Lightning Ladies Sprint Race Preview

The Lightning Ladies Sprint will take place at Delaware this week, and a prize pool of $1.5mil is on offer. A field of 12 will hotly contest the 6 furlong sprint on the dirt course. The race has attracted 2 of the sim’s top 10 dirt sprinting mares, fresh from their recent starts in the Breeders Bowl F&M Sprint.

PP1 OVERSTUFFED MONKEY(IRE) (INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x SUMMER SQUALL x FAVORITE TRICK) marrmac0 18/1
4yo mare who has had a great season, winning six races for 2011 so far. Her record over this trip on the dirt tracks is exceptional, with 11 starts for 6 wins and 3 placings, and she will appreciate the extra ground here, after her last start failure over 4.5 furlongs. Should take up a prominent position early and will have every chance, but is a slight query at this class.

PP2 SNIKERS ROCK(IND) (SUNDAY DOUBT x MUJADIL x LUCENCE) pecos199 99/1
Very selective placing has enabled this 3yo filly to win, or be placed in many sprint races on both dirt and turf, against minimal opposition. Of her last 7 starts, the maximum field she has contested against is 6. Last start she was a stakes winner against a field made up entirely of computer trained runners. Her speed figures indicate she will find this high class field too slick, and she is entitled to be at her morning line quote of 99/1.

PP3 K’S BROKEN DREAM(KY) (AWESOME AGAIN x SEATTLE SLEW x MR. PROSPECTOR) wrecks 5/1
Ranked 9th in the sim for dirt sprinting mares, this 6yo stormed home from last at the third call, and almost 14 lengths from the lead at half way, to finish 2nd in the Breeders Bowl F&M Sprint at her most recent start. That was the second year in a row she finished second in that race. She hasn’t raced at less than 6.5 furlongs in over 2 years, but the drop back from 7 furlongs shouldn’t be a problem – her record over the trip is 5 starts for 4 wins and a second. A three time grade 1 winner, she will be rocketing home and is one of the main chances.

PP4 JUST GOT PAID(TUR) (STRIKE THE GOLD x GONE WEST x SEATTLE SLEW) mtkbps 7/1
Running consistent speeds, but unable to hit the winner’s list of late is this 4yo mare, who is running for the Shamrock Stables. Last start she switched it back up with a try on turf, and led the field into the stretch, but was run down late to finish 2nd, running an SP#105. Has been competitive in several starts in graded company throughout her career, with three on the board finishes, without being able to win. Can’t write her off, as she rarely runs a bad race.

PP5 GROOVY HAACK(KY) (BROKEN VOW x STORM BIRD x MR. PROSPECTOR) mrhaack 7/1
4yo mare who has graduated through the ranks from claimer, just over a year ago, to winning three starter allowances in a row, and then, followed that up with four allowances in a row. Most recently, she has stepped up to stakes level, and finished second both times, beaten firstly by a length and then by 1 ¼ lengths. Her best SP# is 111, which she achieved 4 starts ago, back in September. Likes to sit just behind the speed, so should be in a position to threaten at some stage.

PP6 CROSS TO BEAR(IRE) (CAPE CROSS (IRE) x VICTORY GALLOP x STORM CAT) super6 9/1
3yo filly who comes here after 2 big stakes wins against her own age group. Firstly she won the Groom Groom Dirt Filly Sprint by 2 ½ lengths with an SP#107, and followed it up last time out with a 1 length win in the Calculus Guru Dirt Filly Sprint and an SP#108. Before that she had failed at her first attempt against the older mares when she finished 9th in the Grade 3 Dolly Prummond Stakes. Has a bit more experience at stakes level now, and should be able to take a forward position and will be hard to beat again.

PP7 YEARS GONE BY(KY) (RAHY x NIJINSKY II x MR. PROSPECTOR) chloedawg2 8/1
Lightly raced 4yo having only her 14th start here, will line up following a rare poor run, when she finished 8th with an SP# of only 98 in the GRSimsters 2011 Championship. Before that she finished off well to just miss the place in the Grade 2 The Boom Boom Handicap. Her biggest run came back in May, when she won the Grade 3 Ferry Dust Handicap by a head, with a career best SP#110. Will settle towards the back of the field, and should be closing late. Expect a bold showing.

PP8 PRIVATE DANZIG(LA) (PRIVATE VOW x A.P. INDY x DANZIG) ceclaim29 7/1
Huge run last start when she over powered the front runner, to hit the lead a long way from home, and won going away by 1 ¾ lengths in the Boom Tickling Dirt Mare Sprint. Her SP#110 was a career best, and should see her go close to winning here if she can match it again. She is a 3 time stakes winner and has been placed at graded level, so she has the class to take this out. Will be making her presence felt.

PP9 CHEROKEE ROSE(JPN) (ROSES IN MAY x CHEROKEE RUN x A.P. INDY) congo1 17/1
Bold front running 7yo mare, who lines up here for her first attempt at stakes level. Has only broken triple figure SP# one time, and that was 2 starts ago, when she demolished an open allowance field by 1 ¾ lengths, running an SP#110. Will press forward here and could be in it for a long way if she can repeat that effort, but her class is the biggest query, as she is still eligible for easier races.

PP10 WALK THE STREETS(KY) (STREET CRY (IRE) x FAPPIANO x NUREYEV) stormboot2 6/1
The 8th ranked dirt sprinting mare in the sim, WALK THE STREETS was last start beaten in a hot field in the Breeders Bowl F&M Sprint, running an SP#104, and finishing in 6th place. Before that she put together back to back Graded stakes wins, firstly taking out the Iodine Handicap by a length, and then the TOCA Sprint, with SP#s of 107 and 106 respectively. Very rarely runs a bad race, only missing the board in 3 of her 30 starts, and winning 15 of them. Would surprise to see her miss the board two starts in a row, so expect her to be right in the finish.

PP11 VAL D’ISERE(ENG) (OASIS DREAM (GB) x THEATRICAL(IRE) x MR. PROSPECTOR) trembling 7/1
Has hit some good form recently, winning 3 of her last 4 runs, including her last start victory in the Moonglow Dancer Dirt Mare Memorial over 5.5 furlongs. Has started 8 times in graded stakes and her record is not too good, having missed the place on every attempt, and her best result being two 4th placings, back when she was running on turf as a 2yo. A 4 time stakes winner with a career best SP#109 would suggest she should be capable of matching it in this class. She will be eased back in the second half of the field early, and will be looking to finish off strongly late. Definite claims.

PP12 PERFECT FORMATION(KY) (AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT x CARSON CITY) mtklaz09 5/1
The morning line equal favourite will jump from the outside gate, and comes here after finally breaking through for her first stakes win at her last start, and in doing so, completed a hat trick of wins. In 6 attempts at graded class, her best result was over 2 years ago when she finished 2nd, her only on the board finish. Another who will settle back a little worse than midfield, and close strongly, her recent form indicates she is one of the main chances, so watch for her to be threatening late in the stretch.

Selections
1 – K’S BROKEN DREAM(KY)
2 – CROSS TO BEAR(IRE)
3 – WALK THE STREETS(KY)