Is this Race Really that Ugly???

Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff, that is one heck of a name for a Grade I race.  Makes you just want to turn your back and walk away…um, make that run away.  In fact, I wasn’t going to cover this race but after looking at the race program I saw that there is talent in this field.  Now only 7 will be going to post, so perhaps many trainers out there were put off by the name of this turf race for fillies & mares.  The girls will be running a mile and an eighth and I can assure you, there is nothing ugly about this field.

1.  Cloud in the Sky  9-2

Cloud in the Sky nudges upward as she will be making her first graded start of her career.  She has a win and place in the lower level stakes in 2 starts.   She has won 3 of her last 4 starts, averaging a speed of 108 in each of her wins.   She looks to be the pace setter in this race and does have the ability to wire the field.   She also looks good moving up to this class.

2.  Of Montreal   3-1

In 7 graded starts, Of Montreal has recorded a beautiful record of 4-1-1 with a 4^th on a good track being the only finish off the board.  Of Montreal makes her first G1 start and is dangerous.  She matched her career best speed of 114 in the Black Betty Handicap, her last race, that she also won over this track surface.  She has tons and tons of late speed and should be factored into exotic wagers.

3.  Skunking Alishan   8-1

Skunking Alishan has made a handful of starts in graded company on the turf which has yielded a record of 2-1-0 in 5 starts.  Her last race was over this track and she collected a win in the G3 Wilshire Boulevard 8f) with a speed of 107 on the good turf surface, the speed equaled her career best.   Here’s the low-down on Skunking….She likes to wire fields.  If she gets the lead, she is tough to beat.  She has grabbed an early lead in 10 of her 14 races and won 8 of them.  I think she will have a tough time with Cloud in the Sky who also likes the front, but if Skunking can get there, she could payoff nicely!

4.  Anchorage   5-1

Anchorage has won her last two starts which were both her only 2 graded races.   Her speeds were competitive being recorded at 106 and 108 and she should find some favorable positioning in this race.  I expect that she will lay just off the pace, allowing the speedsters to maneuver through their duel, and she will be in a spot to take advantage late in the race.  There’s also some good value at 5-1.

5.  Rena   6-1

Rena only has 2 graded starts and se’s been off the board in both, but finished 4^th and 5^th, good enough to collect some purse money.   She was beat by Of Montreal on this track last time out, finishing some 6 strides back.  She’s averaged a speed of 105 in her graded races.  Rena is a late closer but I am having problems seeing her get the job done, mostly because of how far back she was going up against Of Montreal.  She may be able to cash in some more purse checks, but I’m not convinced she’ll hit the board and I’m passing on her.

6.  Dangerous Waters   7-2

11 wins in 25 turf starts and over $1.4 million in earnings for this A.P. Indy mare is certainly an eye opener.  In 15 graded races she has a nice 6-2-0 record.  Dangerous Waters has been known to pop some huge triple digit speeds, most recently a 117 this past February winning a non-grade 9 furlong race.  Ok, it was a non-graded race, but back in February, there weren’t a lot of graded races to choose from.  Last year she scored a win over this track with a speed of 114 winning the Black Betty Handicap, the same race that Of Montreal won this year and with the same speed.   Dangerous is her name, and she is exactly that, however, she has come up short before, just a word of caution.

7.  Vengeance of Pain   7-2

Vengeance has a perfect record over this track winning all three of her starts including last October’s Breeder’s Bowl F&M at 10f at 16-1!   Her three career top speeds have all been generated at this track, 112, 111 & 108.   In her last 8 races, she has 3 wins…all of them at this track.  After seeing all this, you get the feeling she likes the track.  With that said, I recommend using her in the exotic wagers.

I have to go with Of Montreal as my top pick.  Conditions just look right to repeat.   Vengeance of Pain gets the second spot.  You just can’t ignore the love for the track and she also has not had a speed below 100 since last August.    Dangerous Waters is my third choice, but it was a toss up.