DPCD Winterthur Oaks
DPCD has become a sim right of passage and I am glad AFC decided to again sponsor the races this year despite an initial reluctance. Kudos to him for keeping this cherished tradition alive. We have a talented field of 8 lined up today to battle for a million dollars in the Grade 2 Winterthur Oaks. Last years winner Elizabeth Swann (by Smart Strike) bested a field of 9 rivals posting a 107 speed figure in route to a dominating 2 ¼ length win. She hasn’t raced since May because her trainer waremblem is on a sim hiatus. Time to get to today’s field.
1. Xtremely Strong – Daughter of 12 time graded winner Xtremely Gold has an impossible task of trying to walk in her famous mom’s shoes. This daughter of English Channel showed little talent early in her career and was claimed away for a tag of 20k back in April. She has found her running legs of late and is 3 for her last 4 at longer route dirt distances but even though she has been winning by huge margins it still feels like it is asking a lot today. Perhaps she will run up to her family dynasty but the odds of 20-1 do not give me much comfort that it will happen. Either way a very astute claim by lgbost.
2. Lemon Phargo – Daughter of Lemon Drop Kid has won 50% of her 16 lifetime races and amassed 653k in earnings in the process. Is a proven prime time performer on the big stage scoring a Grade 1 win in the Player’s Club International Oaks at 10 furlongs. Her running style makes her dangerous and she always seems to fire pretty well after a turf run so she has that angle going in her favor today.
3. Cold Empire – Empire Maker filly has done little on dirt in her four lifetime attempts but on turf the story is altogether different. She has won two Grade 1 races on the grass at longer distances including last out in the Vicky Oaks in Australia but her lack of proven dirt form concerns me greatly in today’s race. Should be running big late but I will seek my winner among those with a proven dirt form despite her having class to spare.
4. Pacy’s Place –Breeder’s Cup Turf winner English Channel is well represented in today’s contest with Pacy’s Place being his second offspring in today’s field. She has won 2 of her 3 attempts on the main track and has never been out of the money but all of those races took place in allowance company. She will be a major pace consideration today and could offer intriguing value if allowed to roam loose on the lead.
5. Blood Queen – Astapor’s beautifully bred Kingmambo filly (backend is Danzig X Buckpasser) proved her class back in June when she wired an open stakes at 10 furlongs posting a 100 speed figure in the process. She has regressed a bit since that effort but she prepped well last out in an allowance race and could be back with a vengeance late in the year on the big DPCD stage. Consider her a factor based on a pedigree to die for.
6. Wisp – Daughter of Macho Uno has only been off the board one time in 10 career races and has 2 show finishes in graded events to her credit. She is one of the faster entries today speed wise and based on that will be pushing the pace early to the determinant to several runners to her inside that needed a soft lead to win. In fine form she is very dangerous and should score yet another top 3 graded race finish. She has secured the services of Delaware Park jock D Silver who looks to capture the race for the local jocks to keep the paycheck in Delaware.
7. Financial Express – Perennial leading DE jock H Ross has the mount for Lenny’s daughter of German super sire Monsun. She has posted 106/107 speed figures in her last two races which make her a force here today even though those speeds came in open stakes attempts. Tactically I love her ability to stay close to the pace and grind down the leaders and I think that plays right into today’s pace scenario. The Evil Empire have 100s of stakes wins would another today really be a surprise?
8. Idaan – Given trains the 3-1 favorite for today’s race and interestingly enough it appears he snubbed his own jock for the mount today in favor of K Ledwith. Daughter of Galileo won the Grade 1 Birmingham Stakes 3 back and finished a hard closing 4th last out in the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff. That makes her the class of today’s field and she is a deserving favorite but she does like to come from far behind so it would not be a major surprise to see her just miss again today.
Prediction:
7-8-2
Financial Express gets the nod here today because I love her running style and feel it sets her up perfectly for a signature win today. Idaan oozes talent and should be good enough for 2nd again while Lemon Phargo should thrive after a strong turf prep last out.