. Since she was switched to dirt she has only finished first or second, except her last time out, a fourth place finish at the G1-The Durocher Rebellion. She hasn’t raced this distance before and her game dam, Eternal City seemed to favor the 10 furlong distance. Rome likes to let others battle it out for the early lead, racing well behind the pack and she might not know when to fire with the increased distance. Regardless of whether or not she can handle this distance, this is a well-trained filly with a bright future.
PP 3 CRIMINALLY INSANE (KY) (RAHY x SUMMER SQUALL X BUCKPASSER) bred and trained by sheirkabner (Shiekabner Stables, 20%) Odds: 8 to 1
Crimminally Insane, trained by Shiekabner Stables and representing CR Racers, starts out of post position three and is one of the co-second favorites. She is a 4 year old daughter of Rahy out of Neurotic. Fortunately it looks like Neurotic, who only won three races in her 20 starts, only passed down the mental instability not her racing abilities (or lack thereof). In Criminally Insane’s 23 starts she has won an impressive 52% and has only finished out of the money 3 times. Two of those three times were in graded tries, but she does have two graded places to show she belongs in this class. The only times she has posted a speed factor under 100 in the last year were in races where she won easily, usually by more than 4 lengths. She should definitely be in the mix here.
PP 4 GO IRELAND (IRE) (REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) x MR. PROSPECTOR x AUCTION RING) bred and trained by sabbath5 (Sabbath Stables, 19%) Odds: 7 to 1
Sabbath Stables representing the Ireland Residency, has entered one of today’s co-favorites, Go Ireland. If we only look at races in the “long” category you have to go back more than a year to find an out of the money finish, and that one was by less than 1 length out of the money. She only has two other career finishes out of the money, both at shorter distances. When this 4 year old daughter of Refuse to Bend has raced at 11 furlongs or farther she has always finished in the money and she wins 64% of the time. She is one of the few in the field who likes the early lead. As a matter of fact, all of her 11 careers wins have been wire to wire. She is in a great position today; he three horses to the inside are late runners, two of them long shots in the field. She should be able to get a great start and she may be able to wire the field.
PP 5 KUBA (KINGMAMBO x SEATTLE SLEW x SADLER’S WELLS) bred and trained by seinfeld3 (Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation, 25%) Odds: 10 to 1
5 year old Kuba, daughter of Kingmambo, is making her graded debut today in the Breeders’ Bowl undercard. She is trained at Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing and represents Hispano Parlante. She has 4 wins and a second in her last 5 races. She has tried 12 furlongs 3 times and every time she has been in the winner’s circle. She is coming off her career high speed last time out at The HOLY HOME COLORS Stakes in mid August. But with a 9 week layoff she may not be in top form, especially for her graded debut. The morning line has her at 10 to 1, tied for the highest price in her career. She is used to winning and finishing in the money, but against easier fields than she will face today. Starting out of post position 5, right next to wire to wire whiz Go Ireland is the perfect set up for an early speed duel.
P 6 FROZEN FOUR (PLEASANTLY PERFECT x MR. PROSPECTOR x SECRETARIAT) bred and trained by dixiedotxo (Dixiedotco Racing, 26%) Odds: 8 to 1
Frozen Four is going for the million dollar mark with this race. She is $13,000 shy and with a top 5 finish Pastures of Green can add other million dollar earner to their hall of fame. She is a late closer and will have to contend with many other late closers here, but she has one of the high speeds last time out with 108. This will be her 15th try (in 38 career starts) at a graded win. Her best graded finishes came last year in this race where she finished second behind The Trident and her next race, a second place finish in a G1 over 2 miles. Her last graded try came at the Smackdown4 and though she finished 6th, she was only 1 ¼ out of the lead. 8 of the 17 in that race are in the field today, 6 were in the top 10 at Smackdown. She was in better form heading into last year’s Breeders Bowl Undercard Filly Long Route, so I don’t think she will top her second place finish from last year, but I could see her earning enough to be over the million dollar milestone.
PP 7 DESPERADO’S MAMBO (KINGMAMBO x SADLER’S WELLS x NIJINSKY II) bred and trained by desperado4 (Desperado Stables, 18%) Odds: 11 to 1
Desperado’s Mambo is a 5 year old, scratch bred daughter of Kingmambo. Like Frozen Four next to her, Desperado’s Mambo doesn’t have the best form coming into this race. She had a three race winning streak in dirt routes late last year and Desperado, representing the GR Simsters, decided to try her on turf. Given her breeding turf routing would make sense and she won her first stakes try on turf easily. Since then she has been struggling. She has been racing exclusively in graded races on both surfaces, but since that first turf try her turf finishes have not been impressive. She did have a great dirt finish 3 back at Smackdown. Not only did she have a great race, she finished ahead of many in the field today and that should be a much needed confidence booster for her. She is a graded winner and we know she can win against a field like this, the question is just will she do it today?
PP 8 BLINDING (PULPIT x DANZIG x EL PRADO (IRE)) bred and trained by migman11 (Clement-Migliore Stables, 14%) Odds: 13 to 1
Another from the GR Simsters delegation is Blinding, trained by migman11 and the Clement-Migliore Stables. Blinding is a 5 year old scratch bred daughter of Pulpit. Some short term memory loss might be helpful coming into this race since she hasn’t had the best luck her last few races. She started off the year strong with two seconds and two firsts, including one at this distance. But then at the Smackdown she finished 10th and hasn’t been the same since. She is hoping for her first graded win today. She has a stakes win and her best graded finish was her second place at the G1-Delpenn Spring Marathon. She is one of the few in the field who likes the early lead.
PP 9 FEARLESS FLASH (JPN) (CHARISMATIC x CAPOTE x HALO) bred and trained by inessa24 (Das doppelte Lottchen, 16%) Odds: 7 to 1
Fearless Flash starts out of post position 9 and is the other co-favorite, also representing the Ireland Residency. This daughter of Charismatic trained at the Das doppette Lottchen is the only stakes winner out of game dam Sister Independent who was a turf router. She does have one of the highest speeds last time out with a 101 and she has been putting up some nice triple digit speeds, but in her last four races she only has one itm finish, an allowance win. Her best graded finish was in her graded debut in June where she finished 2nd ahead of 4 others in today’s field. This will be her third race in 6 weeks. J Stivers will be riding Fearless Flash and has the highest win% for the year of the jockeys in today’s race.
PP 10 FUSAICHI KRISSY (FUSAICHI PEGASUS x STORM BIRD x BUCKPASSER) bred and trained by danmancan (Worlwide, 15%) Odds: 9 to 1
Fusaichi Krissy is the oldest in the race today. This 6 year old scratch bred daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus is trying for her second graded win here. Fusaichi Krissy finished ahead of CSI Super, Criminally Insane and Desperado’s Mambo in her third place finish in the G3-Denied Special (just behind Fearless Flash). She then faced CSI Super and Desperado’s Mambo again at Smackdown and while they took first and second, respectively, she finished 8th. Trained at Worldwide and representing Minnesota Downs, she does have some momentum coming into the race, an allowance win and a second place finish in a listed stakes, which is better than the last tries for many in the field. This race should set up how she likes it, an early speed duel so she can wait until late in the race to make her move.
PP 11 THE TRIDENT (KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x GONE WEST x A.P. INDY) bred and trained by asoiaf (Given Stables: Fire and Blood, 22%) Odds: 9 to 1
The Trident is the reigning champion for this race, and like the 2006 winner her trainer represents the GR Simsters. This is the third horse representing GR Simsters trying to keep this title in their possession one more year. After winning last year she has won 3 listed stakes and finished second in two of her four graded tries. In her graded tries this year she finished ahead of Frozen Four once and finished behind 6 others in the field today. The Trident hadn’t finished out of the money since her first race of 2007 until her trainer at Given Stables tried her on turf ast spring. She hasn’t performed well since then, but she is back on preferred surface and distance so she could definitely be in the mix her.
PP 12 GALS GONE WEST (KY) (SAINT LIAM x GONE WEST x SEATTLE SLEW) bred and trained by stoners (Stoners Stables, 22%) Odds: 8 to 1
Gals Gone West is making other attempted at the BB undercard Filly Long Route after a disappointing finish last year. She has been consistently racing this distance in overnight and listed stakes and consistently putting up triple digit speeds recently, unlike many others in the field who have been struggling lately. She is also on the high end for speed last time out with a 104. The previous race she put up a 105 which is her career best. Gals Gone West is trained by stoners, representing The Racing Commission. She is out of an open mare, Slew Rush, that has been used every year since 2003, but Gals Gone West is the only stakes winner in the bunch. I would not be surprised to see a huge race out of this one.
PP 13 CAMDEN DRAIN (IRE) (BARATHEA (IRE) x SPECTACULAR x SUNDAY SILENCE) bred and trained by stungunn (Jrogue Stables, 18%) Odds: 11 to 1
Camden Drain is coming off a career high speed in her last race with a 109. It was a soft listed stakes field and she won easily. The 109 is the highest last time out speed in the field. Today’s race will be her graded debut. She has been racing in stakes almost all year and in the last two races she got her first stakes victories. She is unproven in the class, but it versatile at many distances, winning at distances ranging from 10 to 13 furlongs. This will be her third race in 6 weeks, so rest might be a factor for her. She likes to run towards the front, so she could contribute to an early speed duel.
P 14 A.P. PRINCESS (TOUCH GOLD x KINGMAMBO x A.P. INDY) bred and trained by sharood (Seacadet Stables, 15%) Odds: 10 to 1
And last, but certainly not least, is A.P. Priness trained at Seacadet Stables and representing Pastures of Green. She is nearing the million dollar mark, like Frozen Four, just $30,000 shy. Like many in the field today she hasn’t been in the best form recently, finishing 10th and 13th in two of her last three graded tries. One of those races was the Smackdown and she finished behind many others in the field today. She did have a narrow miss in between those races at the G2-Big Dessert Stakes in August. And if she continues this pattern of alternating poor finishes with respectable showings, she should be due for a good one this time out.
This should be a great race and is very hard to call. Although in the previous two runnings the winner had a fairly high price, I am going with one of the second favorites to win. Gals Gone West has been consistent lately and her late running style should serve her well here.
Morning line: 4 and 9 (co-favorites), 3,6,12 (co-second favorites), 10
Kloie’s picks: 12, 3, 4
Good Luck and Happy Racing J