SLAVE TO AMBITION MAY BLOSSOM

Arkansas is renowned for some of it’s fabulous racing and it is possible there is no race more famous than the Orange Blossom Grade I. Ran over the famous Arkansas mile and one sixteenth dirt course it always provides an amazing spectacle and has hosted plenty of champions of the past. It is open to fillies and mares 4yo and up and has attracted a capacity field of 14 again this year all vying for the ultimate prize and a share of the $500, 000 purse. The track looks as though it will be a fast surface on race day so let’s look at the 2010 field.

1 – STENO BOOK(KY) – mav176 – 8/1 – 5yo mare  

(STORM CAT x SEATTLE SLEW x DEPUTY MINISTER)

A winner of 9 from 27 who is a seasoned Grade I competitor and who has won at the top level in the past. In fact her last 5 starts have all been in Grade I company and have yielded her on victory as well as a second, all at the 9 furlong journey. She boasts a dirt classic rank of #5 and looks to have her chances here. Look for her to be flashing home at the finish.

2 – SKIDMORE INDY(KY) – jrogue – 7/1 – 5yo mare

(A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS x KINGMAMBO)

May have won just one race in her past 6 outings but it was only 2 starts back and it happened to be a Grade I event over this distance where she won convincingly running a speed figure of 110. She wilted badly in the dying stages of her last race over 9 furlongs also in the top grade. She is a bold front running type who will certainly give them something to catch. With a dirt classic rank of #4 it is obvious she is the real deal and can go well here.

3 – COUNTY ROAD(KY) – beach – 26/1 – 4yo filly

(STREET CRY (IRE) x UNBRIDLED x STRIKE THE GOLD)

A superb staying performer who has won 5 of her last 6 races, all from ten furlongs to two miles. She really seems to relish the longer trips and has a second to her credit at Grade 1 level two starts back as a 3yo. The big query for her is if she can handle such a sharp drop in distance and be competitive with some of the best dirt classic horses in the world. She looks tested in this one.

4 – THE SKIRLING PASS(KY) – astapor – 11/1 – 5yo mare

(EMPIRE MAKER x FORESTRY x GONE WEST)

Worked nicely up to stakes level through allowances, this mare won 4 starts back over 9 furlongs in a stakes race before taking the step to graded company. Finished fourth at Grade II level over 9 furlongs 3 starts back and went 2 better to finish a nice second last time out. A key pointer in that race is that she hit the lead not far from home so the half furlong drop may suit her here.

5 – SISSON’S MARK(ENG) – binzaman02 – 10/1 – 5yo mare

(MARK OF ESTEEM(IRE) x A.P. INDY x RIVERMAN)

Despite her dirt classic ranking of 20 this mare has struggled a little of late with just one top three finish from her last 6 races.  Trainer binzaman02 explained that she has not had much luck in running of late and is due for the racing gods to smile on her, if that happens she will be right in it. Will be a long way back early and may need a lot of luck to feature in this one.

6 – CY FLY BANDIT(KY) – cheyenne15 – 19/1 – 4yo filly

(TOUCH GOLD x EMPIRE MAKER x STORM CAT)

Her best qualification for this event is her third in last year Breeders Bowl Distaff, she did win two starts back but it was in a restricted allowance event over 6.5 furlongs. Her last outing was in an event similar to this which saw her beaten by eleven and three quarter lengths when finishing seventh. That form doesn’t look good for this race.

7 – CROSSING DYNA(IRE) – jmahls – 8/1 – 4yo filly

(DUBAWI (IRE) x CAPE CROSS (IRE) x DYNAFORMER)

Ran a beautiful fast finishing second last time out over 9 furlongs in Grade 1 company. The start before that saw her salute in a Grade II race also over 9 furlongs. She has not missed a place in the top three at her last seven starts. If she can time her run well enough I think she could knock this field out, watch her closely.

8 – BORN TO DANZ(IRE)  –– hldurhrss2 – 12/1 – 4yo filly

(KALANISI (IRE) x DANZIG x MISWAKI)

Had been racing consistently up until her last two starts which have seen her finish down the track both times. She has won at this distance in a Grade II race so there is no question mark on her class. The main worry is if she has gone slightly off her best. Trainer hldurhrss2 has given her a short freshen up for this and hopes to see the real Born To Danz today

9 – SJ’S GHOST DANCE(KY) – factorx – 9/1 – 6yo mare

(SILVER GHOST x NORTHERN DANCER x TURN-TO)

The oldest horse in the field who has amassed over one million dollars in prizemoney. Has won two of her last three, both at stakes level. The big query on her is that, over her 41 start career the bulk of her success has been at sprint distances, this includes all of her 4 recent wins, in fact 18 of her 21 wins have been at sprints. She has won 3 routes but we are talking one of the toughest routes around when it comes to this race. If she sees the distance out she can worry this lot on her class alone, but looks tested.

10 – ULTIMATE DIAMOND(KY) – korn – 15/1 – 4yo filly

(A.P. INDY x STORM CAT x DANZIG)

This filly has mixed distances in recent times between seven furlongs and ten furlongs still finding plenty of success. Won last start over 10 furlongs at stakes level and was second three starts back in a Grade II over 7 furlongs. Last year as a 3yo she won a Grade II over 9 furlongs and was also placed at this distance of Saturdays race in a Grade II. Has not been the most consistent horse but  definitely has her share of ability, if she is switched on she can compete well in this.

11 – REINCARNATION(ENG) – hibachi – 11/1 – 4yo filly

(PIVOTAL(GB) x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER)

This is a filly who is in career best form with four top two finishes in a row including a Grade 1 win over 9 furlongs and a Stakes win over 10 furlongs. She has already won over one and a half million dollars in just eighteen starts and is ranked #11 for dirt classics. Likes to race just behind midfield and has a lot of appeal in this event.

12 – KORNSNAKE(IRE) – korn – 15/1 – 5yo mare

(SADLER’S WELLS x MILL REEF x SECRETARIAT)

Master trainer korn shows how it is done with a second runner engaged here, a training feat that must be respected. This marewon 3 starts back in a all the way display of galloping over 9.5 furlongs in a stakes race. She then raced and failed at the unsuitable distance of 5.5 furlongs before returning to 9 furlongs at Grade 1 level where she was again well beaten. Needs to find something like she produced 3 starts back to be competitive in this race.

13 – EMPIRE HAACK(KY) – marisol – 5/1 – 4yo filly

(EMPIRE MAKER x PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x FORTY NINER)

Has won 4 of her past 5 and is in top form. Has won all of her past three outings at either Grade II or Grade III standard and all over similar distances to this race here.  She definitely looks like a star on the rise and that she is ready for top level racing now. Has an imposing strike rate on the basis of her 9 wins from 17 starts and will be looking to improve that even further in this event. Big chance.

14 – SLAVE TO AMBITION(KY) – gwyneth – 7/1 – 5yo mare

(DISTORTED HUMOR x APTITUDE x STORM CAT)

As Whitney Houston once sang “something something best for last” and so that may be applicable here. The #1 ranked mare among her dirt classic counterparts who has conquered all before her en route to winning over two million dollars over her thirty one race career. Comes into this after a Grade 1 third over 9 furlongs and prior to that a win over a mile also in Grade 1 company. Commands the utmost respect in any field and looks like the major player again here today. The class horse.

So we have one of the best dirt classic fields assembled this year  and at least half of them look to have massive chances of taking out the huge first prize.

I’ve selected 14 -1-13-7

Good Luck And Good Punting

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