Queen of the County Stakes Grade III

Queen of the County Stakes
Grade III
A mile and three sixteenths
Fast Dirt
$125,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

PP  ID             Horse                                      Owner             Jockey            Odds 

1 14797           GOLDMINED                         caddywampu  G Vinny             7/1    

2 62692           THE BLUE SINGS(KY)         meguire2nd       I Aldridge         24/1    

3 108385         MT. MIESQUE                       shaga5              V Selby            7/1    

4 114254         HEAD START                         6ward              H Legette         15/1    

5 130325         YES DARLIN(JPN)                pokemyeyeo     A Knott            7/1    

6 107950         CAT CHARM TED(JPN)        ted                   T Proffitt           11/1    

7 103466         LUCKY DIXIE                       champ2115      Z Smeenge       12/1    

8 85086           REMEMBER SAMANIEGO  layeguada         O Petty            13/1    

9 153968         BAD’S ROCKET(KY)            bad                  E Lagrant         20/1    

10 101384       WEOWNTHENIGHT(KY)     billzpaid            S Weber          21/1    

11 117707       GRACEPOINTE PRAYER     pazfour             O Osbourne     4/1    

12 115083       LUCKY’S CAPITAL(ENG)  winorplace         Te Dillard         9/1    

13 115957       ONCE AND AGAIN(KY)      pirate                C Morten         5/1

The Queen of the County Stakes is sure to be a lively one. The race will include several early contenders for the lead. This is a race that I believe will be heavily decided by tactics. I expect the lead is going to be grabbed early by Remember Samaniego who will more than likely be challenged by Mt. Miesque for it. Both are capable of setting a strong pace early, but I see some runners in this race that may fall into disaster if they go for the lead early here. We may see Cat Charm Ted or Bad’s Rocket make a move for the lead early, but that could be a disastrous move for them. I think you let Proffitt run his race on Cat Charm Ted the way he wants to. I don’t see either horse having the early speed for this group. Things are different for Weownthenight who may very well go for the lead early, or stay just off the frontrunners. Weownthenight is an outstanding three year old, and I believe he has a greater margin of error in this race. He could falter early trying to get the lead, sit just off the pace, and pounce late.

The finishing stretch is going to be interesting. Will Remember Samaniego hold what I presume will be an early lead? I suspect he will quickly be overcome by the likes of Gracepointe Prayer among others who won’t be far off the lead coming down the stretch. Weownthenight will be in position to pounce quickly if he has not already, and Goldmined might be in that same position. Once and Again will try to make a big late kick in this one. I suspect the tempo is going to be very fast in this one. Once and Again has to be careful not to move too late, but don’t underestimate Morten up who has the ability to guide a horse to a perfect trip. There is a lot of talent here to watch, but it is going to come down to tactics. This means jockeys may play a crucial role. If Pazfour lets Gracepoint Prayer’s jockey Osbourne call the shots, I expect he may win, and you could say the same for Cat Charm Ted with Proffitt up. Now let’s take a closer look at the field:

GOLDMINED

Red Ransom x Silver Deputy x Alydar

Starts: 40 10 5 7 $150,583

Here is a horse that was kicking around in claims in 2007. He then struggled at allowance level, until his now recent lift off. He has been run hard and seems to be peaking closer to the 40 race mark, rather than an earlier race total like many runners. He is coming off a big stakes win in which he ran a 113 speed figure. If he doesn’t spit the bit when pressured in this graded race he may contend for an ITM spot. He has earned the shot, and now must prove himself.

THE BLUE SINGS

Bluegrass Cat x Unbridled’s Song x Runaway Groom

Starts: 19 4 2 4 $129,248

This horse has 19 starts and is only three. The busy race schedule seems to have led to early maturing, and now at peak it may have a shot. The track is fast though, and that won’t do any favors for The Blue Sings who prefers an off track. The pedigree is nice, but won’t be enough to steal this one.

MT. MIESQUE

Mt. Livermore x Miesque’s Son x Habitat

Starts: 36 8 5 6 $226,831

Mt. Miesque has something some of the horses are lacking in this race, and that is big race experience. He has run five regular stakes races this year and two graded races in the past four months. His results have been mediocre, but his speeds have been solid. He can contend in this field, and I expect he will be in the mix for a top five spot.

HEAD START

Jump Start x Rahy x Kingmambo

Starts: 31 7 7 3 $533,665

Here is a five year old with impressive big race experience as well. Head Start was once claimed for a meager 5k, and has gone on to earn more than 500k. Age may be catching up to Head Start, but if he can bring back the magic he has the ability to dominate any field. A string of regular stakes may be just the prepping he needed.

YES DARLIN

Afleet x Saint Ballado x Graustark

Starts: 22 5 6 1 $107,004

The four year old Yes Darlin made his dry land stakes debut this October with a resounding 116 speed figure to finish 2^nd. That race showed the potential of Yes Darlin. Before that he put together an impressive run of allowance races winning four of his last four allowances races. Two of those allowance wins came with 110 speed figures. That is impressive speed, and Yes Darlin can run with this field, and win.

CAT CHARM TED

Silver Charm x Storm Cat x Hail to Reason

Starts: 20 6 2 1 $212,840

Cat Charm Ted has won a grade 3 race before. He is coming off an impressive regular stakes race where he put up a 108 speed figure. He has an excellent jockey in Proffitt up. I think as long as Proffitt calls the shots, things work out well. Cat Charm Ted is only three, but already has a great deal of seasoning.

LUCKY DIXIE

Dixieland Band x Affirmed x Nodouble

Starts: 18 3 3 2 $184,828

The five year old Lucky Dixie has just 18 starts, but surely doesn’t lack big experience. He has been victimized by inconsistency, but if his July Grade 1 result is any indication he can move for sure! I like the pedigree, I like the experience, and I like the jockey. Lucky Dixie can compete in this field, but will need to rebound strong from a tough string of starts.

REMEMBER SAMANIEGO

Forty Niner x Theatrical x Halo

Starts: 29 6 3 9 $166,091

Remember Samaniego is a solid stakes performer with the stamina to go the distance here. He is going to be hard pressed to hang up front to the end in this one unless he enjoys the bump up to graded racing. The four year old colt is seasoned and will be ready to run here in Utah.

BAD’S ROCKET

The Cliff’s Edge x Seattle Slew x Mr. Prospector

Starts: 12 5 3 0 $83,896

You got to love a horse sired by The Cliff’s Edge coming off five consecutive wins. Four of those wins were allowances, but the last one came with a whopping 108 speed figure. Bad’s Rocket is only three and lacks the seasoning, but really hold’s onto the unknown factor. If he likes grades it could be a glorious coming out party, otherwise it could be a disaster. He will be best served I believe if he does not go for the lead in this one. Will be interesting to see what happens with this colt.

WEOWNTHENIGHT

Empire Maker x Woodman x Sunday Silence  

Starts: 10 5 3 0 $131,820

Here is another lightly raced three year old looking to run a big race. He is coming off back to back speed figures of 111. I think he is the real deal monster, and I expect him to make the jump to graded racing just fine. I like this horse a lot despite the odds, and he could return some nice coin if you place a wager on him.

GRACEPOINTE PRAYER

Cryptoclearance x Forty Niner x A.P. Indy

Starts: 35 12 6 5 $2,461,503

One look at Gracepointe Prayer’s career stats line and it’s easy to see why he is favored here in Utah. He almost always puts up a huge speed figure, and this race will be no different. Look for Gracepointe to sit back before pouncing, and trying to destroy this field.

LUCKY’S CAPITAL

With Approval x Kris x Damascus

Starts: 38 12 3 4 $1,005,353

Here is another impressive seasoned runner with big lifetime earnings. Lucky’s Capital should find the going better here than in his last grade 1 race. Don’t be surprised if he is challenged hard he nonetheless. For a while now he has seemed to enjoy regular stakes, and allowance races a great deal more than graded races.

ONCE AND AGAIN

Awesome Again x Mr. Prospector x Aplachee

Starts: 24 8 5 5 $738,471  

I like Once and Again with Morten up here a lot. Once and Again is going to have to make his move at the right time to win this race, and I think Morten is a jockey who can get that done. Once and Again won his last two stakes races. He also ran a 113 last time out, and he could be peaking at this point in his career at 4.

Lebowski’s Selections: 11, 13, 10, 5, 3