Grade 2 Dandelion Sprint
A Happy New Year everyone, and what a nice sprint for fillies and mares we have to open the new year, 6.5f on the fast dirt and a Grade 2 race could show us some new faces for the fillies sprint scene. While the names headlining the race may be Minister of Humor, a BB Sprint participant, and defending champion Sterling Form, the early race favourite for the Bookies is Vo Mimbre, but let’s take a look at the complete field:
#1 MY GODDESS(KY) 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=8637
26 Races – 10 Wins – 303,555$
The 5yo A.P. Indy Mare is no stranger to Graded Sprints, however recently she produced better results over 7 and 7.5f, and tends to be better in longer sprints. Last time out her race was a complete disaster, in the Minnesota sprint she ran a 94, her worst result since 2007, but before she moved pretty steadily, winning a stakes race and finishing Top 3 in the next two. Her top speed over 6.5f is a 111, resuting from an ALW win back in May 08. She likes to take the lead, and that will be key to her race, only if she can get the lead she has a decent chance, so let’s see if she has to face other front runners.
#2 KATIE’S SONG 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=110217
25 Races – 9 Wins – 294,490$
The 6yo Unbridled’s Song mare is a very lightly raced horse, she only ran in 7 races in 08, and could notch 3 wins. Her most prominent appearance was at the Equinics, but she had a sub par race, and could only manage a 101 good for a 9th place. Last time out she finished 5th in a 7f Grade 3 event, her last win dates back from June, but was in a 6.5f event, a distance she usually enjoys. Katie’s Song usually comes from the back end of the field, with a timed move towards the second half of the race, it will be critical, if she can time that move well enough to move to the front.
#3 CLASSICALLY STYLED(KY) 10/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=112932
27 Races – 5 Wins – 81,950$
The 5yo Hennessy Mare makes her first stakes appearance, and whenever that happens in a Graded race, I hear the alarm bells sound. Being claimed for 25K back in August 07 chorwon has made her a nice pick up of ALW races, where she won 3 of her last 5 races, but now ran out of ALW conditions, so after nice 105 and 106 performaces in the last two races, however at 7f, she was moved up in class. I’d prefered her to try Ungraded Stakes at her prefered distance 7f, as she will face a tough task in todays race.
#4 STIRLING FORM 12/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=8006
24 Races – 8 Wins – 702,350$
The 6yo A.P.Indy Mare is the defending champion of the Dandelion Sprint, last year she won with a nice 112, a speed she couldn’t reproduce afterwards, as 2008 was a tough year for her. After a 2nd place in a Grade 2 Race in March she couldn’t hit the Top 3 anymore, even worse had a slight injury in the BB Mare Sprint, resulting in a distanced finish. However it seems her connections still have no plans sending her to stud for Mare Services, where her pedigree should produce good results. Perhaps the well known track at Arkansas can bring out another great race, but I have my doubts, last time out she ran a 102 on a good dirt in Delaware, and it seems her best racing days are behind her.
#5 PEGASUS PRAYER(KY) 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=128349
39 Races – 10 Wins – 296,216$
The 5yo Sky Mesa Mare always has been a great ALW horse raking her chances at stakes racing from time to time, but after two wins in November at 6f and 7f in Ungraded Stakes, it seems she is ready to take the next step. Last time out was a flop, but can be put on the off-track, and a 95 in the Grade 1 Lightning Sprint surely wasn’t what she can bring. With 3 108+ performances before she showed her class, and I think thats where she can produce today. 2008 was a great year for her, and she tries to open 2009 by finally taking it to the next Level in Graded racing.
#6 S R EVERYDAY(KY) 23/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=129116
30 Races – 7 Wins – 143,607$
The 5yo Toccet Mare is surely a little misplaced here, her best race coming two back, a 102 over 6.5f resulting in an ALW win may point to more class, however that was her only 100+ race in the last 8 tries, and so she will likely be leading the way to last place.
#7 VO MIMBRE(KY) 7/2
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=151092
13 Races – 6 Wins – 204,475$
The 5yo Ghostzapper Mare has been flying recently, winning her last races all with 109+ speeds. Being unraced until November 07 she has had a nice 2008, winning 3 stakes races all at 7f, her move up to Graded Racing comes well timed, and her first Graded Race could also be her first Graded Win, as it will be tough to beat her, if she can produce a 110+ speed, which is very likely. Usually placing near the end of the field, she has recently won in smaller fields, which could cause trouble with an almost full 12 runners field, however a well timed move and her speed, with which she closes should give no problems.
#8 MINISTER OF HUMOR(KY) 6/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=147628
15 Races – 9 Wins – 1,2930,570$
The 4yo Distorted Humor filly will surely be the toughest rival to beat for Vo Mimbre, as she comes into 2009 with a blastering 2008, which saw her win the 3yo fillies sprint at the Equinics as a highlight. Taking on older horses for the first time, she looked kind of intimidated in the BB mare sprint, and only finished 10th, but rebounded nicely in the Grade 1 Lightining Ladies Sprint, last time out, where a 112 on the good dirt resulted in a 2nd place finish. Winner of 4 Graded Races in 2008, she really has made a name to herself in the Dirt fillies sprinter scene, which she wants to transfer to 09. Her best races she made, when taking the lead early, so expect her to battle My Goddess early on, with the faster likely being her.
#9 ROSE OF CAIRO(IRE) 11/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=49114
21 Races – 4 Wins – 275,290$
The 5yo Noverre Mare has revived her racing career, which seemed done in June 2008, after getting injured and being forced into a 2 month break from racing. But since then she has gotten better and better, with 2 Top 3 finishes, followed by a great win last time out. She really flew the 7f in a Stakes Race in Dubai, scoring a 112, her lifetime best, she’ll likely need to reproduce that performance, and go even quicker over the 6.5f today, being a late closer may not really help, as there are quite a few mares waiting to make that last move towards the end of the race.
#10 QUAY DANCER(KY) 9/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=151915
11 Races – 5 Wins – 112,508$
The 5yo A.P. Indy Mare made the transition from ALW to Stakes racing very well, with a win and 2 3rds in her 3 stakes starts, now the question is, can she transfer that to Graded Racing, it will surely be a tough task for today. Last time out she ran a 107 over 7.5f and looks another horse in the race, that has had most success over 7f, however her sprint ability, was well reflected in her only stakes win, with a 106 over 6f. Look for her either gunning for the early lead, or with likely more speed coming from Minister of Humor perhaps settling for a stalking role.
#11 HILDAGO(FR) 11/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=12985
16 Races – 7 Wins – 358,032$
The 4yo Layman filly is a well known stakes horse, and as a 3yo was able to get 2 stakes wins, after making a succesful switch from turf to dirt in March. A 3rd place in the 3yo Equinics saw her cross paths with Minister of Humor, and she would love to reverse form here, however it will be tough. Last time out she ran a nice 110 winning a stakes race in New York over 7f. She usually gets the worst start of all, and trails the field by lengths at the start and usually until they hit the stretch, but there is, where she can excel, I seldomly saw a horse run quicker final 2f, than this filly. So all is up for her, I give her a good shot at a Top 3 finish today, as the early pace will be set.
#12 CARDBOARD HERO(KY) 14/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=149287
17 Races – 6 Wins – 174,773$
The 4yo Grand Slam filly has yet to win a stakes race, but has been getting better recently, taking use of a weak field she was able to sneak a 3rd place in the Grade 1 Fuzzy Math memorial over 7.5f, a 105 was enough for that, as this is also her lifetime best, I doubt her chances for today, with so many 110+ runners in the field.
Overall a tough race to predict, the bookies have a clear edge with Vo Mimbre, but I like the chances of the 4yos Hidalgo and especially Minister of Humor.