Spotlight Race of the Week-New Jersey

In last weeks feature of the Spotlight race, my choice of Columbia Valley went off as the third choice (barely) at 3.70-1 and captured the win on a yielding track.  Blame it on Cain showed a good late kick to capture the place spot at a rewarding 8-1 and my second pick, Wondi Wonder (9-2) captured third.   Neo Geo, my third selection, didn’t fare well and has now put in a series of off-races.

This week, the focus is an allowance race being run on the dirt in New Jersey.  A field of 7 fillies and mares will be going to post with a couple of restrictions to entrants in this mile and an eighth race.  First, it’s only open to the gals age 5 and over.  The other restriction is that only horses that are non-winners of one race over this six months are eligible for this race.

1  Kid Stuff  99-1-7-year old is outclassed in allowance level.  Hasn’t been on board since 2009 and winless since 2008.  Speeds have mostly been in 70-80 range and entrants in this field have been hitting 100’s.   In desperate need of class relieve and low to moderate claimers may better home for this aging lady.

2  Install This    7-2-Won four races during 2010 campaign with top speed of 111 for the year.  Speeds in late 2010 and early this year have been in 90’s, but have been nudging up lately.  Has win over track back in 2009.  Maybe coming back to form and worth looking at.

3.  Hushwing Pest   50-1-Very heavily raced mare making her 50^th start as a 5 year with only two career wins.  21 starts in 2010 resulted in 7 top-three finishes.  Speeds have tailed off in 2011 topping out at 79.  Horse is showing need for rest and is not competing well at allowance level as has been off board in last 8 starts.  Horse has respectful breeding lines and adequate rest may have positive results.

4.  VT Dusty   46-1-Mare has raced twice in Jersey at end of 2010 with poor results, however, this was on grass.  Has not been performing well in allowance level since being bumped up in October and showed much better results in the claiming ranks.  Looks ouotmatched at this level.

5.  Pep’s Revenge   7-2-Since May of last year, this gal has posted speeds of 90 up to mid-100 range except for sloppy track run in January that she tip-toed around the track on.  Took a layoff from August 09 to March 10 that resulted in significant improvement in racing results.  Likely to bring home some purse money and maybe a top-3 finish.

6.   Zig’s Agenda    3-5-Strong favorite who has finished in top-3 in last 6 starts, of which all but one was a speed of 100 or higher.  Lowest speed she has generated since the end of 2009 is 97 and is coming off career best speed of 110.   The one to beat.

7. Alyskye    5-1-Horse has been sidelined since May 2010 making recent March 2011 return with third in speed of 88.  Last win was back in 2008 in the Last Jump Handicap, Grade 3 race.  I think she can regain her competitiveness, but it may take another start or two for her to get back into form.

Zig’s Agenda looks much the best in this race and is well placed to pick up a win.  The race is for her to win and jockey selection could become drawback.  Regardless, she still gets top vote.

Install This has been showing speeds that are going up and is my second choice.

Third and final selection goes to Pep’s Revenge, but I would include her with the top pick with any exacta wagers.