Devil’s Slide Handicap
The Devil’s Slide Handicap, a Grade I race has attracted some of the best Sim Fillies and Mares. This turf race is set to run on a firm 1. Mon Coupe 9-1 Mon Coupe has won 13 of her 26 grass races, most recently taking the 11f Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff, in a speed of 115, rallying hard from the back of the field to win by 2. Her last outing was a second in the Japan Classic (12f) in a speed of 105. She is shipping in from overseas which should not affect her as she has flown around several times before with no noticeable wear. Mona is dropping in distance, going the shortest distance she has run since March, 2007. She gets jockey Hernandez (24% win) who should give her a respectful ride. 2. Hamster 11-1 Hamster is hot on the grass. In 14 starts, she has amassed a record of 10-2-1 missing the board just once, which happens to be her last race. In that race (grade I event), she hooked up in an early speed dual and was eventually worn down by her foe. She loves to be on the lead and has surpassed the 100-speed mark in her last five starts. She faces a tough field in this race and it will be awfully tough to wire this bunch. 3. Lufthansa Heist 9-1 A winner of 6 of 14 turf starts, Lufthansa likes to take an early position in the middle of the field. She’s coming off a career best speed of 110 in the Big Time Handicap (grade II). In that 10f race, she sat a good length or two off the leaders early on and made her move just past the half pole. She will need to keep her speed number up to win this race, however, she does like the NY surface, winning 2 of her 3 starts. 4. Disasterpiece 7-1 Disasterpiece is an interesting entrant. She has won 3 of 5 Grade I starts and set a career mark of 118-speed this past September going 10f. The oddsmakers have set her as the favorite in this race. I’m not in agreement. She has only one turf start where she finished forth. I generally don’t like supporting a horse switching track surfaces without a background record. The jockey’s have also avoided her as the only one who seems willing to take the mount is jockey Jamison who has won only 4% of his starts this year. 5. Friday Harbor 24-1 Friday is one of the rabbits in the field and will be pressing to get the lead early. I don’t think she will succeed as there are others who seem to have a bit more kick that will probably take the lead role. Friday set a career best three races back in the Grade III Friermuth stakes, posting a speed of 107 and finishing a respectful 3rd. If she can conserve some of her speed for later in the race, she may get a shot. 6. True Dream 13-1 A rather consistent horse, True Dreams has been on the board in 29 of 34 starts. She finished second recently in the 11f Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff, setting a personal best speed of 113 (losing out to Mon Coupe). She followed that up with an easy prep allowance victory jogging to a 4-length win in a speed of 102. She seems fresh for this race and I suspect she’ll be placed somewhere near the middle of the field early on. My only concern is that she raced here two years back and put in a dismal effort. 7. Sheza Maniac 13-1 Sheza Maniac has put in some decent races with speeds exceeding the 100 level. However, there are a splattering of recent races where she hasn’t broken this barrier and faltered. In eight career graded starts, she has a record of 1-2-1. There is a good possibility that she may be watching some of the race from the rear as she is a slow starter. It doesn’t look likely that she’ll be in the winner’s circle in this race. She seems more competitive at the lower stakes levels. 8. Queens Board 99-1 Queens Board is coming in with only two weeks rest and she’ll be a shocker if she takes this. She has 6 career starts on the grass without a win. With only one win in her last 30 outings, she appears best going against cheaper company, and on the dirt. 9. Ghost Whispers 8-1 A home has been found for Ghost Whispers. She made a switch to the grass early this year with incredible results. In eight outings, she has posted a record of 5-2-0. She won her last race, the Grade I What A Sham (9f) in a speed of 110. She set her best speed of 115 back in August in the Dollplayer Price Stakes (10f). She will be running near the early leaders and she has a fair chance to take the win here. 10. Skullcrusher 10-1 A winner of 11 out of 20 turf starts, Skullcrusher should be a factor in this race. Skullcrusher has the ability to be a front runner, but I believe that she will go for a comfy ride in the middle of the field. She’s coming off an easy allowance prep win, with a speed of 99. The speed number isn’t too impressive, but it was a “no-pressure” race for her. Three of her last 4 Grade I races resulted in two wins and a place (the other race was on a wet track where she disliked the moisture). She won the Demona Handicap with a career best 116 going 9f. Skullcrusher may be poised to do more crushing in this race. 11. Forty Rahys 10-1 Forty has been in the money 12 of 16 turf starts, winning 8 of these. She’ll probably be running sixth or so early on and will try to reel in the field. Problem is, so will most of the others in this field. She has been consistently recording speeds in the 100 + range, and it may take a speed of 110 or better to be the victor. She did hit the 113 speed a number of months back, winning her only graded stakes start. She is very dangerous in the lower stakes level with mixed results in the graded level. Forty could walk away with a paycheck. 12. K’s Masterpiece 13-1 On the turf, K’s Masterpiece has hit the board 10 of 13 starts, winning 7 times. This one is another question mark to me. She has put in some great results, with speeds in the 100’s, however, she can throw in a boner now and then. She posted a career best of 112 two races back and followed that up with a 95. She raced once on this track a year back and didn’t fare to well. My gut tells me to pass on this one. But please note, my gut has been wrong before. 13. 14. Kepler of Rainbow 13-1 Kepler recently achieved a break through in her last race. She had been struggling in competition at the graded level for three consecutive races and finally pulled off a win in the Grade I Kenny Busch Memorial (106 speed, 10f). Kepler will be out shooting to get the lead early on. She is capable of wiring the field and loves the grass, winning 15 of 39 turf events. Out of all the speedsters in the field, Kepler may have the best chance to be victorious. 15. Alpine Wings 10-1 A consistent horse on the turf, Alpine has been in the money 21 of 26 starts, gaining top honors 12 times. Alpine is another jackrabbit who will be making a bid for the lead. She has won three of her last four starts, including a Grade III He’s A Charmer Stakes (speed 107). Alpine has one race on the NY surface, which was a horrible 9th place finish, however, it was on a yielding surface. She does show a forth in a huge field of 18 racing in a Grade I event back in August. She has ability, but the race is building up to an early speed dual and that can take its toll. 16. Icy Slumber 10-1 A winner of 9 turf races in 29 grass starts, Icy Slumber is yet one more entrant that will be racing for the lead. She has won her last two starts, both non-graded stakes races in speeds of 107 and 112. With all the speed in this race, I believe if she can lay off the lead, she will improve her chances to be in the winner’s circle. A tough race to pick the winners from. There are several horses that will be venturing for the lead and they may burn themselves out giving opportunities to those who are patient and can conserve their energy. Mon Coupe has the ability to wait to make her run after the leaders. She gets the rail and inside trip and should get a decent trip from her top-notch jockey and will be my top pick. Ghost Whispers has made a successful transition to the turf and has impressed me. She has put up great speed numbers and could make a name for herself in this race. Forty Rahys has been putting up consistent results and should get a good trip. She’ll position herself off the pace and should be in striking distance unless the speedsters are able to build too huge of a lead. Good luck to all!!!