{"id":3882,"date":"2007-03-30T15:19:38","date_gmt":"2007-03-30T15:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=3882"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=3882","title":{"rendered":"Main tracker You’re A Towel meets El Cajon, Buda For A Day on Bluegrass turf"},"content":{"rendered":"Kentucky<\/STRONG>–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We got a dandy here at the Bluegrass Racetrack\u00a0with a hot main tracker testing her legs for the first time over the turf course.\u00a0\u00a0 Highly regarded Louisiana Oaks(G2)<\/EM> winner\u00a0You’re A Towel<\/STRONG> (3\/1) is that hot main tracker and she battles a very competitive field in the Grade 3 $150,000 Appalooza Stakes<\/EM>.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Broadside(G3)<\/EM> victoress Buda For A Day<\/STRONG> and Silver Spoon(G2)<\/EM> heroine Mendela<\/STRONG> lead the\u00a0grass specialists.\u00a0\u00a0 They’re joined by the very interesting El Cajon<\/STRONG> who has been pretty good so far sprinting on the green stuff.\u00a0\u00a0Additionally, a wide variety of talented starlets challenge for the glory and stakes points too.\u00a0 Let’s take a look at the field as we test one Monster (Sophomore Turf Filly!) Mile<\/EM>………..\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>You’re A Star (Of Two Surfaces?)<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Most of the time, a handicapper can be forgiven for bypassing a debuter over the surface.\u00a0\u00a0 Especially a horse like You’re A Towel(KY)<\/STRONG> (3\/1) who has been absolutely superb this season over the main track.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gotta commend trainer Watershed for splendid perseverance — You’re A Towel was a perfect 3-for-3 lifetime going into the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Fillies<\/EM>.\u00a0 \u00a0She had done everything asked of her, boldly winning the Frickazee (G1)<\/EM> and KY Horsemen Debutante(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, the closer suffered from traffic woes and was perhaps a bit short on seasoning in the end.\u00a0\u00a0 You’re A Towel managed to only pass tiring horses, finishing 6th in\u00a0the\u00a0BB.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 OK effort, but had to be crushing for her trainer.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>The Breeders Bowl’s stage\u00a0of course was Kentucky and the filly returns to the scene of the crime here Saturday.\u00a0 It’s just totally commendable how she recovered after the BB flop —\u00a0she was in the Movieland Starlet’s<\/EM> photo finish a few weeks later and now is a perfect 2-for-2 this year with scores in the Los Vinegrette<\/EM> and Louisiana Oaks<\/EM>, both Grade 2 main track sizzlers.\u00a0\u00a0 ‘Towel won the latter 8.5f race with a gorgeous 101 SP#<\/STRONG> and most definitely counts amongst the favorites for the Bluegrass Oaks<\/EM> five weeks from\u00a0Saturday.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>So why enter her\u00a0on the grass?\u00a0\u00a0 A few things:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>1)\u00a0 In the Sim’s old days,\u00a0the turf-to-dirt switcheroo<\/STRONG> as a final prep for a premier race was highly fashionable.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a normal thing for a big main tracker to jog around the turf course prior to throwing what\u00a0was hoped to be a huge SP# victory when moved back to the dirt surface.\u00a0 Could be that Watershed’s reaching back into the Sim’s past here, following that training strategy.\u00a0\u00a0It looks strange nowadays though — we just don’t see the tactic much anymore at this level due to the wear & tear implementation (added to the game in ’04 or late ’03 I believe).\u00a0\u00a0 Folks fear wear & tear in their big stars.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>2)\u00a0 Her pedigree!<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0 Elusive Quality x Saint Ballado x Mill Reef.\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, Smarty Jones won on the turf before the dirt, right?\u00a0\u00a0The Sim’s pretty forgiving, allowing one misplaced start.\u00a0 It won’t ruin her form hopefully.\u00a0\u00a0 IMO, it’s a bit of gamble though.\u00a0\u00a0 However, she *does* have the bloodlines for this green stuff.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>3)\u00a0 Stamina questions<\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Elusive Quality of course set the World Record over a mile.\u00a0\u00a0 I see enough stamina in ‘Towel’s damside to get 9f though.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>4)\u00a0 Keep options open<\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Maybe Watershed would like to\u00a0“play the field” that first Saturday in May.\u00a0 A win here would assure ‘Towel entry into the Guineas (even if she loses, she’d still probably draw in Ranked #20).\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Your guess is as good as mine!\u00a0\u00a0 Honest speed up front here should give You’re A Towel something to run at. \u00a0 \u00a0We’ll see what happens.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Buda Neighs, “Let’s Win These Miler Days!”<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Trainer Vicki probably has Buda For A Day(KY)<\/STRONG>‘s (9\/1) stamina questions all wrapped up.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A pair of 9f turf debacles sandwiched alongside gorgeous 8f victories (Broadside(G3)<\/EM> this season and the High Flyer(G1)<\/EM> versus colts nevertheless last year!)\u00a0has to draw some conclusions.\u00a0\u00a0 Her pedigree:\u00a0\u00a0 Dayjur x Storm Cat x Sadler’s Wells.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So, yeah, this gal fits the Monster Mare Miler<\/EM> bill.\u00a0 Personally, I love her 2-for-2 record around one-turn turf according to that pedigree and think Vicki should keep\u00a0Buda For A Day’s\u00a0options open down the road!\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Buda For A Day enters here on six weeks rest.\u00a0 <\/FONT>\u00a0She should be around You’re\u00a0A Towel at the back of the pack and if the former doesn’t fire, then this closer is your “one to watch.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Positively blossoming starlet and now that she has those stamina questions out of the way, time to get down to Miler<\/EM> business.\u00a0\u00a0 I like her a lot in this spot.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Quite The Fella, Mendela<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Like Buda For A Day, Mendela(IRE)<\/STRONG> (6\/1) also shortens up to her graded-winning distance.\u00a0\u00a0 Can’t fault trainer bossross for testing Mendela over 9.5f LTO (she floundered down the lane in a short field which she should’ve probably outclassed).\u00a0\u00a0With Dubai Millenium as damsire, it was worth a shot to see if Mendela could stay some ground and possibly start later on in April’s Aussie Oaks races.\u00a0 Of course, this filly won the Silver Spoon Juvenile(G2)<\/EM> last December.\u00a0\u00a0That flat mile race produces some good late-blooming talent and Mendela rode a 3\u00a0listed stakes\u00a0win streak marvelously into the victory.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Hmm… I’d caution bossross to consider the effects of the two weeks between the Panhandle Oaks(G3)<\/EM> and Triangular Star(G3)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Mendela finished up solidly in those events, taking 3rd both times with 90+ SP#s.\u00a0\u00a0 Love to see that solid SP# progression.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She had 5 weeks rest afterwards, but maybe she needed 6\u00a0or even 8 weeks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 After all, it was\u00a0January and February for a 3yo filly.\u00a0\u00a0 She races back here on 4 weeks rest — is her trainer pushing her too fast and that’s why she konked out in the 9.5f test LTO?\u00a0\u00a0 Interesting.\u00a0 Lots of\u00a0questions with this one.\u00a0\u00a0 Talented stalker must be at her best.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>La Bonita’s (Two-Turns?) Dolce Vita<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Call me a dumb ‘capper, but I think here’s your winner.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dagrims’ El Cajon(IRE)<\/STRONG> (4\/1) is a very solid Graded-placed turf sprinter and winner of a few overniters.\u00a0\u00a0She makes her two-turns debut Saturday.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Her pedigree:\u00a0\u00a0 El Prado x Kris S. x Bold Ruler.\u00a0\u00a0 You’d think at least short routes, right?\u00a0\u00a0 But if you look carefully at her PPs, she’s lost both of her recent 7f outings\u00a0which was probably enough for trainer dagrims (Barndog? \ud83d\ude42 )\u00a0to\u00a0suspect\u00a0her stamina.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, she won her sprint race LTO with a fading 1\/2-length lead.\u00a0\u00a0 El Cajon is a stalker or sometimes pacesetter.\u00a0 Her 90+ SP#s this season (including a runner up in the Booty Call(G3-6fT)<\/EM> versus colts)\u00a0is quite impressive and on target for this point in her young career.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Hmmm… \u00a0I think it’s quite possible she can get the mile.\u00a0\u00a0 Granted, there are warning signs to the negative, but gotta try this filly.\u00a0\u00a0 Tough spot for the experiment, but I’ve got a good feeling\u00a0about this one.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Oh, For Future Guineas Glory<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Well, here’s a modest pedigree with Full Mandate x Future Storm x Rambo Dancer!\u00a0\u00a0 HA!\u00a0\u00a0 How refreshing.\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0 Full Future(FL)<\/STRONG> (8\/1) checks in for trainer Larkin and she’s a spunky li’l thing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The filly was average last season over the main track but she managed to break her maiden classily in her 2nd career start.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>2007 though signaled a switch to the green stuff and Full Future has taken to it like a jackrabbit.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The filly bagged a miler ALW and a 8.5f Alabama overniter in fine pacesetters’ fashion.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The latter was a 2-length laugher and resulted in her first 90+ SP#.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, she got caught late in another listed stakes afterwards, gamely finishing\u00a02nd with the final time 1:36 flat.\u00a0\u00a0 Pretty swift final time there.\u00a0\u00a0 Full Futre joins AP Infinity,\u00a0Rock The Kasbah, Bernabeau,\u00a0and possibly El Cajon for frontrunner honors.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe a bit in over her head when measured against these bluebloods.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But, hey, she’s spoiling for a good fight.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Not without a shot for all the marbles.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>DEB-sperately Seeking Stakes Points<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Here’s my dark horse.\u00a0\u00a0 Debut Deb(KY)<\/STRONG> (8\/1) brings a perfect 2-for-2 lifetime turf record to the table.\u00a0\u00a0 The Grand Slam x Strike The Gold x Royal Academy gal is equally as good on the main track, stakes-laced over a lfat mile a couple times.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The late midpacker rallied splendidly LTO for a 92 SP#<\/STRONG> score over 7f in listed company.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Granted, Debut Deb is terribly green at only 6 starts, but she does bring a couple 90+ SP#s and proven ability over a mile.\u00a0\u00a0 Don’t know if she’s ready for these big girls.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Even if she manages a win here, I don’t know if she’ll drastically improve her #497 Turf Classic ranking enough to draw into the Guineas.\u00a0\u00a0 Possible though.\u00a0\u00a0 Still learning the ropes.\u00a0 One to keep an eye on as a possible sleeper for trainer Groucho.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Catch That\u00a0Newmarket Fever<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>A Tapit daughter with a rather grassy female family checks in from post 10.\u00a0\u00a0 Catch Twenty Too(KY)<\/STRONG> (8\/1) finished ahead of Mendela in January’s\u00a0Panhandle Oaks(G3)<\/EM> — the stalker just missed the win by a 1\/4-length.\u00a0\u00a0 It was just her 2nd career start over the\u00a0lawn — Catch Twenty Too was bit average over the main track last season, but close\u00a0out her ’06 campaign with a fine 2nd at the listed stakes level (her first start over the grass).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Wow, this filly is better than her odds indicate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You can kind of toss\u00a0out her effort versus colts LTO since she got stuck on the lead.\u00a0\u00a0 Her first two starts on the grass resulted in 90 SP#s — a great leap up from her numbers over the main track.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Some speed in this group, but she’s passed the\u00a0class test already.\u00a0\u00a0 Interesting outsider.\u00a0\u00a0 Good jockey aboard too.\u00a0\u00a0 One to keep in your exotics.\u00a0 Races for willyam12.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>A Nifty\u00a0Affinity<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Blueblooded A.P. Infinity(KY)<\/STRONG> (9\/1) joins the pacesetters fray.\u00a0\u00a0 She’s by AP Indy and brings a 3-for-6 lifetime turf record to the starting gate.\u00a0\u00a0 Since switching from the main track, she’s been solid if you toss out the 11f experiment debacle LTO.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Even raced against colts a couple times.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Unfortunately, stupor4’s AP Infinity has to grow up fast here.\u00a0\u00a0 She must break through the 90 SP# barrier at long last.\u00a0\u00a0 Still, she’s perfect over a flat mile and perhaps would rather have a flat mile instead of 9f, 9.5f.\u00a0\u00a0 The longer routes might’ve naturally dipped her SP#s.\u00a0 We’ll see what happens, but has a lot to prove.\u00a0\u00a0 Still a lot of learning and experiementing ahead for this filly.\u00a0\u00a0 Tough spot.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Back On The Right Track (Uh Huh!)<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Major inbreeding to Northern Dancer with War Chant x Nijinsky II x Nureyev.\u00a0 Stakes-placed\u00a0Sidetrack(KY) <\/STRONG>(18\/1) pretty average so far over the lawn.\u00a0\u00a0 Quite a reach here since the closer has barely broken out of the 70 SP# ranks recently.\u00a0\u00a0 Comes out of a dirt debacle two weeks ago.\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes that wakes them up.\u00a0\u00a0 Other times, they’re also-ran.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Looks outclassed in this group.\u00a0\u00a0 Expensive homebred, but you still need to be patient.\u00a0\u00a0 Bred to go long.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Races for blackswan.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Rock The Router Clock<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Looks like the Supers check in with thier gradeone stable.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They bring a fancy bred Rock of Gibraltar(IRE) daughter named Rock The Kasbah(IRE)<\/STRONG> (19\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 The filly joins the frontrunner group.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The speedster won her first four starts easy <\/FONT>peasy enough last season (though versus short fields and with slow SP#s).\u00a0Unfortunately, the fily flopped big time when stepped up to Mendela’s Silver Spoon Juvenile(G2)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Picked up the beat LTO with a runner-up finish around 7.5 panels.\u00a0\u00a0 Solid 92 SP# too.\u00a0\u00a0 Worth a shot, but maybe the Supers are just trying to push her and her pedigree into the Guineas starting gate.\u00a0\u00a0 IMO, the next logical step would’ve been two-turns in a listed event or ALW to see if the Grade 2 race last year was just a rotten egg.\u00a0 Doubtful but maybe minor share.<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Hey, Beau, Where’s The Dough?<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>Daveyboy’s Bernabeau(IRE)<\/STRONG> (33\/1) is our 2nd runner sired by Alberto Giacometti(IRE) (he also sired Mendela).\u00a0 Bernabeau has a weaker female family though.\u00a0\u00a0 The filly earned some big BP last year for her trainer in\u00a0a GSR residency series.\u00a0 The speedster was stakes-placed in open company too.\u00a0\u00a0 Bernabeau showed the way early on in the Panhandle Oaks(G3),<\/EM> but tired well enough to finish 6th of 11.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her speed figures just don’t compare with the faves at this point.\u00a0\u00a0 Reaching for minor share at best.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Speedster’s outside post doesn’t help.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Snowchief’s Picks<\/U>:<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>I have a funny feeling that El Cajon will do well stretching out in this spot…. but she’s an iffy selection.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>I like Debut Deb as my dark horse, though she’s green.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Have questions about Mendela’s fitness, but she can win this easily if I’m overreacting.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Full Future is a nice little filly but she might get caught in a speed duel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ditto for Catch Twenty Too — play her across the board since she has back class.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Wouldn’t be surprised to see You’re A Towel in the winer’s circle with her pedigree, but, since there’s no lawn record with her to go on, flip a coin.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>If you want a safe bet, then select Buda For A Day from off pace — she’s in the right place, right time, that sort of thing — LOL.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Ha!\u00a0 So many great candidates!\u00a0\u00a0 Better wheel some of these horses:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Win:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Buda For a Day or El Cajon<\/FONT><\/DIV>Place:\u00a0\u00a0Buda For a Day or El Cajon<\/FONT><\/DIV>Show:\u00a0 Debut Deb, Catch Twenty Too, or Mendela<\/FONT><\/DIV>Longshot for Win:\u00a0\u00a0 Debut Deb<\/FONT><\/DIV>