The Grade 1 Breeders’ Bowl Filly and Mare Sprint (Written by TNTfarms)
Race : The Jump To Lightspeed Handicap – Grade III – $125,000
ID: 3903.0216Track : Florida
Restrictions : Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance : A mile and one sixteenth on Dirt
A full field of fifteen fillies and mares went to the gate in the final race of the weekend this pasty Saturday in Florida’s Jump to Lightspeed Handicap (G3) over a mile and one sixteenth on the dirt. At post time of the race, the slight favorite to win the challenge was Breakneck, owned and trained by simsters6. The daughter of Storm Cat put in a good race this weekend but was overshadowed at the wire by 12/1 shot Demonic Presence, sent to the starting gate by taicheska. Demonic Presence, a four-year-old filly by Victory Gallop, won her first graded stakes since 2007.
When the fillies and mares came to the starting gate out on the track this past weekend, all loaded fairly easy into the gates, some maybe a little more anxious than others to go in. There were tense seconds that past before the full field crashed out onto the main track from the gate. When this moment finally did come the Japanese-bred Game Girl (JPN) from adonis took the early lead by half a length. She was running on the inside near the rail and right where she liked to be at the front of the pack. To her outside was gipper4’s Quality Indy. She too was up at the front early as expected, her connections hoping she would be able to withstand the pace going a mile and one sixteenth. A length and a half behind this duo, Diamond Trade, owned by tmjstable, was also running as she was expected to out of the gate, sitting just off the pace of the front runners, waiting for the signal from jockey J. Nason to make her big move which would probably come later in the race. Trailing the pack early on out of the gate was amandas owned and trained Stormcreeper.
Game Girl (JPN) quickly saw her lead go to just three-fourths of a length over second place runner Quality Indy who was still running towards the outside in second. Again, still trailing right where she wanted to be in third was Diamond Trade. Three and one-fourth lengths off the pace of Game Girl (JPN) ran taicheska’s Demonic Presence. The brown filly was a proven speed horse but was running just off the pace on Saturday, trying to conserve her energy for a powerful stretch drive later on in the race. A length behind her and running in fifth was Hardly A Cause, trained by ipicked4. At this early point in the race. Sand In Dubai, owned by mp, was making an early move in the race and was starting to move up in the pack, picking off slower-moving horses, the longshot passing them by on the far outside. Breakneck was also starting to make a slight move more towards the inside of the track. Gunman’s Panther Damper was beginning to fall back in the middle of the field along with Belle Of The Buda, trained by godmother. Still trailing the field at the midway point in the race was Stormcreeper.
Into the turn before going into the stretch Diamond Trade overtook the lead and was leading Demonic Presence by just one-fourth of a length. Diamond Trade was on the inside near the rail with Demonic Presence running to her outside. Pacesetter Game Girl (JPN) had surrendered her lead and was running one and one-fourth lengths back in third place with Quality Indy in fourth. Both of these fillies were falling back quickly in the field, falling prey to the fast early pace. Breakneck continued her steady move forward and was running in fifth and gaining ground on the other runners. Sand In Dubai was flying now and making a very early move through the turn, just three and one-fourth lengths off the pace from Diamond Trade. Much of the field stayed in the same position as they were before going into the turn, though Graupoint, owned by xanderman, was taking advantage of this and began to move up slightly between horses and was running in ninth right behind Belle Of The Buda. Hardly A Cause had fallen far back and was struggling in tenth. A horse initially thought to have gone up towards the lead in this race, nothing was happening the way she wanted things to go this weekend. Running alongside her in tenth was elenalag’s Seeking Power. The last three going into the turn were Warrior’s Relic (IRE), Kingmont Road, owned and trained by jalee and jrogue1, respectively. Trailing the entire field but beginning to pick up the pace in a big way towards the outside was Stormcreeper.
Into the stretch and to the wire now, it was coming down to an all out battle between Diamond Trade and Demonic Presence. Demonic Presence quickly overtook the filly running in front but it wasn’t long before she had to face her own challengers in the form of a quick-running Sand In Dubai and Breakneck. The three dashed towards the wire, neither one wanting to give an inch to the other when finally the first of the three crossed the wire. Demonic Presence, under jockey M. Wright, crossed the wire in front by half a length in 1:41 3/5. Sand In Dubai made a strong run to finish second and Breakneck settled Sprints: (13: 6-4-1) $1,345,000
Best Speed Figure: 107 Best 7 furlong Speed Figure: 99
No respect for the second ranked three year old sprint filly; she is the co-longest shot on the board. After beginning her career with four consecutive victories this chestnut has won only two of her last eleven races, and only one of eight this year. However, she has been consistently in the money against the best three year old female sprinters, with second place finishes in four Graded Stakes sprints and a third last time out in The Grade 1 Modifier . In fact this filly is in the unenviable position of losing three Graded Stakes this year by a nose. “We’ve been very unlucky this year and we are due some good luck. I’m hoping it all comes on Saturday,” her trainer told reporters gathered outside the barn. “My only concern is that she has been off the board the two times she’s run here. I’m hoping it was the distance and not the track.” She was last in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Fillies over this track last year, after finishing off the board in a one mile prep the month before. Those were the only two turn races of her career and she been sprinting ever since. The controversial and brash Dubai based rider Harold Harzheim has the mount and he has been telling all and sundry that he knows how to get this filly to the wire in front.
Oddsmaker : “A seven race losing streak is never good to bring into a race as tough as this. She has been very unlucky to lose three photo finishes and maybe she needed a drop in class during the year to boost her confidence. I don’t like the losing habit.”
Jockey’s View : “I’ve been hired to get this filly to the winners circle and that is what I intend to do this weekend. No more questions!”
MAWALI(KY) 13/1 Divisional Rank : 6
3 year old filly
(SPEIGHTSTOWN x RELAUNCH x NEVER BEND)
Jockey: J Caves ( 739 – 189 – 119 – 100 – 26% )
Record: (15: 5-5-3) $548,060 Sprints: (14: 5-5-3) $543,810
Best Speed Figure: 109 Best 7 furlong Speed Figure: 103
This grey filly is in career best form having reeled off six consecutive triple digit speed figures. Included in that streak is a victory in The Grade 3 Azalea Special and second place finishes in her last two: The Grade 1 Modifier and The Grade 3 Polly Drummond three weeks ago against older fillies and mares. Her trainer addressed the quick turnaround of just 21 days earlier today. “I know this race will be her third start in a six week span, but she seems to be thriving on this busy schedule. I think she’s the only three year old in here who has stepped outside the division and that should help her. Her last two have been her best and hopefully this weekend she will run a new best. She’ll need to.”
Oddsmaker : “Tough recent schedule is not a concern since this filly is better than she’s ever been right now. Has not been out of the money in her last nine outings and could be a real sleeper in here.”
Jockey’s View : “I haven’t spoken to the trainer yet about strategy, but having watched videos of her races she seems to be an off the pace type.”
BLUE LETTER(LA) 7/1 Divisional Rank : 2
4 year old filly
WAR EAGLE x DEPUTY MINISTER x MR. PROSPECTOR
Jockey: B Ball ( 750 – 252 – 151 – 108 – 34% )
Record: (25: 17-2-1) $955,920 Sprints: (24: 17-2-1) $955,320
Best Speed Figure: 114 Best 7 furlong Speed Figure: 114
This Louisiana bred was at the centre of a riding assignment controversy when entries were taken on Wednesday evening. This winner of her last three starts was piloted in her two most recent victories by New York based rider Nemo Lawton. According to Lawton’s agent, they travelled to California thinking they would be aboard this five time Graded Stakes winner on Saturday. However, a few hours before entries were drawn they were told their services were no longer required. According to the filly’s trainer no promise was ever made. “I’m disappointed to lose the mount but I’ve got another ride in the race and I’m focusing on that,” Lawton told the press. The trainer refused to get involved in the brewing storm and preferred instead to speak about the filly, who is by the not too well known and little used sire War Eagle. “She’s done everything but win a Grade 1. In fact this is only her second start in a Grade 1 and we feel like she’s ready to run a monster race. For me her best race was when she won The Madison at seven furlongs in April and we’re looking for a repeat of that race.” Addressing the filly’s breeding the trainer replied, “They always ask me about her sire and I always say go look him up, he’s better than people think.”
Oddsmaker : “Very, very dangerous in here. Has done nothing wrong of late and I don’t expect her to start to do things wrong on Saturday.”
Jockey’s View : “I don’t know anything about any controversy. I was offered the mount and I accepted.”
NOT FIRE NOT THEFT(KY) 7/1 Divisional Rank : 4
4 year old filly
EMPIRE MAKER x PIVOTAL(GB) x FORTY NINER
Jockey: D Evans ( 754 – 222 – 156 – 105 – 29% )
Record: (23: 8-4-0) $638,134 Sprints: (18: 7-4-0) $604,900
Best Speed Figure: 112 Best 7 furlong Speed Figure: 98
Had her four race win streak snapped when she was beaten into second by Blue Letter, last time out in The Grade 2 Boom Boom in New York. This year she has raced exclusively at six and six and a half furlongs and she has only been seven furlongs on one occasion. The extra hundred meters should not be a worry and there is plenty of pace in here to set up her late run. It’s unusual to see a horse with this breeding in this spot, and her trainer agreed. “We always thought she would be a good horse, but we never thought it would be sprinting. She’s bred to run long, but she doesn’t like going long so we have kept her where she is comfortable and it’s paid off.” The payoff could get even better if she wins on Saturday. “She beat many of these in The Princess Looney and she was unlucky to not make it five straight wins last time out. I think we’ll start a new streak this weekend.”
Oddsmaker : “Even though she lost her last start it was a career best number. She’s had six weeks to recover from that effort and will likely have to run another career best to win this.”
Jockey’s View : Jockey Derrick Evans had not arrived from Australia up to press time.
LUCKY DESTINY(KY) 15/1 Divisional Rank : 1
3 year old filly
WAR CHANT x FORTY NINER x DEPUTY MINISTER
Jockey: A Rolling ( 723 – 213 – 150 – 128 – 29% )
Record: (11: 7-3-0) $655,930 Sprints: (10: 7-2-0) $650,730
Best Speed Figure: 111 Best 7 furlong Speed Figure: 111
Here is another three year old filly given scant respect by the oddsmaker. Who could believe these odds on the top ranked three year old filly sprinter? “One off the board finish and they all jump ship,” was her trainer’s response to questions about the long morning line odds. Her fourth place finish last time out in The Grade 1 Modifier was her first off the board effort in eleven career starts. The defeat also thwarted her chances at a hat trick of Grade 1 victories after she had already taken down both The Exam and The Priceless Stakes . Despite her last race her connections remain upbeat about the filly’s chances on Saturday. “The speed figures tell me that her last race was the second best of her career. If you watch the race you will see she was closing, but just ran out of ground. She’ll love the extra half furlong on Saturday.” And what about the rider change? “Again if you watch the last race you’ll understand why we made the switch,” the trainer responded with a smirk.
Oddsmaker : “Not without a chance.”
Jockey’s View : “I like the filly and if nothing unforeseen happens between now and Saturday I think she has a heck of a shot.”
Picks
Good luck to all!