NWRC Cavalcade Cup Distaff
Washington– Woohoo, NWRCers! What a card set up for this year’s Cavalcade Cup! Great racing all around for the NWRC’s championship day at the races. 🙂
Click the Race ID# above to get the entry field, posts, and odds. Sorry I had to write this before races are posted…. LOL! 😉 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
We kick off the card here with 13 fillies and mares in the $250,000 Cavalcade Cup Distaff Classic. They’re in various order, so let’s meet them on their merits………..
Laura: Copenhagen Again – wistful3
Gadzooky! Laura packs a mean one-two punch with her top-ranked graded mare Copenhagen Again, and, of course, the NWRC’s sweetheart filly, Scimitarra(GB). A dual Grade 3 winner this year, Copenhagen Again was on the bottom side of the Breeders Bowl Distaff bubble. Bummer. 🙁
Additionally, the 4YO filly went kind of downhill from late summer onwards, coughing it up against the very best in the division. Still, Copenhagen Again ran nicely for 4th-place in the Three Smokestacks(G1) LTO and that pacesetting performance sets her up pretty well for a prohibitive romp here in the Cavalcade Cup. She loves this distance and can just as easily relax behind the lead. The Danehill daughter’s the one to beat.
Laura: Scimitarra(GB) – wistful3
Scimitarra(GB) adored the first half of 2005. The Diesis(GB) sophomore began her campaign with a Grade 3 victory, indicating Bluegrass Oaks possibilites. Instead of going after the glory though, Laura treated us NWRCers to her starlet’s lovely late-closing kick. Scimitarra(GB) took 2 of 3 NWRC Triple Crown events (equivalent of the Bluegrass Oaks and Chestnut Stakes).
The sky sure seemed the limit and the filly did try to return and face the very best in the division. Alas, not meant to be. Scimitarra(GB) struggled and she hopes to find again her best groove. At least she’ll be back home here at the circuit. 🙂 Spoiled over the turf LTO, but the old surface switcheroo could be just the ticket to “wake her up.” Outside chance, but her fans will be rootin’ for her!
Chris K: Niptuck – kobras3
Niptuck turned many heads last year when she won her third start: the Golden Rod(G2) with a 102 SP#. The freshmen daughter of Stravinsky suggested so much promise…. but she hasn’t lived up to that initial assessment, going winless in ’05.
Still, Niptuck has kept excellent company, placing once in a grade and showing up for the post parade in the classic Bluegrass Oaks and Chestnut Skakes. The filly improved a tad in her last start versus 9f owner-restricted company. Niptuck could be on an upswing then. FWIW: I think Niptuck should return to ALW ranks and exhaust her conditions. You can find her best distance and finally break through that 100 SP# barrier, building consistency there. Closer not without a chance though with this group.
Dee: Thirteen Casino – zibby
By the Seattle Slew sire Warring Nations, Thirteen Casino finds herself versus strange competitors: fellow females! That’s right, the 4YO filly sure breaks tradition, racing exclusively against male horses of late. She’s got an OK record too — hitting the board in 3 of 5 “All Horses” starts, including a fabulous 101 SP# third-place in a Grade 3.
Hmmm….. this gal loves 9f and even threw a 107 SP# last year. One can very well argue that ‘Thirteen’s been racing over her head and should enjoy the return to fellow fillies. Might be in for a board placing at least. One to keep an eye on from midpack.
Tracy: Spelunking – squirrel4
It took 8 starts for Spelunking to finally break her maiden, but, boy, when she did, she sure signaled her destiny. The Mineshaft sophomore enjoyed every yard of her MSW’s 10 furlongs. She would go on to place in all three NWRC Triple Crown races despite being still eligible for a NW2L.
But it was after finishing 3rd to Scimitarra(GB) in the 11f event that Spelunking hit her best groove. The filly reeled off two straight listed stakes scores, staying the ground over classic+ trips. It’s too bad this race isn’t 10f…. she might be among the faves. Still, she can be effective over nine panels and thus merits serious consideration. Versatile from behind the lead or off pace, Spelunking looks decent for at least a minor piece of purse.
Mike: Mining Numbers – bullfrogmb
Blah! Mining Numbers didn’t want any part of the slop LTO and thus the poor gal hasn’t raced since (Week 2601). A mighty 8 week breather then for the 3YO filly by Jump Start, but there’s something to say about fresh runners……
And Mining Numbers has the figures to be effective Saturday. Promising at age 2, she’s since blossomed, winning 1 of 3 NWRC Triple Crown races (and placing in the other two!). Additionaly, the speedster was a runner-up versus open company. With only two starts since early June, she probably needs more seasoning to pull off a win with this group. However, ‘Numbers might fell frisky enough to pocket some purse money — especially if she can wrestle a solo lead for her sassy ol’ self. Ha! Outside chance.
Ted: Gigantic Steps T – mightyt
Ted’s Aljabr sophomore didn’t get to the races till this year. A lot of talent on display too, breaking her maiden after 4 outings and stringing together a very sweet ALW win streak over the summer.
Toss out both stakes debacles and ‘Gigantic’s 5 of 6 around two turns. Hmmm…. I like this one a lot as a live sleeper. Look for a fare showing, maybe even a board placing. Doubt she’ll be able to upset the more experienced stakes mares, but in the future….. look out! Promising starlet behnd the pace or midpackishness.
Greg: Brass Purse – kaif
Wow! This once-upon-a-time $4k claimer has rewarded Greg with some excellent numbers in the win column– try 11 career victories!! The Dixieland Band 4YO sure cleaned up the Starter ranks earlier this season and has since fabulously climbed to a NW4x.
In her last outing, Brass Purse garnered a stakes-placing over a short field 9.5f dirt event. The stalker is a proud-n-honest sort. Maybe an outside chance for the win, but better for a minor cheque.
Gavin: Mr. Magpie – punter59
The sophomore Sadler’s Wells daughter scored in a NWRC MB Marathon two back, dispatching a group of miler fillies in a photo finish. ‘Magpie’s still learning the ropes for Gavin, but suggests great promise from 8f to 10f.
The filly makes her stakes debut and it’s a tough assignment to be fair. Look for her in a scramble behind the lead. Don’t know if she’s ready to take on the big girls (she hasn’t cracked the 100 SP# barrier yet). So, this might be a kind of rushing into the ranks. Talented, but dark horse for the prize.
Tracy: Apt To Be – squirrel2
Excellent! Always love to see early 2YOs hang around effectively well into their 3YO year. Tracy’s Deputy Minister daughter was stakes-placed a couple times as a freshman and finally got her black type this season in a 7.5f stakes.
The sprint specialist has an 0-for-3 record around two turns. Interestingly, her sole route start this year was decent: she picked up a little ground for a 90 SP# mile 4th-place finish. Plenty of stakes experience — but not much luck sprinting. Hmmm…. on paper, she suggests stamina limitations, but she really hasn’t tested two-turns much. Would be a real surprise for the win or board, but keep an eye on her and see how she handles the 9f.
Melissa: Golden Twilight – skippie
Here’s another sprint specialist trying to stretch out. By Golden Missile out of a Storm Cat mare, Golden Twilight (love the name!) has well exhausted her conditions and was even stakes-placed in the springtime.
Hmmm…. her lone 8f outing came as a 2YO and she kind of ran even-steven down the lane. Thus, the sprint campaign and I’d say rightly so. Flip a coin really whether or not she’ll take to the 9f. FWIW: I’d try the grass sometime too, because Golden Missile can throw turfers. Could seize the lead and rally from behind the pace. Longshot.
Ken: My Duke Wooden – camilla
There’s no place like home! My Duke Wooden starred in last year’s NWRC Race Series, taking 2 of 4 events in the distaff division. The Pine Bluff filly flashed positive brilliance in 2004, posting mucho speed figs from 8f to 9.5f.
The results this year though have been kind of mixed. As a 4YO, My Duke Wooden raced primariliy in the ALW ranks, winning 5 contests in ’05. She’s atempted to reenter the stakes ranks on a couple occasions — but with lousy results. The filly picked up the beat a bit over a 9f off track LTO. Should find this group to her liking and vies for the board. Talented for the win too. We’ll see if she shows up with her classy A-game.
Chris C: Smokey’s Chant – kody
If she can carry her form, then Smokey’s Chant is your winner. The War Chant 4YO rides a 3-race win streak including a brash-n-brave score in the County BB(G3, 9.5f). Superb from midpack or even off pace. You can’t say enough about her! What a wonderful filly. 🙂
This gal chases her 7th stakes win for 2005. Perfectly suited to this distance and hopes to add to her half-million dollar bankroll. Copenhagen Again has raced versus the big girls, but Smokey’s Chant presents the beautiful resume. Tough to choose between the two.
Snowchief’s Picks:
In a nutshell, we have the classy pacesetter Copenhagen Again trying to outlast the late charge of the newly-minted graded winner Smokey’s Chant. Gonna be a heckuva stretch drive. 🙂
My Duke Wooden has the talent to run with these faves….. but she’s gotta show up with her very best stuff. Ditto for the once-promising Niptuck. The gal has to bring her very best to the table.
If you want a sleeper, then turn to Gigantic Steps T — this filly’s improving (despite being rushed into a Grade LTO) and should be a stakes performer someday. An even stronger sleeper may be Thirteen Casino — she’s presented talent over this distance in the past and returns to “weaker” filly racing. I think ‘Thirteen is the dark horse sleeper of the field!
I like the stayer Spelunking for a minor share. Be on the lookout for “turf to dirt” NWRC sweetheart Scimitarra(GB), but that training tactic can just as easily go south in a hurry. Mining Numbers vies for pace with ‘Copenhagen, but might succumb early after facing off with that classy speedster.
Sprinters Apt to Be and Golden Twilight are up in the air — doubtful they’ll be of much effect. This is a step up in class for Brass Purse. Mr Magpie is a true wildcard — talented gal, but making stakes debut in difficult spot and thus may throw a clinker.
Win: Smokey’s Chant
Place: Copenhagen Again
Show: Thirteen Casino
Good luck to all NWRCers! And thanks again to Tracy (squirrel) for a fabulous Cavalcade Cup! Woohoo!!!