{"id":4775,"date":"2007-09-20T23:13:46","date_gmt":"2007-09-20T23:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=4775"},"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=4775","title":{"rendered":"World Cup Juvenile Filly Mile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Twelve fillies are set to battle it out over the fast <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" \/><st1:State><st1:place>Minnesota<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> oval for Grade I bragging rights for themselves, a $500,000 purse, and World Cup points as for their owners.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Many were nominated but few were chosen.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The selection process makes this race very different from most Grade I races.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Half of the field enters the race with two or fewer stakes points.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Has this race open to all comers, there is a question as to how many of this field would even qualify to be here.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = \"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office\" \/><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Here are the teams:<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">North and <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">South America<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/B><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Despite having the highest ranked filly in the contest, the North and <st1:place>South America<\/st1:place> team finds three of their fillies rated as longshots.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However, they do find themselves with the short-priced favorite.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 4:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">SABBATH POINT(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(SEEKING THE GOLD x <st1:City><st1:place>SEATTLE<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> SLEW x <st1:City><st1:place>DAMASCUS<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">malekfarms<\/I><\/B> (17%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 5-2<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">She\u2019s only run once, and that was in a residency restricted race, but it was a dominating performance in fast time over a wet track.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her 89 speed figure is tied for the best in this race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Oddly enough, had this race been open to all fillies and entry based on stakes points, she would undoubtedly be left out in the cold \u2013 she has no stakes points yet.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As to the residency restricted race, it\u2019s worth pointing out that, with odds set more by breeding than<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>by performance this early in a career, she is at much lower odds facing this group than she was in that first outing.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Seeking the Gold is still producing stakes winners at a 17% rate. He doesn\u2019t have a two-year-old graded winner yet.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Yet.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn is part of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">AFC Stables<\/I><\/B>, which belongs to the DelPenn National Residency.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 7:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">LPGA SPIKE(KY) <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 7.5pt\"><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>(AWESOME AGAIN x A.P. INDY x <st1:City><st1:place>CARSON<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> CITY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">19thhole<\/I><\/B> (15%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 10-1<STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Spike has already established a number twelve division ranking, tops in the field, with two wins in her two routes, including last time out where she pressed the pace and prevailed against a decent listed stakes field in <st1:State><st1:place>Illinois<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She\u2019ll be hoping to find an early pace and use her pressing style to run her win streak to three.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her dam took until her four year old season and her sixteenth start to break her maiden, but she passed on some distance-loving genes to her daughter, and those genes have turned on early.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Stable is associated with the CR Racers Residency and is able to keep track of breeding by giving all colts names beginning with \u201cPGA,\u201d and fillies names beginning with \u201cLPGA.\u201d<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 2:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">ARMY RANGER(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(WAR FRONT x KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">futurestar<\/I><\/B> (29%) Odds: 11-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">She handled a six filly listed field last time with ease in front running fashion, but could not prevail against a<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>four filly allowance the time before.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That allowance race, however, was sprinting and the stakes win was routing.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her speed figures made a big jump when she stretched out.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If they all run to their last figure, she\u2019ll need just as big a jump today.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The biggest thing going for her may be her connections.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Futurestar is part of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Dixiedotco<\/I><\/B> stables, associated with Pastured of Green Residency, and one of the highest percentage trainers in the game.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 8:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">MILENNIUM DRAGON(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(MEDAGLIA D&#8217;ORO x <st1:City><st1:place>DUBAI<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> MILLENNIUM (GB) x EL GRAN SENOR)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">yunkai<\/I><\/B> (20%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 16-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Dragon is undefeated in three starts and has yet to even see a horse in front of her, having taken them all wire to wire, and she\u2019s a stakes winner.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That\u2019s the good news.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The competition she\u2019s been facing, however, has been very weak.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The only large field she\u2019s seen came in her first race, but half of that field still hasn\u2019t earned a nickel in purses yet.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>While her speed figures jumped by nearly 20 point when she stretched out from five furlongs to seven and a half, she still hasn\u2019t hit an 80.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That makes her the only one in the race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She does have very strong connections.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Yunkai is part of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Given<\/I><\/B> <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Stables<\/I><\/B>, which is part of the GR Simsters.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><st1:country-region><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Australia<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">, <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:country-region><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">New Zealand<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">, and <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Far East<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/B><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">This team brings in a filly that absolutely towers over the field in earnings.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>They also bring in the two longest shots in the field.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 3:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">DEHERE THAT(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(DEHERE x FORTY NINER x STORM CAT)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">snappa6<\/I><\/B> (19%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 5-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">I have been playing this game since <st1:date Year=\"1970\" Day=\"1\" Month=\"1\">January 1<SUP>st<\/SUP>, 1970<\/st1:date>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It says so right under my name in the message boards.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In those 37 years, my horses have earned, I would estimate off the top of my head, about $50,000 in purses.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This filly is closing in on a half million dollars after four races.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A large chunk of that came in the owner-restricted $500,000 Smackdown series, where she easily handled a field that appears tougher than this.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She gets another one with similar restrictions today. If this race were only one turn, she might have been odds-on, but today she tries two turns for the first time.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The breeding says that might make her faster.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Two year olds can get better just by getting older, and it\u2019s worth noting that she has had the longest time off in the race.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She may be even faster than her last race indicates.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Snappa6, of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Snappa Stables<\/I><\/B>, running without a residency affiliation, has to love these restricted Grade 1 races.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 1:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:place><st1:City><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">UNION<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:City><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\"> <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><st1:State><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">DE<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:State><\/st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\"> <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">DIXIE<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(DIXIE UNION x WILD AGAIN x STORM CAT)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">astinator7<\/I><\/B> (31%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 8-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">She showed a big improvement last time to a figure that makes her one to watch here.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The big question is to what to attribute the improvement.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was her first route.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That\u2019s good: today\u2019s race is the same distance.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was her first on a sloppy track.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That\u2019s not so good: today\u2019s race is on a fast track.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was her first try in stakes company.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It came against a small and undistinguished field.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not so good.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Such is life when handicapping two year olds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>At the least she should appreciate the likely speed duel and comes from an EAAA Residency barn with an outlandish winning percentage.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 5:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">LITTLE GUINEA PIG(MD)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(POLISH MINER x DRACULA (AUS) x STAFF WRITER)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">flemington<\/I><\/B> (7%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 27-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">She seems likely to be very prominent early here.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She\u2019s undefeated after two races, and her figures make her more likely a contender here than the oddsmakers give her credit for.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After only two races, odds are based as much on breeding than on performance, and her breeding is modest compared to many others in here.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>While undefeated, she really hasn\u2019t beaten much, so maybe longish odds are justified.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The first horse I felt emotionally attached to, Staff Riot, was a son of Staff Writer, so I will be rooting for the breeding.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn is part of the EAAA Residency.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 10:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">WHIRLWIND DANCER(CAN)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(DANCE TO DESTINY x REGAL INTENTION x AHMAD(ARG))<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">morrighan<\/I><\/B> (5%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 49-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Being chosen for a prestigious race like this is quite an honor.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Oddsmakers are hoping this EAAA Residency barn will appreciate the honor and not feel insulted by the long odds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I\u2019m guessing this barn is not discouraged by the odds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Dancer crushed a large field last time at over 30-1 odds.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She might be trailing the entire field early, but this late closer gets a likely duel of cheap speed to run at and gets her first ride from a top-tier jockey.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Bold pick by the eastern hemisphere team.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Europe<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"> and <\/SPAN><\/B><st1:place><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Scandinavia<\/SPAN><\/B><\/st1:place><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"> <\/SPAN>(Isn\u2019t <st1:place>Scandinavia<\/st1:place> part of <st1:place>Europe<\/st1:place>?)<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">While the other teams are made up of favorites and longshots, the Europeans have chosen a strong team of midlevel contenders.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not a longshot in the bunch, and every one with a shot to win.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With three of their runners making their first starts at the distance, it\u2019s tough to know just what to expect.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 6:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><st1:State><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">AL<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:place><\/st1:State><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\"> <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">FOREST<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(GOOD REWARD x <st1:place>DANZIG<\/st1:place> x A.P. INDY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">zielissimo<\/I><\/B><SPAN style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\"> (14%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 7-1<o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: bold\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Dam was a stakes winning sprinter, and it\u2019s too early in freshman sire Good Reward\u2019s career to see much evidence that he adds stamina to a pedigree.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With that background, this one tries a route for the first time.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She\u2019s done well as a sprinter.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With three wins s, she has almost half of the European team\u2019s wins.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She beat a tough field in a listed stakes and finished one and a half lengths behind the winner in the Grade III Butterfly Futurity, beating today\u2019s teammate Demonic Presence by over a length.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She joins longshot Whirlwind Dancer as the two deepest closers in the race, so if she takes to the two turns, she\u2019ll be coming late.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn is part of <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Rafa<\/I><\/B> <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Stables<\/I><\/B> and is a member of Minnesota Downs Residency.<o:p><\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 11:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">DEMONIC PRESENCE(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(VICTORY GALLOP x MINESHAFT x POLISH NUMBERS)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">taicheska<\/I><\/B> (14%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 8-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Since finishing behind teammate Al Forest in the Grade III Butterfly, she\u2019s made two changes and has been making big improvements.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The first change is that she dropped in class to allowance and listed stakes level.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She faced much weaker competition in those races than she sees today, so if that\u2019s the reason for the improvement, it doesn\u2019t bode well for the filly.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The other change is more encouraging: She switched to routes.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There is reason to be optimistic that this change was the more powerful factor.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Victory Gallop\u2019s get have done better at routes than at sprints.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She should be able to sit just off the early pace and hope to run them down in the stretch.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn is from the EAAA Residency.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 9:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">NAMANTI(KY)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(CAT THIEF x A.P. INDY x DIXIELAND BAND)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">har<\/I><\/B><SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(14%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 8-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Like the trainer of Al Forest, har is part of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Rafa Stables<\/I><\/B> and is part of the Northwest Racing Circuit Residency, and like Al Forest, Namanti makes her first start at around two turns today. <SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0<\/SPAN>Cat Thief usually does better with sprinters; A.P. Indy is legendary with routers.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Namanti\u2019s been in the money five times in her six starts, but only has one victory.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She does have the advantage, if it is one, of having a trip over the track last time out.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn makes a curious choice of jockeys.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With many top jockeys brought in for this day and with local legends Friar and Bowen available, the barn opts for a capable but unspectacular rider.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">Post 12:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">WAKI <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><st1:City><st1:place><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">HERAT<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><STRONG><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt\">(JPN)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(STRAVINSKY x MISWAKI x <st1:City><st1:place>HERAT<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">racinpogs<\/I><\/B> (18%)<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 8-1<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">After winning in her debut, she was third against a respectable stakes field and then ran a decent fifth against a very tough Grade II field.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Most recently, she ran a fast closing third against the boys in a listed stakes.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That race was a half furlong shorter that today\u2019s race, and she should just get better by having that extra 110 yards.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With the one for four lifetime record, and being the lowest ranked European entry she may be easy to overlook.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That would be a mistake.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Oddly enough, in a competition between parts of the world, there is only one filly bred outside the <st1:country-region><st1:place>United States<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region>.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And that one is bred in <st1:place>Asia<\/st1:place> and races for the Europeans.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn is part of the <B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><I style=\"mso-bidi-font-style: normal\">Pogo Racing Stables<\/I><\/B> and is in the EAAA Residency.<\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><B style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight: normal\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\">Summary: <\/SPAN><\/B><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\"><SPAN style=\"FONT-SIZE: 16pt\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><P class=MsoNormal style=\"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt\">This is such a tough race to predict, with so many of these babies being so lightly raced and so many of them trying this class and distance for the first time.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Let\u2019s be ecumenical and pick a trifecta of one from each team:<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Dehere That \/ Waki Herat \/ Sabbath Point.<SPAN style=\"mso-spacerun: yes\">\u00a0 <\/SPAN><o:p><\/o:p><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Never Have So Many Tried So Much New for So Much Glory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4775"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4775\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}