Steadhemp ‘Cap Draws 7
The Grade I Steadhemp Handicap is the first of an amazing eight graded stakes races on this Saturday’s New Yorker card, and starts the proceedings off nicely; No less than three Top-8 Dirt Classic older females have signed on to vie for the $300,000 purse. Along with those three are four other talented distaffers with fine credentials to make for a total of seven terrific runners. Fast track… All the stars are out… Looks like a terrific day at New York!
SKIDMORE INDY is ranked #4 in the Female Classic Dirt division for a reason… Many good reasons. She has piled up seven graded-stakes wins in her storied career, including the 2010 Breeders Bowl Distaff in which she knocked off the other two Top-8 runners in today’s race. Interestingly, the 6yo A.P. Indy mare has only run twice in 2011. Trainer jrogue says, “She’s had a little bit of the injury bug this year, but she keeps showing she wants to win. She’s shown that with her few performances this year, too!”. Indeed she has, with a near-miss in a Grade II in February followed by a strong Grade II win here at New York last month. Should be tough again here; the flat mile looks like it could be her best distance, and she has run well in all four of her fast-track NY efforts. The CPU handicapper places her 2nd at 3/1.
SPRANG SPRUNG is a bit new to the major-stakes game, but has been competitive thus far while showing a lot of early speed. That speed could get this mattress trainee in trouble in today’s race, though. This field is deeper and tougher than what she’s seen thus far, but she was closest to today’s favorite in her first Grade III try. Daughter of Smart Strike goes off at 9/1.
FACELIFT is ranked #8 on “back class”, but hasn’t had a lot of success since her September win over a star-studded group at this track in September. Undefeated at NY, the claymore-trained 5yo Smart Strike mare needs a for reversal in the worst way; maybe this is the track for her. Goes off at 6/1, a bit of an underlay despite her apparent affinity for this track.
K’S LOCK ‘N LOADED is a bonafide stretch-runner who might be needing a bit more distance to get the job against these. The 4yo Kingmambo filly goes off at 5/1 and should provide at least some excitement in the lane for trainer vertigo2. She has finished fairly well in her two NY tries.
DYNAREADY is a 4yo Dynaformer filly going off at 5/1 for lawyerron. Like many in this field, she is no stranger to the NY oval and has had plenty of success here. Her last start was her first two-turner after several sprints, and she ran a bangup 3rd to SKIDMORE INDY. Will she improve off the two-turn experience? Your guess is as good as mine…
ARTEMIS AND APOLLO has been a powerhouse thus far in her 4yo season for 2tohold and is today’s deserving 2/1 favorite. Ranked #2, she has already banked three Graded wins in 2011, and she also has had a pair of strong performances in the past at NY. Daughter of Montjeu should be tough if she handles the short 2-week rest since her last.
AWESOME CHANCE has the least experience at this level; she’s eligible for NW3L allowances. Still, the bandinni trainee closed somewhat to be 5th behind a pair of these in a Grade II last out and has at least a puncher’s chance here. Despite her light credentials, the 4yo Awesome Again filly has a highly-rated rider aboard at 7/1.
Let’s see what my state-of-the-art tea leaves say about this:
SKIDMORE INDY seems to get better and better despite few recent races.
ARTEMIS AND APOLLO having a terrific year and could very well get this done.
DYNAREADY seems to be really getting her act together.
Good luck to all!