Red Bird Handicap
The turf course is firm this week in Kentucky and ready for this week’s Red Bird Handicap. This grade III race will pit fillies and mares 3 years old up against each other over a mile on the turf for a shot at their $150,000 prize. 10 beautiful fillies take the gate for this race let’s take a look at them.
In gate 1 we have JOHAN’S MATRIARCH (18/1) pisanor This 5 year old brown mare is by Johannesburg out of a Gone West X Deputy Minister mare. With 40 career starts and 10 win this veteran looks relaxed at the gate. She is likely to jump to the lead and try to hold it out. But in the last year she has posted her two career best speeds of 101 and 102 in starter and an allowance. She had one attempt at a stakes going 9 furlongs and lost by over 16 lengths. She will have her work cut out for her here.
In gate 2 will be THEORY OF LOVE (7/2) Cub This 4 year old chestnut filly is by Forestry out of a Capote X Affirmed mare. The Defending champion of this race, which she won with a resounding 110 speed by 1 ¾ lengths. She since has continued to improve taking prizes in many graded races since then. Has not toped her career best 110 speed since that day but has repeated it twice in the Grade 3 Sure Will Cap where she lost by only ½ a length. The other in G2 Independence Day BB Stakes where she won handily. Watch for her at the wire. She will be near or on the lead.
In gate 3 stands TORCH THE FLAME (8/1) Super7 This 4 year old mare is by Kingmambo out of a royally bred Seattle Slew X Alydar mare. With 5 graded wins this filly has shown her love of the turf mile. Her last win came in June in the Breeders Bowl Game a G3 race where she posted a 112 speed. She put in two bad races after that run. Then she got out run for second with a 108 in the G1 Queen Ascot stakes, then two more horrible races. Not sure if she will show up or fade away. If she shows she is very competitive.
In gate 4 we have RHAENYRA (7/1) Lopo87 this 4 year old filly is by Storm Cat out of a Danehill X Seeking the Gold mare. Primarily a sprinter this filly is taking the step to mile. Her usual distance is 7.5. She has won mile allowances and has only one legit turf graded attempt where she managed a nice second. She has won some nice 7.5 stakes races posting up to a 112 speed. If she can put that up here she will do great. But with 6 1-1-1 as a route record it speaks against her. Her last mile try was in an allowance over a year ago and she was closing well. Cross your fingers she can hold on the extra half a furlong.
Approaching gate 5 is WASSIE’S STAR G (5/1) Wassie This 5 year old blue blooded mare is by the outstanding sire Sadler’s Wells out of an A.P. Indy X Mr. Prospector mare. With over 1 million in earnings this mare has little left to prove. She has faced others in this race, specifically the number 2 horse Theory of Love who she edged out at the wire for the win in the G3 Sure Will Cap. With an outstanding pedigree and already bearing some of the nicer horses in this race she is a large threat. But as of late she looks to be going through a rough patch after race after race of bringing home checks she has placed dismally in 4 of her last 5 starts. Granted she also made a great run in the Equinics to finish second. Let’s hope she will step up to the hot competition.
Going into gate 6 we have RULER SLEW (6/1) Surfer This little 4 year old mare is out of the up and coming sire Roman Ruler out of a blue hen Danzig X Seattle Slew mare. After a start on dirt she made a name for herself in the longer turf races racking up many wins. Recently her trainer has been looking to put her on the softer turf as he knows she runs well on there. Unfortunately this turf tends to be firm. She will need to step it up just a bit to get in the money here but she is improving and could do well.
In gate 7 we have TRICKY MISSY (9/1) Beefcake9 This 5 year old brown mare is by Phone Trick out of a Danzig X Mr. Prospector mare. What bloodlines. This mare looked like an ok allowance horse till she finally grew into her gangly body the end of her 4 year old season. Then things came together she got a mile on turf and took off winning stakes and even a graded win and place. Her last few races have been dismal at best but I think mostly due to the distance. She does prefer a mile so I think today we may find her more towards the front of the pack.
Approaching gate 8 we see URBAN QUEST (6/1) Battlers This large 4 year old chestnut mare by Rainbow Quest out of a Kris s. X Vaguely Noble mare, has taken her world by storm. Over a million in earnings and she can still step it up. She won 5 in a row as a 2 year old including the G1 Filly Breeders bowl juvenile filly turf. She then didn’t win a race for over a year. Recently she has shortened the distance back up and has put up some competitive speed numbers. This includes a 109 in her last allowance start; She still proves tough as nails and if she runs up to par could be very much in the mix at the end.
At gate 9 we have CAPTIVATING (7/1) Peeps3 The daunting 5 year old mare by Vindication out of a sturdy Mr. Prospector X Sadler’s Wells mare. A long career in stake and grades has this mare success evident. She runs well and generally can bring home a check. After her first four races she has run exclusively in stakes with the exception of one allowance and then her last three races which I would like to focus on. A lot of stakes horses do very well when dropped to allowance their speeds jump and this mare is no exception. Winning easily in two of them and the one she lost she posted the best speed since January of this year. I am not sure stakes are her thing anymore, but with a record like hers its worth a shot.
At gate 10 stands DUCT TAPE (7/1) Jake This small by mighty 4 year old filly is by Mineshaft out of a Storm Cat X Secretariat mare. This mare has had a successful run at allowance race taking her trainer to the bank hitting the board with regularity. She has been taken out of commission twice because of injuries. Recently she looked to have taken care of the problem and she has improved steadily. She has popped 106 her career best three times in the last year. Though I fear that may not be fast enough when faced with this competition. In allowances and stakes she could be unstoppable but she faces some of the best mares in the Sim today. However, like I said she is improving.
I think I will put the 2, 4, 3, and 5 on the top. There are some talented fillies in this race but I think those 4 have the best chance at a win.