G2: the Manta Serria Handicap
Race ID:3854.2315
Race 15 Manta Serria Handicap
Grade II
Seven furlongs
Fast dirt
$225,000
Fillies and Mares, 4 years old and up
PP Age Name Trainer Odds Pedigree
1 6F LILLIPUTIAN rvd 9/1 Forestry x Mt. Livermore x In Reality
Record: 38 races: 7-6-4
Very decent sprinter out of Forestry. Won a Stakes early at 3 but afterwards never again. So that is already 3 years ago. Has been very constant in her speedfigures and probably is too good for allowances and a little to weak for Stakes. She got good odds from the bookies but I think this G2 is above her level.
2 4F SKIDBURG nblye 12/1 Johannesburg x Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew
Record: 20 races: 5-3-5
This filly won her maiden on 9.5 furlongs and last year was mostly competitive in the classic division where she won a Stakes over a mile. Her results have been dropping since she has been running against older mares and that might be the reason why her trainer is dropping her in a longer sprint. I would think that the classic distance is more her thing but you never know.
3 6F STIRLING FORM jrogue2 9/1 AP Indy x Dynaformer x Storm Bird
Record: 25 races: 8-5-1
Still comperatively lightly raced wellbred 6 y old mare out of hemare STORM HALO. This mare is highly competitive for 2 years now, winning 6 Stakesraces of which 3 were Graded level. Keeps posting high speeds but her last win dates back over a year. She ran a very good last race which also was a G2 and she finished one length off in second place. This race will be a little longer and that might suit her better. One to watch. Will be starting next to her stablemate Skidburg. Both from the Jrogue stables.
4 6F COLORFUL CADEAUX backnine 14/1 Cadeaux Genereux x Rainbow Quest x Green Desert
Record: 30 races: 12-5-2
This Mare ran 26 races on turf and now has found a new impulse in her carreer. She was tried on dirt again 3 races ago which resulted in a disappointing 6th place. Her trainer did not give in and tried again which resulted in two wins. She even managed to post a 108 speed on an offtrack and looks to be an offtracklover. It is very difficult to predict what she is able to in this Graded Race. Maybe the step up is too big and too sudden, however she has the experience of graded level on turf already, which might help her. Maybe trainer Balata knows something we don’t.
5 5F CONSERVATIVELY dawgpound 12/1 Rahy x Storm Cat x Caerleon
Record: 16 races: 4-2-4
With only 16 races this 5y old mare still has a long carreer ahead of her. She is out of the very good and multiple graded winner CONGRESSIONAL, but has proven to be more of a sprinter. She has run mainly in allowances till now and her first stakes last time out resulted only in a fourth place. Maybe the step is too big for her at this moment but the bookies still give her 12/1
6 4F SKIPALETTA kingajay 45/1 Stravinsky x Explodent x Chieftain
Record: 14 races: 2-1-3
I never understand why some trainers enter horses in a class where they do not really belong. I do understand with bluebred horses that you do not want to lose, but why entering a filly like Skipaletta in a Graded Race? It even is a full field. She is not yet competitive in Stakes so why even go a class higher?
7 4F CONCIERGE twinoaks 10/1 Mineshaft x Unbridled x Damascus
Record: 18 races: 5-4-1
No Graded Race without a contestant of the superstables and here she is. Wellbred 4y old filly that has made progression end of last year. She is very consistent in her speedfigures now and the 7 furlong looks to be her best distance. Might have a great year this year. The odds don’t lie 10/1 so she has a real chance for the win here.
8 6F SADDLING WELLS pm2 14/1 Martin John x Sadler’s Wells x Nureyev
Record: 32 races: 4-8-4
Irish based mare out of obscure sire Martin John (really first time I come across this name) which has been good for trainer pm. Has been ok in routes and has been ok in sprints. If you look at her races she does seem to like longer so I’m not sure this 7f might suit her still at this moment. Hasn’t really disappointed in her last races but also has not run great. Big questionmark for this race. I have a feeling it might be too short.
9 4F BO’S BOMB krfarms 10/1 Gulch x Mr Prospector x Storm Cat
Record: 18 races: 6-2-2
Almost at a half million in prizemoney this last year’s winner of the G1-Exam Stakes looks to be set for another go at her favourite distance. Two races ago won one as 3y old against older in a 110 speed. Unfortunately could never make a fist last race in the G3-Narrowly Missed Stakes and finished 8th. Maybe she can bump from that performance today.
10 6F SEA OF GREEN zooomr3 7/1 Afleet x Green Dancer x Grey Dawn II
Record: 40 races: 9-7-4
Scratchbred 6y old mare. Already at 41 races and still running great. Has got good odds today and that is not really a surprise. Had bad luck last time out to have an offtrack but has got fast dirt again today. She is a frontrunner and has mainly raced 6f and 6.5f, but has won allowances in the past on 7f too. Apart from the offtrackraces she has been very consistent in her last races, however this is her second try in a graded race. Let’s see whether she can handle it.
11 4F FIREFORGE kaif031 13/1 Seeking the Gold x Mt. Livermore x Deputy Minister
Record: 15 races: 5-5-0
This mare comes out of a sprinting hemare and has some of the treats of her father/mother. Mid last year she already was running 109 speed against older mares so she really has some talent. Was rested a couple of months after a lesser performance on the mile and her trainer gradually took her too form again. Did not win her allowance last time out but posted a good 106 speed and she came close. Although she does not have that much experience in stakes, let alone in graded races, she can really form a good threat to the favourites in this race. A real outsider.
12 6F CANADIAN GOLD pher 11/1 Touch Gold x Gone West x Danzig
Record: 35 races: 10-4-2
This Touch Gold Mare has posted her best speed on turf (a 110) but most of her earnings come of dirtraces. Was second two races ago in a GR Simsters restricted race and that was a race filled with graded winners and graded placed horses. So she is able to compete with the best. Rather disappointing fourth place in her last race but maybe that was a preprace and not at full 100% since she did not race for 3 months.
13 5F APPLES AWESOME profounds 5/1 Awesome Again x Pulpit x Storm Cat
Record: 23 races: 9-5-1
This mare is ranked 8th in her division and could be the big favourite today. At least according to the bookies, but they are not running on an offtrack. She won the majority of her pricemoney on offtracks and even won a G1 last time out in a fabulous 114 speed. But it was an offtrack. She has proven to be able to run on fast tracks too, but never had a good result in graded races. So I’m in doubt for her.
14 4F BLUE LETTER newastin4 8/1 War Eagle x Deputy Minister x Mr Prospector
Record: 15 races: 11-0-1
We close the gates with this 4 y old of trainer Astinator. 11 races out of 15 resulted in a win. 7 races were Stakesraces. Hard to believe this is only her second graded race, but this seven furlongs race might be ideal for her . I expect this is only the beginning of a fabulous year for BLUE LETTER.
Very hard to pick a winner in this race. I go for
14 Blue Letter
7 Concierge
4 Fireforge