1000 Gunieas G1

This 1000 Guineas will be run this weekend in Newmarket.  While this is a Grade I race, it is vastly overshadowed (as all races will be) by the Royal Wedding this week.  Only 9 entrants are in this field, the smallest one since 2001.    Looks like many will stay home and watch their tele’s to keep up with the aftermath of the Royal Wedding instead of watching this one mile turf race featuring 3 year old fillies and mares.

I’ll be at the track watching the race.  I can catch up on the Royal affairs on the news when I get home.  Until then, here’s the field:

1.   Valyrian Wind   3-1

In the money in all 8 starts, Valyian Wind has $387,000 in earnings and hungers for more.  She put in a fine effort while finishing third in the Japanese 1000 Guineas with 99 speed and has a graded win in the G2 Silver Spoon Juvenile last November.   She’s a chestnut mare out of Pivotal who is very powering and will be fighting all the way to the wire.

2.  Dan Misses ML   5-1

The ML in the horses name stands for Miswaki’s Last, who is the game sire and multiple grade winner for this mare.  Dan Misses ML has two graded starts on the grass finishing third in both last fall.  Put in wonderful rally in the Dyna Shore Turf Filly Route in early April, rolling to a two stride win going 9f and speed of 96.   She has terrific late speed and will be roaring down the stretch late in the race.

3.  Despicable Me    8-1

Daughter to Sea the Stars, Despicable Me is making her debut at the graded level.  She has won 4 of 6 races, including non-grade stakes recently in the Redstorm Rocket.  Last time out, she finished second in the Laura’s Parade Turf Filly Route (8.5f).  Her speeds have gone up with each start and if she gets enough of an increase in this race, which looks to be the toughest field to date, she could be walking through the winners circle.

4.  Sea Sea Ryder  13-1

Sea Sea Ryder won the first time out in a graded race, taking the 8f The Natalie last October by a long neck.  Two months later, she tried the 8f The Juvenile Filly and fizzled out in the later stages of the race finishing ninth.   Since her October win, she’s been on the board once in her last five races and hasn’t broken through the 90-speed level yet.   This daughter of Sea the Stars has a nice breeding line but will need to dig in deep to pull off the win.

5.   The Libertine   3-1

Sired by Giant’s Causeway, The Libertine has amassed earnings of over $1.6 million with 5 wins in 12 starts.  Three of these wins were in graded races with two occurring during the winter in the 8f Dancing Blade Handicap and the 8.5f Triangular Star and one in the fall in the Grand Critter.  She finished 2^nd in the purse rich Japanese 1000 Guineas with a speed rating of 100.  Three of her last four races were with speeds of 100 or higher and you can discount the 71 speed in the New Zealand Oaks as the 12f distance was too much.  She’s been in the money 6 of 8 graded starts and will be a tough one to beat in this race.

6.  D’s Spirit    8-1

The daughter of Invincible Spirt won her first graded start by a mere nose last June in the Coventry Steaks.    Since then, she’s been in a series of stake races and has struggled to find another victory.  In fact, her only win since then was in an allowance race.   D’s Spirit has been in the money about half the time in her stake starts and is pretty much hit or miss making her a toss-up.

7.  Penny Gadget   8-1

After two dirt races last year, Penny Gadget changed barns and was immediately transferred to the grass.  Out of 2-time game-dam stake winner Espartaco, this mare has shown she loves the grass, winning 4 times in 7 starts. Her speeds have also increased in each race from a low of 74 to the 102 she recorded in her last race, the Double State Turf Filly Route (8.5f) which is her only stake race.  She brings a three race win streak into this race and offers a nice price.

8.  De Medici    11-1

This daughter of Meicean has an interesting history.   In four career starts, De Medici has won her first two starts, which included the Broadside Stakes with a speed of 101.  Very impressive speed for only her second start.   She followed this with a 26 and probably some sort of mild injury in her following start.  In April, her speed hit 90 in the Japanese 1000 Guineas but she wasn’t up to the tough competition finishing 11^th.   She has ability and long shot players may like the opportunity here.

9.   Too Fat to Pivot   8-1

Too Fat to Pivot has won her last two starts with speeds of 95 and 98 and has been on the board in all five of her turf starts.  Sired by Pivotal, this mare will be making her first stakes start.  She looks to have a promising career and makes a big jump into more experienced company, but she’s gotta try it sometime.

I’m going with the experience with The Libertine.  Her speeds are currently better than most of the field and she’s been consistent with them.

Valyrian Wind is very strong and hates to lose.   Gets advantage over others with Bradley in saddle.

I like Penny Gadget’s last race and she could ruin things for the top two and gets my third selection.