The First Chapter of a Long Rivalry?
The Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly
Grade 1 Stakes
A mile and one sixteenth on Firm Turf
$750,000
Two Year Old Fillies
The crowd will definitely be abuzz as we wrap up the undercard and run the very first race in the 2005 Breeders Bowl. The hopes and dreams of the crowd holding their tickets on this race pale in comparison to the Owners and young Fillies running in it. A win here can certainly lead to great things in the future. Many will go on to breed future Breeders Bowl horses. We have several first time trainers this year and it has to be a real treat for them. There are some really beautiful and talented fillies here so let’s take a look:
1 – TAKETHECAR ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 16/1 ontarget2 14.7% P Davis 13% 84.4 78.4 3 RACES WINS STAKES WINS SIRE DS DDS BMARE 4 2 3 1 Stroll Rainbow Quest Caerleon None
One of only 38 offspring of freshman sire Stroll, that number could increase with the success of TAKETHECAR and STROLLING FOR GOLD. She is well rested after shipping in from Europe where the big filly ran her last two stakes. She finished second in both of those, once to NOB HILL in the GSR Diamond G1 and to also-entered BELLA in the Her Forests Bonanza. She will get another crack at NOB HILL in this race. A winner of $200,000 in only four races she has a tendency to sit back and wait for the speed horses to burn out. In the Diamond she came from 10th at the half and threaded her way through horses and was still 7th in the final turn before putting on the afterburners in the stretch. Trainer Ontarget2 has to be worried about SUPER GOLD and others and their speed in this race and hoping that they burn each other out.
| 2 – SUPER GOLD | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | super20 | 16.4% | F Gossett | 22% | 84.2 | 84.2 | 1 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | Seeking the Gold | Northern Dancer | Seattle Slew | None |
What better way to start off your career than five for five? This is the horse that everyone is talking about and with good reason. Super20’s talented lady has run well every time out including three graded races and never really been challenged. Detractors say that is the problem as she has never had anyone really get in her face during a race. She has beaten some of the best, including OJAI HIGH two back in a Grade III. She has put away fourth ranked CARSON TOUCH twice in her two Grade I races. She loves the front end and the races biggest surprise will be if she doesn’t jump out to the early lead. Last time out in the Filly Grand Prix GI, CARSON TOUCH got ahead of her until the quarter pole and she didn’t like that at all. It was the first time in her career that she couldn’t see an open track ahead of her. She quickly dispatched the frontrunner and ended up winning by over two lengths. Trainer Super20 doesn’t think we’ve seen her best race yet. “She will be rested and primed for a top effort and a win would be a dream come true…an undefeated season capped off with a Breeder’s Bowl win.”
| 3 – NOB HILL | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | novanora | 9.1% | W Sturman | 6% | 87.6 | 87.6 | 2 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | Miesque’s Son | With Approval | Theatrical | Frisco Project |
Philadelphia based Novanora Stables doesn’t seem to mind all the hoopla around SUPER GOLD. Her pretty grey filly is well rested and ready to take on the favorite. NOB HILL started her career on the dirt and quickly found the grass to her liking. She most recently shipped to Europe and won the GSR Diamond GI rather easily over TAKETHECAR, THE BLUE SWORD and RANSOM who are in this race. She had planned to run one more prep before the Breeders Bowl but couldn’t find just the right race so extra training and rest took it’s place. NOB HILL is out of the claimed multiple stakes winner FRISCO PROJECT who was to be bred to Kingmambo but instead ended up in the breeding shed of his full brother Miesque’s Son for a 3×4 inbreeding to Nureyev. The breeding showed well in the Diamond which was her first mile jaunt and her best speed figure. When trainer Novanora was asked about all the attention SUPER GOLD is getting, she smiled and said, “Nob Hill is currently ranked # 2 in the 2 year old turf filly ratings, and I’m hoping she’ll be good enough on Saturday to make her # 1.” Some pundits claim that the Trainer’s and Jockey’s win percentages will never allow this filly to win the race. NOB HILL thinks that she is the one to decide that.
| 4 – TENACIOUS V | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | peeps4 | 16.3% | A Rolling | 29% | 88.9 | 88.7 | 5 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Vindication | Lear Fan | Buckpasser | None |
Trainer Peeps4 is making his inaugural trip to the Breeders Bowl and he admits that he is pretty darn excited. He is certainly excited about the chances of his horse Tenacious V as well. The chestnut filly is sired by the trainer’s favorite, Vindication. He has six stakes winners in his stables sired by the big colt standing a Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms in Lexington, KY. He also proudly points out that he bred and trained the only two graded stakes winners by Vindication in the sim, Tenacious V and Vindiana Jones. Tenacious V garnered her name after the trainer listened to some tracks by Tenacious D (Jack Black). Having entered and won only one stakes race, the Flying Saucer GIII last time out, won’t be a hindrance to her chances according to Peeps4. “Of the fillies that have run bigger speed figures on the turf than Tenacious V, one will not make this field, one did it in an ungraded stakes, one did it sprinting, and one is a front runner who is likely to see some pressure.” When he puts it like that, it is hard to argue with. With A Rolling up in the stirrups, she will be well guided.
| 5 – JACA | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | palmisland | 22.9% | R Foster | 15% | N/A | N/A | 16 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Mt. Livermore | Gone West | Roberto | Queen Bluffy |
This Mt. Livermore filly is another that could surprise. She has five of seven wins and that is certainly nothing to sneeze at. And three of those were stakes races. Her last outing was the Grade II More Glare Stakes where she went from 6th to 1st from the half way point. She had a respectable 83 speed figure especially considering that the race was on an off track. She beat PRABHA in that race who was an also-entered here. The race previous to that she went from 8th at the half, threaded her way through the field and finished just a length behind SUPER GOLD in second and ahead of CARSON’S TOUCH. She seems to be peaking at just the right time which is a credit to Palmisland, her trainer. A word of caution to all of those horses out front in this race. Don’t look back, JACA may be gaining on you!
| 6 – SUN IN ACTION | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | sjmeola3 | 17.6% | T Small | 26% | 83.5 | 83.5 | 15 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | Bahri | Troy | Reviewer | None |
Though ranked 15th, this little filly has done absolutely everything that trainer Sjmeola3 has asked of her. In her six turf races she has never finished lower than second including three Stakes wins. She has consistently posted good times and shows plenty of heart no matter who she is up against. She likes to be near the front but doesn’t have to have the lead which may be to her advantage here if she can get in that wave behind the rabbits that will all be fighting for the front. If she can be patient and find her spot, she just may be able to push up between them at the right time. SUN IN ACTION is the only horse in this race that has raced only in the United States, something you don’t see very often with turf runners. Perhaps the home cooking will do her good as well. Fifteen year veteran Jockey T Small is having a career year and would like to cap it with this race.
| 7 – NATIVE SPECIES | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/1 | bodgit | 22.2% | T Loesch | 28% | 83.8 | 81.7 | 13 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 | Medaglia d’Oro | Raise A Native | Riverman | None |
After a first and two thirds on the dirt, trainer Bodgit decided that he wanted more and turned this filly onto turf miles. No use starting all over so she jumped right into stakes races winning her first with a nice 83 speed figure. She moved up to the Filly Grand Prix GI last time out and got stuck between horses in the final turn and could do no better than fifth in a race where SUPER GOLD, CARSON TOUCH and VINDICTIVE FORCE all finished ahead of her. Bodgit promised to talk to his jockey and come up with a little different strategy for this race. “With so many front runners here, we may hold back and run from the clouds. Hopefully we just won’t stay in the clouds!” The Medaglia d’Oro filly hopes to be flashing her light grey color down the stretch and into the lead across the wire. Jockey T Loesch flies in to show this filly the way.
| 8 – TROLLEY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | wish | 17.4% | J Stivers | 25% | 85.0 | 85.0 | 28 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 7 | 4 | 5 | 2 | Victory Gallup | Forty Niner | Theatrical | None |
Another horse that could benefit from all of the early speed in this race is this stakes veteran. Trolley has posted the top speed figure in this race though it was at six and a half furlongs. She has also thrown an 85 speed figure in her last outing in the Flying Saucer Stakes Grade III where she finished third to TENACIOUS V at a mile and a sixteenth. She may have won that if she didn’t get bumped in the stretch. Forteen year veteran jockey J Stivers is up and should be able to make sure that doesn’t happen again. In every race she’s posted on grass, she was right there at the finish and she has to be a worry for the owners of all of the frontrunners. The only worry for trainer Wish is whether she has quite enough stamina or would be better off in the shorter races. If not, and she can find her way to the winners circle, they will be yelling Clang, Clang, Clang for Trolley!
| 9 – CARSON TOUCH(NZ) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/1 | holychow | 9.6% | H Harzheim | 23% | 80.9 | 80.9 | 4 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | Zabeel | Sadler’s Wells | Carson City | Welldonecarson |
CARSON TOUCH owner and trainer Holychow has to wonder what it takes to beat SUPER GOLD as he has come up on the short end twice against her. He states, “She ran a bang up race against her in the Filly Grand Prix GI and showed enough heart to get another shot in this race.” Based out of New Orleans, the stable was damaged during Hurricane Katrina but is undergoing repairs. This is the trainers second trip to the Breeders Bowl and the trip to New York will be welcome. Although she needs no repairs, they have been working hard on CARSON TOUCH as well. Another speed horse, CARSON TOUCH has been training hard on her jump out of the gate. Said Holychow, “Anything can happen. She’ll be the rabbit in this race and if she can get some daylight on the field she might be able to wire them !!!” With H Harzheim guiding, things could get rather interesting on the front end.
| 10 – VINDICTIVE FORCE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/1 | 40storm99 | 15.1% | V Gardner | 18% | 80.3 | 80.3 | 12 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | Vindication | Forty Niner | Storm Bird | Louis’s Birds |
The second of two Vindication fillies that made the field, this one out of Louis’s Birds. A late entry that stabled for some time in Europe after the Filly Grand Prix GI where she finished third to SUPER GOLD and CARSON TOUCH on her very first run on the grass. A third to those two is nothing to be ashamed of and that puts her right in the thick of things, especially with her running style which is waiting for everyone to get a head start then running hell bent for leather after the leaders. Daddy always told me to be careful of a horse’s second run on turf as they really get used to it. I think Daddy would have put a couple bucks down on VINDICTIVE FORCE.
| 11 – CRYIN SHAME(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23/1 | ajr14 | 11.2% | P Bangs | 25% | 77.2 | 73.8 | 14 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Street Cry | Nureyev | Wajima | Linda Front |
This Irish bred filly didn’t look like a possibility for this race until four back when trainer Ajr14 moved her to the turf then stretched it out over a mile. She responded with two wins in four tries including the Raul in the Car Challenge. She was improving nicely until she stumbled a bit in the last race when she seemed to take a bad step in the back stretch and faded badly. She has rested the leg six weeks and trained lightly until the past week when AJR14 stepped up the workouts. She was breezing nicely in her morning jaunts this past week and there is an air of confidence around her stable. She could use a little Irish Luck and it would be a “Cryin Shame” if she doesn’t get it.
| 12 – TORCH SONG | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | gradetwo | 30.5% | B Schardein | 24% | 89.2 | 89.2 | 8 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | Woodman | Seattle Slew | Alydar | Gordie’s Seattle |
This is the kind of horse that makes these Juvenile races interesting. After four tries on the dirt with decent but relatively mediocre results, she switched to the turf and won two Stakes races in a row including the GIII Booker T. Handicap with a powerful wire to wire win with an excellent figure, the fastest mile time in this field. Trainer Gradetwo has to be tickled with those results and hopeful that they can be duplicated here at the Bowl. We have yet another filly that likes to be up front and it ought to look like a jail break at the start of this race. She is well rested after shipping in early from her last race in Ireland. She has yet to face any of this races participants but Gradetwo hopes to give them all a big surprise with his prized filly. In the stirrups is B Schardein and his 10 years experience will show through.
| 13 – THE BLUE SWORD(GB) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/1 | aalusive | 23.3% | N.Lawton | 21% | 82.2 | 81.4 | 6 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 6 | 4 | 4 | 2 | Diesis | Forty Niner | Alzao | Niner Niner |
Uniquely named THE BLUE SWORD has never finished out of the money in six races and has won as many times as anyone but SUPER GOLD. She is out of Brood Mare NINER NINER who only ran one race, which she didn’t win but has thrown two Stakes winning offspring in THE BLUE SWORD and three year old BRAHMS NINER. She was named for the Robin McKinley Best Seller and is partly a play on her sire, Diesis, whose name means dagger. Trainer Aalusive has had very good luck with Diesis (sire of Dante, who’s running in the Turf, and graded stakes winner Scimitarra) – and she liked the cross with 49er, and with Alzao as the DDS, it then became a no-brainer, as Diesis has done very well with Lyphard blood. Things should be crowded at the front of this race as this is another speed horse who likes the front. She finished third behind NOB HILL and TAKETHECAR in the GSR Diamond GI last time out when she ran in third the entire way. Trainer Aalusive may tell this tracks best jockey, N Lawton to try to hang back a bit and hopefully finish stronger in the stretch. Whether that will work remains to be seen. She seems to like the extra distance and should be there at the end.
| 14 – RANSOM | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14/1 | 2die4 | 23.4% | Ax Williams | 15% | 80.5 | 79.0 | 9 | |
| RACES | WINS | STAKES | WINS | SIRE | DS | DDS | BMARE | |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | Red Ransom | Danehill | Machiavellian | Otto Judge |
After winning two in a row, RANSOM stumbled out of the gate in the GSR Diamond GI and never challenged, finishing in eighth behind several horses in this race including winner NOB HILL. Disappointed trainer 2die4 promised to make some changes in her training and get her ready for the Breeders Bowl. “I considered skipping this race because my filly stunk so bad in the last race but I’m going to tinker with a few things to try to spark a little something out of her.” With a win percentage of 24% I don’t doubt that he may have a little magic left for RANSOM. She has only run an 80 speed figure once but if you are going to fix it, this sure would be a good time. And she didn’t get the number nine ranking by accident either.
Some Previous Races to View
Escapade GIII in Ireland
Watch!
GSR Diamond GI at Longchamp
Watch!
The Filly Grand Prix GI at Ascot
Watch!
The Flying Saucer Stakes GIII at Ontario
Watch!
Morning Line =2-8-3-12
Yoss Tipsheet = 8-3-2-5
Paz Picks = 3-2-12-4
The real problem we could be dealing with here with all of the superlative runners in the field, is that several horses like to be on the engine early. In a worst case scenario, they burn each other out up front. Despite that, it’s too late in the season to change the running style of a horse that has been this successful. You just can’t tell what will happen if you do that, so you have to let them run and hope that no one can run them down late. I believe that all of the early speed in this race could really shake things up, especially with SUPER GOLD. For that reason, one of the longshots could actually win the race, for example a filly like 16/1 shot TAKETHECAR could come flying up at the end and pick off tiring frontrunners. I’m choosing TENACIOUS V to burn up the stretch at the end but finish just a bit short in fourth place. TORCH SONG will be tiring but have enough left to gather third. On a hunch, I think that NOB HILL will pick off SUPER GOLD at the wire for the victory. These two horses may be starting what could be a long rivalry between them. I can’t wait to see the first chapter!
Good luck to all runners!
Paz