G1, Selurnivek Sprint
Today we will be heading to Japan where on the card this Saturday they will host the running of the G1, The Selurnivek Sprint. This race will be restricted to 4 year old and older fillies and mares only and will be at the distance of 5 furlongs across the fast dirt track. The race has drawn a well decorated field of eleven that will be headed out to try to find the wire first and get a trip over to the winner’s circle here in Japan. The morning line odds and post positions have been set so let us take a preview of the eleven horses that will make the start in the running of the G1, The Selurnivek Sprint.
| 1 | ARKZANNA | KY | 6F | alibilane22 | J Jubel | 23 | 7 | 57% | $579,260 | 4.25 | 4/1 |
Heading out first we have the 6 year old Chestnut Mare (HONOR CODE x MORE THAN READY x FORTY NINER ) who’s last hit on the boards in a graded start would come last August when they came in third in the G3, The Rancho Renaklo. She would make her first and most recent start of this season in Louisiana as she dropped in class going 8.5 furlongs in a $48200 NW1n Allowance start. She got out to the early lead and would hold it until her stretch run and would give up her lead to cross the wire in second with a 102 speed rating. She drops back down in distance this weekend and moves back up to a graded start representing The Mecca residency.
| 2 | LOUISVILLE CLUES | LA | 4F | atwhold2 | S L Ledwith | 17 | 7 | 71% | $282,625 | 13.00 | 11/1 |
Next, we have this 4 year old Light Grey Filly (IMPERIAL HINT x HARD SPUN x UNBRIDLED’S SONG ) that has recently made several Local Allowance start and that has been on a winning streak doing so. Her most recent start would be in Louisiana where she would run in a small field against a couple of boys going 5 furlongs in a $48200 NW3n Local Allowance race. She would close nicely down the stretch and get up for the win with a 101 speed rating. This GP badge holder will be heading out of her recent comfort zone in Louisiana to make her way here to Japan as she moves back up in class representing the Florida Racking Club residency
| 3 | FURTHER USE | KY | 5F | coolmoreroyal9 | E C Doyle | 18 | 5 | 50% | $305,045 | 34.50 | 10/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Chestnut Mare (CHARLATAN x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x SMART STRIKE ) that made her first trip of the season in the G1, The Old Lady Sprint where she would come in second. She then made her most recent start in Kentucky going 6 furlongs in the G2, Platinum Filly Sprint. The field would not be kind as she had a rough trip of which she was never a factor crossing the wire in tenth with a 92 speed rating. She will be looking for a rebounding effort here in Japan when she heads over to her gate representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 4 | PARTICIPLE | SAF | 4F | gowans2012 | P Bangs | 13 | 8 | 85% | $897,841 | 116.00 | 8/1 |
This is a 4 year old Chestnut Filly (TRIPPI x MUNNINGS x INDIAN CHARLIE ) that has been running very well for the owner that has won multiple graded starts. In her most recent start in New York, she would take home another trophy when she ran 6 furlongs in the G2, The Long Island Sprint. By the third call she would have a neck out in front and make it to the wire first by a head with a 106 speed rating. She is now seeking to find a G1 win and is in hope it will come when she makes the start here in Japan representing The Mecca residency.
| 5 | IRK ME | KY | 5F | coolmorewoette4 | F Inzamam | 18 | 7 | 61% | $208,300 | 2.50 | 8/1 |
Next, we will see this 5 year old Chestnut Mare (THE PLAYER x INDIAN CHARLIE x CHESTER HOUSE ) that appears to have been purchased last year at auction in March. Under new ownership she would transition over to the dirt where she has made some nice claiming and allowance starts. Her most recent start was on the dirt in Ireland going 6.5 furlongs in a $53600 NW3x Allowance race. She was sharp on this wet track as she went gate to wire for the win with a 106 speed rating. She is making a big jump up in class this weekend and will head out in the post parade representing the Down Under Racing residency.
| 6 | AND THAT’S IT | AUS | 4F | cork1 | S King | 17 | 5 | 59% | $1,671,360 | 24.00 | 5/1 |
Now we come to this 4 year old Bay Filly (WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) x STORM CAT x DANZIG ) that earned her EOY award and that had multiple G1 wins last season where she has exclusively made turf starts. Her most recent win and hit on the boards came last September in the G1, Cherry Blossom Sprint. Since that time, she has not had another hit on the boards. Last time on the track would be in Dubai on the turf going 6.5 furlongs in the G1, The Domino Effect. She made a closing effort down the stretch but would just miss as she crossed the wire in fourth with a 108 speed rating. This weekend she is making a surface change as she heads out on the dirt track representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 7 | SOUNDSOFCAPITALISM | AUS | 4F | corza9 | M Cameron | 25 | 3 | 32% | $154,050 | 2.31 | 30/1 |
Here we have a 4 year old Chestnut Filly (CAPITALIST (AUS) x SNITZEL x STORM CAT ) that has seen some success in the past on both the dirt and turf tracks but has yet to find a stakes win. Her most recent start would be on the turf in New Zealand going 5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Dynamite Contender Turf Mare Sprint. She would have a disappointing trip that day and never contend as she crossed the wire in thirteenth well back with an 87 speed rating. She is making a big jump in class as she comes back to the dirt representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 8 | ESCAPE WILTSHIRE | FR | 5F | cork6 | GD Mate | 19 | 5 | 58% | $1,974,860 | 256.00 | 3/1 |
Next, we have this 5 year old Bay Mare (WOOTTON BASSETT (GB) x DUBAWI (IRE) x DANZIG ) that is a multiple G1 winner and that has an EOY award. She will be going off as the favorite in the morning line but has not hit the boards in her first two G1 start of this season. She last hit the track in California going 7.5 furlongs in the G1, Sand Storm Stakes. She remained well back throughout this race and would cross the wire in ninth with a 104 speed record. She is going to need to find that speed we have seen from her last season when she heads over to her gate representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 9 | EZEMOR EMPIRE | KY | 4F | alibilane9 | C Szott | 12 | 3 | 58% | $239,945 | 4.00 | 20/1 |
Here we have a 4 year old Bay Filly (CLASSIC EMPIRE x AMERICAN PHAROAH x DEPUTY MINISTER ) that will be the longest choice in the morning line. She is coming into this race with two Allowance wins in a row. Here most recent start came in New York going 6 furlongs in a $53600 NW3L Allowance start of which she would go gate to wire for the win with a 105 speed rating. Look for her to try to get the early lead when she breaks from her gate representing The Mecca residency.
| 10 | EFFICACIOUS | KY | 4F | clk2007 | S Ledwith | 16 | 3 | 56% | $425,760 | 16.00 | 11/1 |
Now we come to this 4 year old Brown Filly (ARABIAN LION x STREET SENSE x NYQUIST ) that has failed to hit the boards since coming in third last July in the G1, The Priceless. In her most recent start, she would try a trip on the turf going 6.5 furlongs in Pennsylvania in a Listed Stakes, Seeking Phyllis Turf Mare Memorial. She would find a spot in second out of the gate but in her stretch run she would be gobbled up and cross the wire in sixth with a 96 speed rating. It is back to the dirt this weekend as she moves back up in class. She will need to find some more fire in her legs to challenge when she heads out representing the Florida Racing Club residency.
| 11 | CALLED UP YONDER | TUR | 5F | maseratikerry | J Wesselman | 14 | 5 | 71% | $180,200 | 9.00 | 8/1 |
Breaking from the outside gate will be this 5 year old Chestnut Mare (LION HEART x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x DEHERE ) that has recently been running well for the owner at the Allowance level. Her most recent start would come in China going 4.5 furlongs on the wet track in a $41200 Local Allowance race. She would pop out of the gate quick and head to the front where she led this field all the way to the wire for the win with a 104 speed rating. She is moving back up in class this weekend and needs to make a big effort here when she heads out of the paddock to the cheers of an excited crowd.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
4-Participle: Has a nice record and a G2 win last time. Can she get three wins in a row?
6-And That’s It: She likes the turf. Question is will she like the dirt?
8-Escape Wiltshire: Looking for her first hit of the season. Does she find it in Japan?