Eleven Hope To Win Super Gold
The $500,000 Grade 1 Super Gold Handicap has brought out eleven freshmen grass fillies who will battle it out over 6.5 furlongs on a bumper weekend of racing. Most of the fillies in the race are trying to find their way to the top of the division with several of the big guns put away till next year. The group also contains an interestingly named filly that created quite a stir on the backstretch this week. Let’s look at the field from the rail out.
REIGN IN HADES G (KY) 7/2 Divisional Rank: 34
2 Year Old Filly
(E DUBAI x FORESTRY x
Jockey: J Benisz ( 880 – 228 – 166 – 112 – 26% )
Record (8 : 4 – 3 – 0) $171,125
Best speed figure: 88
Very consistent filly who is four for seven on the grass, with three second place finishes. Her impressive turf form along with the second highest speed number in the field has persuaded the odds maker to install her as the joint morning line favorite. “Her turf form is as strong as any filly in here, and hence that is reflected in her odds,” he told the media at this week’s press conference. In fact, three of the filly’s four career wins have been in stakes races and although she finished second at even money in her last start five weeks ago that race was her best numbers wise. Jockey John Benisz has the call on Saturday and he has been impressed with the way the filly has been working. “She is fast but not the runaway speed type. I think she’ll be forwardly placed and we’ll take it from there.” She is one of many making their Graded Stakes debut this weekend.
JENNA HAZE (IRE) 12/1 Divisional Rank: 215
2 Year Old Filly
(JEREMY x WAY WEST(FR) x HOIST THE FLAG)
Jockey: L Jenkins ( 878 – 201 – 150 – 118 – 23% )
Record (8 : 2 – 2 – 3) $57,665
Best speed figure: 81
This filly created plenty of excitement this week when it was rumored that her namesake would be attending the post position draw. Large throngs of male supporters, some with no interest in racing, could be seen hovering around the filly’s barn all week long. Even the odds maker was overheard saying “I love Jenna Haze; she’s a favorite of mine.” When pressed further on which Jenna Haze he was talking about he abruptly ended the interview. Well since he has Jenna Haze the horse at 12/1, he definitely wasn’t talking about the horse. Only two wins in eight starts for this Irish bred filly but she has been consistent with two places and three shows all against lesser company. She faces a major test on Saturday and would have to improve to take down this field. Figures to be part of the early pace and her jockey Lenny Jenkins seemed particularly excited about the mount. “Oh my God, I never ever thought I’d get to ride Jenna Haze.” We hope he’s talking about the horse!
DOCTOR GIGGLES (KY) 11/1 Divisional Rank: N/A
2 Year Old Filly
(MEDAGLIA D’ORO x CAPOTE x DR. FAGER)
Jockey: B Ironmike ( 107 – 5 – 6 – 11 – 5% )
Record (1 : 1 – 0 – 0) $19,080
Best speed figure: 73
This grey filly presents a quandary for punters. There is not much to go on since she has only run once, however she was very impressive in breaking her maiden that day. In that race four weeks ago she stalked the early pace before drawing away through the stretch to win by a length and a half, covering the 6.5 furlongs in a decent 1:18 3/5. She’ll have to run a lot faster this weekend but her connections believe she is capable. “This is not the toughest field and I believe she will improve off her maiden win. She was a little green first time out, but since then she has really gotten it together,” her trainer told the press.
PHAZER (KY) 8/1 Divisional Rank: 152
2 Year Old Filly
(SHARP HUMOR x DIESIS(GB) x LYPHARD)
Jockey: C Capper ( 876 – 214 – 178 – 122 – 24% )
Record (5 : 2 – 1 – 1) $96,751
Best speed figure: 84
In her only other Graded Stakes outing she finished ninth in The Grade 1 Filly Grand Prix and her connections are hoping she fares much better on Saturday. After that less than stellar effort she was given a ten week break by her trainer, and four weeks ago she returned to the races with a solid third in a mile allowance. Although that race was a tune up for this weekend it was her best speed number and if she takes another step forward she could be dangerous dropping back to 6.5 furlongs. “It looked like she got a little tired last time out, but that was expected since it was her first race back off the layoff,” her jockey said on the backstretch earlier this week. “I rode her for the first time for her last work and it was great. She appears to be dead fit for this one.”
RADIANT LIGHT (AUS) 5/1 Divisional Rank: 47
2 Year Old Filly
(FLYING PEGASUS (AUS) x A.P. INDY x ALYDAR)
Jockey: F Gossett ( 835 – 211 – 156 – 111 – 25% )
Record (5 : 4 – 1 – 0) $160,900
Best speed figure: 86
Well bred Aussie filly who is only a nose short of being undefeated in five career starts. There is a lot of early speed in here but this filly appears to be the speed of the speed. She has never been headed early on in a race and her rider this weekend Frank Gossett doesn’t believe that is about to change. “I haven’t spoken to the trainer as yet and I’ve never been on the filly. I have seen the tapes of her however, and it doesn’t appear this is one you should try to rate. I think she’ll be out there winging early.” Two starts back she suffered her only loss when she just failed to last a mile in The Only Moe Stakes. She returned to sprinting five weeks later and toyed with three overmatched rivals in The Il Nikita Memorial. Now she makes her Graded Stakes debut of an eight week freshening and if she shakes loose early she’ll be tough to catch.
INGENII (KY) 13/1 Divisional Rank: 51
2 Year Old Filly
(OURAGAN x STRIKE THE GOLD x FORESTRY)
Jockey: O Ridenour ( 877 – 233 – 166 – 133 – 27% )
Record (7 : 4 – 1 – 0) $149,480
Best speed figure: 78
Four wins in seven starts with two stakes wins to her name and yet she is the longest shot on the board at 13/1. “She has been winning but her numbers are weak,” the odds maker explained. She has not cracked the eighty figure barrier as yet but she was good enough to finish second in The Grade 3 Palms Outward Stakes two starts back. Last time out she stepped up to a mile and dominated a short field in winning The Seeking Greatness Bonaza by four widening lengths. This weekend she drops back to 6.5 furlongs and should not be completely ignored despite her not so strong numbers. Improving filly who needs to keep moving forward if she is going to be a factor in here.
QUALITY COWGIRL (KY) 9/1 Divisional Rank: 50
2 Year Old Filly
(ELUSIVE QUALITY x INDIAN CHARLIE x GONE WEST)
Jockey: C Shoemaker ( 861 – 233 – 159 – 113 – 27% )
Record (4 : 3 – 1 – 0) $85,510
Best speed figure: 84
Six weeks ago this brown daughter of Elusive Quality turned in her career best effort in winning The 7 furlong Three Burg Special. That was her third win in four starts and her second score in Stakes company. On Saturday she steps up to the Graded Stakes ranks and has the look of a very live longshot. “There is enough speed in here to set up her closing kick and we are looking forward to a good effort from Cowgirl,” her trainer said at the conference call. “She always gives an honest effort and the rider is happy with how she’s been training leading up to this race.”
SPIRIT OF MUSIC (IRE) 11/1 Divisional Rank: 74
2 Year Old Filly
(INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x APTITUDE x CRIMSON SATAN)
Jockey:
Record (2 : 2 – 0 – 0) $58,980
Best speed figure: 83
Perfect in two career starts, but oddly enough this filly has not run in nearly four months. She is obviously very talented, having been good enough to win The Danzig on Skis Stakes at 6.5 furlongs last time out. The question however remains: will she be fit enough to win this race? “I’ve never been on the filly, but her exercise rider assures me fitness should not be an issue,” Winslow Cahill told the press. “I’ve watched the video of her two races and she is a very talented filly. Once she is fit she can trade punches with any of these other runners.” There has been plenty of speculation as to why she has been off for so long, however her connections continue to maintain their silence.
EMERGING THREAT (AUS) 13/1 Divisional Rank: 42
2 Year Old Filly
(TESTA ROSSA (AUS) x STORM CAT x RHYTHM)
Jockey: J Piotrowski ( 880 – 233 – 155 – 126 – 26% )
Record (6 : 3 – 2 – 0) $125,510
Best speed figure: 77
After finishing fourth in her first start, this Australian bred then reeled off a hat trick of wins. Included in that streak were back to back stakes triumphs in The Easy Seattle Special and The West Sky Challenge both at 5.5 furlongs. Her next two efforts were also in ungraded Stakes and resulted in decent runner up finishes. However, despite her solid form, her speed numbers have not been great, and she like Ingenii has been tagged at 13/1 by the odds maker. This race will not only mark her first start in a Graded Stakes but it will also be her first start beyond six furlongs.
2 Year Old Filly
(
Jockey: A Rolling ( 860 – 243 – 185 – 134 – 28% )
Record (7 : 4 – 1 – 0) $369,680
Best speed figure: 89
The co-morning line favorite based on the facts that she is the only Graded winner in the field, the highest ranked filly, and also the owner of the highest speed figure. Easily the most accomplished runner among this group so far in their respective careers, this daughter of Giant’s Causeway comes into this race looking to rebound of an eighth place finish in The Breeders Bowl Juvenile Filly Turf. Earlier in the year she was good enough to win both The Grade 2 Little Ones at 5.5 furlongs and The Grade 3 Moony Stakes at 7.5 furlongs and has been running against the very best of the division.
Despite these factors she is no cinch in here and must bring her A game if she hopes to make the trip to the winners circle.
AVIE’S MAGIC (CA) 12/1 Divisional Rank: 124
2 Year Old Filly
(UNUSUAL HEAT x SKY CLASSIC x LORD AVIE)
Jockey: P Haynes ( 824 – 187 – 163 – 123 – 23% )
Record (6 : 3 – 3 – 0) $69,480
Best speed figure: 81
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My Picks
1.) RADIANT LIGHT (AUS) 5/1
2.) SHE MIGHT BE GIANT (KY) 7/2
3.) REIGN IN HADES G (KY) 7/2