Walkover in Idaho

What if you threw a party for one of your kids and nobody showed up?  You’d feel awful, right?  That’s what happened to Given in Idaho this week.  So I’m writing this to cheer him up.

 

Danny bid a race for his precocious Curlin filly, Visegoth, which is not the least bit restrictive.  Fillies and mares, 3 years old, Non-Winners of FOUR Lifetime, A mile and three eighths on the Firm Turf Course, Purse : $46,200.  There are hundreds of fillies who fill the bill.  But nary a one RSVP’d.

 

Rather than have a literal walkover for Visegoth, the SIM created three California bred opponents.  I am not the most knowledgeable breeder, but I have only heard of one of the nine sires listed in their collective pedigrees.  I don’t think any of these young ladies will become Breeders’ Bowl contenders based on their odds.

 

Let’s look at this field in post position order.

 

Breaking from the hedge is first timer Malotte.  Her sire, Onebadshark, is available right now for 17 points.  Fewer by the time you read this.  Malotte’s DS is the little used Stop The Fighting (7 points).  Solid DDS Herbager (317 points) probably accounts for this one being only 34-1.

 

Next comes Laurila.  She is by Iron Cat (34 points) who has sired a total of seven since 2005.  Those seven have earned a grand total of $22,333.  Dam sire Tiger Tiger (9 points) appears as DS of five, none of whom have done much.  DDS Lyphard’s Ridge (36 points) has had little success as a DS with only three winners from eight performers.  50-1

 

The final challenger is Niesman.  This one is by General Griffin (11 points) who is 0 for 5 as a sire in terms of winners and has not been used since 2006.  DS Brief Ruckus (13 points) has one stakes winning credit each as a sire and DS from limited opportunity.  DDS Tudor Melody was a foal of 1956.  His SIM stats are too limited to draw any conclusions.  But the fact his price is currently 138 points leads me to believe there may be some quality there.  65-1

 

Visegoth drew the four.  She is coming off a decisive victory over Desperado Rob’s very nice Galileo filly, Unique Position.  Given’s gal will have a decided home field advantage having raced In Idaho every career start.  Top jock Bill Gulch has been aboard all seven previous tries and Saturday will be no exception.  I fully expect Dan to ship this filly overseas soon.  Since she’s bred for dirt, it was natural to begin her career stateside.  But now that she’s becoming a grass monster, I see much bigger and better things in her future.

 

Bottom line.  The speedy and talented Visegoth would have to suffer misfortune of catastrophic proportions to lose here.  Consider using 65-1 Niesman to complete exacta crapshoot.