Grade 3 – Route 66
A field of 8 fillies and mares line up to get their kicks in the Grade 3 Route Sixty Six Stakes contested over a mile and one eighth on the main track. Let’s quickly get to the contenders for today’s race.
1. Out on Strikes – Jrogue’s 6 year old daughter of Smart Strike has 36 lifetime races under her belt and has reached the peak of her career thus far. Prior to 2010 she was little more then a hard knocking allowance runner but when tried in a 10.5 furlong stakes two back she progressed and wired the field posting a 102 in the process. Failed to back that up with a graded win last out but she did lead most of the race and finished with a respectable 106 speed figure. Could be dangerous if allowed to wander too far out in front in today’s relatively short field.
2. Giant Street – Timmn trainee by Street Sense has four lifetime wins to her credit the biggest of which occurred three back where she won by an impressive 2 ¼ lengths in an allowance race in Alabama. This is her first foray into stakes company so it is a big unknown how she will handle the stronger competition presented by today’s field. A price of 10-1 seems a little too short when there are proven stakes performers in the field so I will seek others to back from a wagering perspective.
3. Khartoum VII – Knowing Sadler’s Wells was going away soon Lenny invested in mares like a rich art collector may buy Picassos. This is just one of Lenny’s band of 10,000 Sadler’s mares and this Khartoum has a backend of Unbridled X Alydar. Lenny will literally be able to breed any combination Sadler’s he chooses once this group of mares reach the age of conception. This four year old has shown the ability to throw big speed figures on both surfaces but the breakthrough signature win has escaped her thus far. Recovered well from an injury two back in January and her 106 win on the main track by 3 ¼ lengths last time out could be just what the doctor ordered. 14-1 seems very generous for such a well bred mare that may just be reaching her peak.
4. Rock N’ Roll Ben – Four year old daughter of Street Cry is 10 for 17 lifetime, eight of them being stakes wins. Has yet to break through for a graded win although she has had limited opportunity and near misses including a 2nd in The Selena and a 3rd in The Vogue Handicap. She posted a career high 116 last out in a smashing open stakes victory and it is no big surprise to see her as the 9/5 favorite today. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see this one joining graded company this week.
5. Samurai Gold – Four year old daughter of First Samurai out of 7 year old game mare Seeking to Win who is 2 for 2 in producing stakes winners in her young career as a broodmare. Samurai Gold is 7 for 24 lifetime and has a stakes win to her credit when she won an open stakes at 8.5 furlongs back in May of 2009. She prepped well winning an allowance at 10 furlongs by two lengths but it is going to take a big speed figure improvement to win today.
6. Flamboyant Gothic – Fastnfirm have a real intriguing lightly raced daughter of French Deputy in today’s 6th spot. She has won 50% of her 10 lifetime races including a Grade 2 victory last out in sunny Florida in March. She posted a 107 speed figure in that signature win and she looks well spotted to continue to add to her career earnings today. Her flexible running style is also a major asset in today’s contest and she would be best serve to lay off what figures to be a hot pace since many in today’s field prefer to be on the lead. At 7-1 Flamboyant Gothic could very well be the wise guy value pick in today’s race.
7. Suzy’s Empire – Chat icon Balata trains this 5 yr old daughter of Empire Maker who is closing in on 1 million in lifetime earnings. She is out of super mare Suzyjinsky who has produced 3 graded winners from 5 lifetime foals, the youngest of which is by Kingmambo and has yet to debut. If Suzyjinsky keeps producing at that kind of rate she is going to go down as one of the better producers the sim has known. Suzy’s Empire hasn’t been to the winner’s circle since October when she won the Grade 2 King Classic but she has been close finishing 2nd by just ¼ length in The DPCD Delaware Distaff. It is rare for such a top talent to have a 5 race win drought so expect a prime time performance today.
8. Pagniacci – Four year old daughter of Any Given Saturday is a proven big race performer having won the G3 Selena as a three year old and finishing a solid second over this very track in The Chicago Oaks. After a big run in The Great Dame her form suddenly went south finishing well beaten in 4 races since then. From drops like that are one of the big head scratchers that happen in the sim and I’d likely recommend a try on turf to try and rejuvenate the competitive spirit she showed at 3.
Superfecta Outlook:
Rock N’ Roll Ben has been given as solid a foundation as any horse without a graded win and I expect today to be the big day where that changes. Flamboyant Gothic and Suzy’s Empire will round out the top spots with Khartoum VII helping to fatten up the payday by finishing 4th.
Good luck to everyone who has a runner in today’s race.