Zipperheads Crash California Course
The Zipperheads are coming to California. No, they are not anything like the Deadheads. Actually, its a small group of track regulars that honor the running of the Zipperhead Special, a Grade I turf race, by wearing spcially designed zippers on their heads. Ok, it’s actually a large hat that actually works.
The Zipperheads may be a side show to the main feature race, which is going a distance of a mile and a sixteenth, with a nice purse of $500,000. The race is restricted to fillies and mares who have reached the age of four. A field of nine go to the gate and here’s a glance at the field.
1. Monson JR CB 8-1
Monson has been struggling considerably lately, so much, that trainer Themole tried her out on the dirt in her last race. The results were not good, resulting in her quick return to the turf. Monson has won 7 of 17 turf starts, however, she has been winless since July, when she moved up to the graded stake races. Since then, she hasn’t hit the board in six turf starts. The graded level seems to be a bit too much for her and she may be more competitive at the non-graded level.
2. Miss Sullivan 5-1
Miss Sullivan has shown a wide range of capability, fitting well both on the turf and dirt tracks. She has nice results in sprints as well as distances of a mile. Her speed numbers are better on the turf and has finished third twice in graded races. She set a career best speed of 107 two races back where she won a non-graded stakes by a nose. She likes to run up front and may even take a shot at being the pace setter. Miss Sullivan is worth a look.
3. Famous Indy 7-1
Famous Indy has been running long distances of 10 furlongs or more for a while and takes a drop in distance in this race. She’ll probably be the caboose in the field early on, but has the ability to close late. In each of her races, Famous Indy has always made up distance between the third call and the wire, however, it’s not always enough to get her on the board.
4. Bodog Bandit 14-1
In 8 graded race starts, Bodog has hit the board only once. Bodog has appeared in a wide range of distances throughout her career and puts in game efforts at the mile distance. She has a strong late kick but she has had no luck at the graded level which makes her a pass.
5. Unfabulous 9-2
A lover of the grass, Unfabulous has turned in a record of 16-8-3-3. The only two times she failed to hit the board were 4th place finishes against large fields. She comes off an allowance win, that she took easily in a speed of 94. This was more or less a prep race for her and she wasn’t pressured in the race and could have easily scored a speed over 100. Prior to this prep race, she posted speeds over 100 in eight consecutive races. Although she hasn’t won a graded race, she has performed well at this level and is a contender in this race.
6. Freudian Humor 9-1
Freudian is 11 of 19 on the turf and makes her debut in the graded level. She has one race where she broke the 100-speed threshold and that occurred back in Novemeber. Freudian will be an early trailer in the race and will need her best effort as she is at a class disadvantage.
7. South of Heaven 6-1
South of Heaven has been struggling along for some time. Her last win was nearly a year ago where she captured a win in the G1 How Are You Gentlemen Cup. Since that victory, the well has run dry. She has appeared 11 times after that win, coming in the money only 3 times. She does throw in an occassional speed over 100 and she’ll need to do that here to steal the race.
8. Amaterasu 5-1
Amaterasu is the likely jackrabbit in the field that has the ability to go all the way. She has won 8 of 13 grass appearances, almost all by going gate-to-wire. Her only graded race was a victory in the G1 QE2 Challenge that she stole in a speed of 108. Although this is her second graded race, she’s in a good spot to win.
9. Otto Tribute 3-1
The favorite in the race, Otto Tribute has an impressive background. From Sept ’07 to May ’08, Otto won 9 consecutive races which included 8 stake victories. Three of the stake wins were at the graded level. Otto has also won 10 of 15 turf starts but the critics are now weighing in. In her last six starts, she has come up empty in five of them. Critics are saying that her best days are behind her. However, a spark of life came through as she rallied to take the Ida Ore Stakes (G3) in November in a speed of 110. Speeds of 100 and up are common with her, but is she ready to return to her winning ways?
I’m going with Amaterasu in this race. Although Miss Sullivan will press her early on, I think she can take this.
Unfabulous has been extremely consistant on the turf and has speed numbers that must be respected. Don’t be surprised if she takes this.
Third pick is with Otto Tribute who will be good enough to get on the board.
Best to box all three in an exacta as any of these is capable of getting to the winner’s circle first. Good luck to all at the track and watch out for the Zipperheads!