Grade I at New South Wales a Classic in the making
Race ID:3840.5415
Grade I Sexy Muffins Classic
$500,000
Fillies and mares, 4 years and Up
Eight furlongs
Turf: Firm
The weather won’t be the only aspect of the day that will be bright and sunny at this beautiful New South Wales racecourse. Local racegoers and celebrities alike will watch as the older fillies take centre stage in this 9th Annual edition of the Grade I Sexy Muffins Classic Stakes. A highly competitive field of 14 parades to the post boasting a number of highly ranked SIM entrants including two of the top six and six of the top nineteen mares available. The road to season ending honours begins here for many of these and this race promises to be an exciting edition. An early season surprise may lie in store for both horseplayers and owners alike as these elite mares attempt to launch their 2009 campaigns with a visit to the winners circle.
This race has provided incredible thrills the last two years with two of the closest finishes on record. In 2007, two heads separated three horses and in 2008, a mere two noses separated three others … incredible. If that wasn’t enough, this race has a history of producing double digit mutuel prices … here’s hoping boxcars pops up this year! Let’s take a close look at the field …
Race Analysis by Hladun
PP 1: 102802 CLIFDEN CASTLE(KY) mav1763er M. Ridenour (7/1) RANK: 38
One of the few older gals at six years of age, this Sadler’s Wells mare is looking to regain her form in this spot. In her last, the Grade I Penn Mile against the boys, she finished nine lengths behind a monster that day who blazed the distance in a spectacular 1:33:2. Two starts back in the Grade II Mrs. Cleaver Stakes in Kentucky, she fared much better having fired through the stretch to rally for a strong second place finish over 8.5F. She’ll need a return to that form if she’s going to be heard from in this event but may prefer to go longer than she’s afforded here.
PP 2: 135812 DEERSTANDING(KY) scoobi2 R. Owen (15/1) RANK: 13
This four year old daughter of Strong Hope is “hopes” to add to her “strong” string of performances to date. Averaging just under $40K per start, this scoobi2 entrant comes off an unexpected clunker in the Grade III He’s A Charmer Stakes where she finished a well beaten 7th by 15 lengths. Prior to that performance, she had finished in the money in six consecutive added money events including missing by a short head in both the Grade I Irish 1000 Guineas and the Grade I Old Friends Equine. She looks to regain her form after an eight week freshening.
PP 3: 132644 MERRY TURFMAS(IRE) cheadle T. Baxter (10/1) RANK: 62
This five year old daughter of Galileo is relative newcomer to graded competition compared to her peers in this turf tilt. A winner of the Grade II Trash Can Mile two starts back, she stalked a quick pace, pouncing through the stretch and finishing in a stellar 1:34:2. Jockey T. Baxter, winner of the 2002 Sexy Muffin aboard Beaten Yodel (redscrown) has the mount.
PP 4: 42979 RISK OF RUIN(KY) lenny10 R. Zolak (9/1) RANK: 97
An eleven time winner on the turf, this five year old homebred daughter of Storm Cat runs here in this her first career Grade I event. She comes in off a listed stakes victory on the cutback to seven furlongs and looks to stretch out here once again. Three starts back, RISK OF RUIN(KY) ran a monster race in The Air Jo Ann Special covering eight furlongs of “good” turf in 1:34 flat and would be tough to beat on a repeat of that performance in this spot.
PP 5: 112106 TORCH THE FLAME(KY ) super7 K. Williams (9/1) RANK: 43
This five year old daughter of Kingmambo returns to the Sexy Muffin having competed in 2008 where she and another in here fought to the wire in a blanket finish with only noses separated the runners. Though super 7 could only swallow hard with a third place finish in that event it was a prelude of things to come as TORCH THE FLAME(KY) went on to win the Grade III Breeders Bowl Game Stakes and second place finishes in both the Grade I Queen Ascot Stakes and the Grade II Adelaide Mile Stakes. She comes out of an Allowance affair after a six week freshening where she won handily in 1:34:1 and a repeat of that performance will make her tough to beat today.
PP 6: 136252 MOI LOLITA(KY) ceclaim3 B. Philp (15/1) RANK: 19
On the verge of breaking through the $1M career earnings threshold, this four year old daughter of Awesome Again is looking to be just that. Like many of these in here, she comes out of the Grade I Solstice Oaks where she could only muster a minor rally through the stretch to finish a well beaten tenth. Though it won’t help her today, she’s had success on the other surface as well and perhaps a switch in surfaces may be in the cards if she can’t get untracked soon.
PP 7: 9276 TRUE CHANT(KY) tgi P. Bangs (13/1) RANK: 6
This four year old daughter of War Chant begins her 2009 campaign as the number sixth ranked mare in the SIM in this spot. Not the easiest of opportunities, she ships in from New York having come out of the Grade I Solstice Oaks in which she faded to eighth beaten nine lengths after stalking a quick pace. Two starts back in the Grade III Mattress Stakes this much traveled filly won impressively on a “good” track running nine furlongs in 1:47:2. She’ll need to regain her California form to be successful today in this highly competitive field.
PP 8: 134094 BEST THERE IS(IRE) desperado5 P. Culpepper (21/1) RANK: 16
This inconsistent KING’S BEST(IRE) sired daughter is very much a fair-weather runner in that she blows hot and cold. After an eight week freshening, she popped up in an Allowance race last month in preparation for her 2009 campaign and won in hand covering 8F in 1:35:2. A winner of the Grade II Roberto Clemente Handicap in the summer, she looks to get back to her winning ways in Stakes company in this spot but will have to be at her best to do so.
PP 9: MIESQUE’S GOLD(SAF) dabears L. Fontain (15/1) RANK: 11
A light grey daughter of Miesque’s Approval, this turf veteran already has $1.7M in the bank for owner dabears. Her last victory came at this time last year in Germany where she won the Grade I The Loaded Charger Special in 1:35:4 on a firm course. Here we are fourteen starts later and she’s still looking for her that elusive winners circle. Her last two have been more encouraging having shown the quick turn of foot in the stretch that had been missing these many months. Perhaps this transcontinental foray will be the tonic she seeks and thus return her to turf glory in the process. Caution …the “good one’s” often bring it to when you least expect.
PP 10: 119687 URBAN QUEST(ENG) battlers J. Gabanski (7/1) RANK: 53
This Rainbow Quest mare has her sights on her first Grade I victory in this spot and adding to her bulging bankroll of $1.2M. Coming in off of a third place finish in the Grade III Remember Stakes, battlers brings his charge back on just three weeks rest. Would not be a surprise.
PP 11: 133364 FORTY RAHYS(KY) wildfit G. Stepnoski (8/1) RANK: 78
This five year old daughter of Rahy comes into this race looking to turn things around and return to her positive form of early 2008. In her last start, the Grade I Devil’s Slide Handicap, she simply did not fire that day in a bulky field. Perhaps a change of tactics is at hand.
PP 12: 17064 FREEZING(NZ) aggots C. Walker (11/1) RANK: 82
This race sets up nicely for this daughter of Zabeel(NZ) as the lone speed in the race. There’s a real danger that aggots may send this speedy gal and play catch me if you can. The cutback in distance from her last two at nine furlongs may have her in tip top shape so the distance should be to her liking. A real threat to go wire-to-wire … watch out!
PP 13: 148546 ALAYAYA(KY) given R. Dowel (9/1) RANK: 7
This edition of the Sexy Muffin will be her sixth Grade I outing in her last seven starts. This daughter of A.P. Indy ran impressively last time out to win the Grade I Solstice Oaks in New York running the 8F in 1:34. On that day she left both True Chant and Miesque’s Gold in the wake of her furious charge. A repeat of that monster effort graduates her to the winners circle again today. Already a winner of two Grade I’s in her young career, this millionaire has six wins in fourteen starts and is looking to add to that record in this spot.
PP 14: 96298 NORTHERN PULP theogbarn T. Kirkland (6/1) RANK: 46
The defending Sexy Muffin Classic Champion returns to defend her crown today. This six year old daughter of Pulpit is $1.98M career winner looks to start her 2009 campaign the same way she began it in 2008 … with a win here. NORTHERN PULP wore down TORCH THE FLAME(KY) (super7) and RED ROYAL (romeshone) in a stirring battle to the wire. She went onto post a win in the Grade II Adelaide Mile Stakes shortly thereafter, a second place finish in the Grade II Independence Day BB Stakes and a third in the Grade II Trash Can Mile. She has been freshened for this 2009 campaign coming off a nine week rest and may need this one.
Stake History:
- Stake Record (8F): 1:34:1 … Fat Free Car (2003)
- Lowest Win Mutuel: $ 12.20 … Northern Pulp (2008)
- Highest Win Mutuel: $ 28.80 … Fat Free Car (2003)
- Smallest Win Margin: Nose … Northern Pulp (2008)
- Largest Win Margin: 4.75 lengths … Fat Free Car (2003)
- Most Post Position Wins: #2 (2003, 2003 & 2007)
- Most Jockey Wins: M. Ridenour … 2 Wins (2001 & 2004)
- SIM Hall of Famer Seattle Hit finished 3rd in 2001
- Fat Free Car Won in 2003 and finished 2nd in 2004
- In 2007, 2 heads separated winner K’s Pinache (kuovadis), Deputy Hunter (barn25dog) & Cosmo Girl (theoc2)
- In 2008, 2 noses seperated winner Northern Pulp (theogbarn), Red Royal (romeshone) & Torch The Flame (super7)
The Swami sayz …
1. TORCH THE FLAME(KY) (super7)
2. ALAYAYA(KY) (given)
3. NORTHERN PULP (theogbarn)
LONGSHOT: FREEZING(NZ) (aggots)