Holy Frankenstein! Is there a monster in this field?
NEVER START – Reverts to the dirt following a mediocre effort on the lawn LTO. She’ll be looking to get back to 3-figure ratings but this seven furlongs will test her speed to the limit. A lackluster effort here will surely see her back over a mile in the near future.
STRAIGHT PROFIT – The old lady of the field takes another crack at Stakes company despite looking slightly past her best. You have to look back 9 races to week 2398 to find anything which might inspire confidence but one more big effort could see her grab a little prize money.
MISS SPINNICUS – Deserved Morning Line pick having won the Distaff Breeder’s Bowl Cap G2 four back. Consistent figures either side of the 100 mark provide the standard the rest of them need to live up to. Looks well placed and will be the one to beat.
MISSING ZEVON – Out and out sprinter who stretches to seven furlongs for the first time today. This one was running (albeit successfully) in claiming company half a dozen races ago but the manner of her latest win suggests she is looking for further. Will the step up in both trip and class find her out?
SILENT BOUNDARY – This 5yo mare is at the top of her game having won eight of thirteen starts this year. The switch back to sprinting seems to have rejuvenated the old girl and she will be looking for a 5-timer. This is by far her toughest race to date but her late running style means that there could be even more left in the tank to add to the three figure rating LTO. Good value at 6/1.
DREAMING OF ALI – Broke her maiden only 3 starts ago and nothing has finished in front of her since. Conditions Allowance races however are not Stakes and she could be overstepping he mark here. A very promising 96 last time could point to further improvement available and she could produce a nice run at long odds.
GRAY’S BABY(IRE) – Shrewd claim from a $2500 race five back, she was put straight back in for $15k and ran a decent race picking the field up in the stretch with a blistering turn of foot. She then showed the same impressive style in an Allowance race before a slightly disappointing effort in a low level Starter Allowance. She bounced right back to form on only 2 weeks rest and posted a lifetime best 102 LTO, mowing them down with her late run. 15/1 could look huge if she produces her devastating run again.
SKYLINE – Another consistent triple figure runner and even though she is another one taking the hike up in class, she must be respected. I would expect her to sit on the shoulder of the early pace and look to pick up the pieces at the first sign of the leader slowing, a tactic she has used to good effect winning her last three.
KNOCK OUT KING – Outsider of the field and very lightly raced, this one could leave the Morning Line handicapper with egg on his face! She ran a hot 101 gate to wire last time in a decent NW2x and is sure to be the one to catch. Should have no problems with the distance and the main concern must be that she won’t get the easy lead she might need.
JOKERMAN – It will be interesting to see what tactics the jockey employs with this one. She likes to try for the lead but might not have the pace needed to get to the front and this could be her undoing. Yet to be successful in Stakes company but has been running consistent figures around the three digit mark. I think she may need to rate off the pace to have a real chance over this seven furlongs – further than she has run to date.
SACRIFICE – She ran her best race of the year (speed wise) two back and then followed up by winning over the maximum sprint trip last time, shaking off the attentions of the early pace to run away with it as the entered the straight. She might be heading for a mile attempt in the future, but she will certainly be vying for early position and could have the stamina lacking in some of the others.