{"id":5839,"date":"2008-04-24T15:30:27","date_gmt":"2008-04-24T15:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=5839"},"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=5839","title":{"rendered":"The Unthinkable Stakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Race : Unthinkable Stakes – Grade II – $200,000 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>
Track : New Hampshire <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>
Restrictions : Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>
Distance : Seven furlongs on the Dirt<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Welcome to New Hampshire for the 9th<\/SUP> running of the G2-Unthinkable Stakes.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>On my way into to town I stopped in Pennsylvania to watch my horse King Newbie try to break her maiden.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Then since I was in the state next door I decided to stop in at the Vermont Residency and thank the NAG (Newbie Assistance Group) in person for giving me King Newbie.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Thanks so much Ladysecret, Roys, Chilcoat, Sandy, Nora and Bucksplash for helping out new players in this way, it is appreciated!\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Winner of the Unthinkable Stakes in 2003 was Heaven\u2019s Gate.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>She holds the stakes record here with a 116.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was trained by dixiedotco.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>I haven\u2019t been covering the horse racing circuit very long, but long enough to hear great things about this successful trainer who wins 25% of the time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not only did she have a successful racing career, retired grade B, Heaven\u2019s Gate has produced a graded winner, a stakes winner and a stakes placed horse.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her filly from 2008 has yet to race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

On to today\u2019s race here in New Hampshire.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We have a full field of fillies and mares fighting it out to take home their share of the $200,000 purse over 7 furlongs on the fast dirt.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Looks like there is going to be some tough competition, the race has attracted 5 of the top 25 ranked dirt sprinters, three in the top 10.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The favorite has never won this race and neither has a true long shot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There has not been a dominate jockey in the past running of this race either.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There are also three six year old girls joining the field of 4 and 5 year olds.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Let\u2019s have a look:\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 1\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>FLEETWOOD MIA\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(STRIKE THE GOLD x SEATTLE SLEW x HIS MAJESTY) bred and trained by fleetwood <\/B>(Brewer Racking Stable, 17%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds<\/SPAN>:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>8 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Drawing PP 1 is million dollar winner Fleetwood Mia.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has only finished out of the money 4 times in her 26 career starts and is ranked number 2 in dirt sprints for her age.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Fleetwood Mia is the second graded winner out of game dam Seattle Within Sea.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>In her last time out at the G2-The New York Stampede<\/B> she came in second in an average field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As is her style, she waited until just after 3rd<\/SUP> call and then put the pressure on, but it just wasn\u2019t enough to catch wire to wire winner Stormy Peg<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She hasn\u2019t raced successfully over 6.5 furlongs since last August in her G1 win.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The two times she has tried the longer distances since then she finished 8th<\/SUP> and 10th<\/SUP>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will have jockey P Haynes who is hot this year.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

PP 2\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SANFRAN\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(<\/SPAN>MINESHAFT x A.P. INDY x DANZIG<\/SPAN>) bred by graz30 <\/B>and <\/B>trained by elranchoti <\/B>(Seveii Stables, 23%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>18 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Sanfran is making her graded debut here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is coming off two wins in allowance races and although her career high speed is one of the lowest in the field, it is only by a few points.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is the first of two horses in the field to have come from claiming ranks.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Trainer and owner at Seveii picked her up last June for $35,000.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since then this 5 year old out of Dan\u2019s All Gone<\/B> has won 4 times.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Some of her best races have been on off tracks which she won\u2019t have here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The biggest question for Sanfran is will she be able to handle the large jump in class?<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

PP 3\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>STOCKING FILLER (KY)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(<\/SPAN>CAT THIEF x SAINT BALLADO x MARIA’S MON <\/SPAN>bred by foxon4 <\/B>and trained by jennah2 <\/B>(Ldyssecret Stables, 10%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 15 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

This lightly raced 4 year old is coming off two victories and her two highest career speeds.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She won her graded debut last time out at the G2-The Wild West Dash Stakes, <\/B>putting up a 110 SP.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Both of those races were 6 furlongs and the last two times she tried going longer than 6.5 furlongs she finished 9th<\/SUP> and 13th<\/SUP>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has never won a race where she started out worse than 3rd<\/SUP> place.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With so many horses in the field fighting for the early lead, she is going to need a great start out of the gates to run this race the way she likes to.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Drawing a post position closer to the rail should help.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

PP 4\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>BENNY BEING BENNY\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(MORE THAN READY x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x DANEHILL bred and trained by ebryant <\/B>(Mia and Ben Acres, 14<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>10 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

With a pair of graded victories already, it looks like this 5 year old scratch bred is trying to top the $1,000,000 mark here in New Hampshire.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She hasn\u2019t run in graded company on the dirt in almost 7 months, although trainer decided to see if she like the turf with a G1 try late last year.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I think she made her preference for the dirt obvious with her 13 place finish there.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That race may be contributing to her high odds here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If you look just at her previous dirt sprints she looks like she should be right in the thick of things here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>One thing to consider is she has mostly run shorter races recently and although she has been finishing in the money, she spends most of the race in the lead.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Unfortunately she hasn\u2019t been able to hold on to the lead and hasn\u2019t won in her last 7 attempts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I am not sure if the increased distance is going to help her here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 5\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>ELEGY (KY)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(A.P. INDY x FORTY NINER x DANZIG) bred by chile <\/B>and trained by chevrolet <\/B>(Chevrolet Stables, 12<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>10 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

This 4 year old out of Future Shock Too <\/B>is trying her ninth time for a stakes or graded stakes victory.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has 4 second place finishes and 2 third place finishes in her stakes tries, but she has never been first across the line.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Elegy has won 33% of her races, so she definitely can win races, but hasn\u2019t been able to do it in this class yet.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In her last time out at the G2-The Wild West Dash Stakes<\/B> she finished third behind Stocking Filler<\/B> and I See Your Point<\/B>, also in the field today.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And two races ago in the G3-Vermont is for Lovers <\/B>she finished behind Fleetwood Mia<\/B>, but ahead of Stirling Form<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 6\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I SEE YOUR POINT (KY)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(POINT GIVEN x STORM BIRD x WILD AGAIN) bred and trained by baggio <\/B>(Baggio Stables, 8<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>20 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

I See Your Point made her graded debut last time out (straight from allowance races) with an impressive 2nd<\/SUP> place finish and her career high speed of 108. She hasn\u2019t tried 7 furlongs since early in her debut season.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This scratch bred 4 year old only has 3 wins, but she hasn\u2019t finished out of the money since last year and is looking good.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I See Your Point was close to overtaking Stocking Filler to win last time out, but was just short.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She looks like she is maturing late and it just might be her time to shine.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 7\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SAND SNAKE (IRE)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(EL PRADO(IRE) x FORTY NINER x SADLER’S WELLS) bred and trained by lopo87 <\/B>(Given Stables: Fire and Blood, 21<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>10 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Sand Snake is coming off a pair of stakes wins and her two career high speeds.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She \u00a0<\/SPAN>tried to makes this jump in class last July without success.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Given Stables<\/B> is hoping she is ready now.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With the shorter distance and coming off two wins I think she will be able to handle herself in this class this time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Earlier in her career she liked to race well off the pace, but has been running more towards the front in her last few races.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It would probably benefit her to stay back until after third call in this field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 8 HEART OF LIGHT (KY)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(TIZNOW x UNBRIDLED x HOIST THE FLAG) bred and trained by mav1764 <\/B>(Deadinthelane Stables, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 17 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Heart of Light might have preferred an off track for the race today.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her best finish ever against graded company came a year ago at the G2-Manhattan District Stakes<\/B> where this scratch bred finished second.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her next time out she finished third in a G3 race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has tried this class 4 other times without success.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since last fall trainer mav1764<\/B> has been trying to make the jump in class, but it hasn\u2019t been successful.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>When she faces overnight or listed stakes and allowance races she is bringing home the win, but against graded company she struggles.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With the tough competition in this race I fear she will struggle her as well.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 9\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>STIRLING FORM\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(A.P. INDY x DYNAFORMER x STORM BIRD) bred by tmica<\/B> and trained by jrogue2 <\/B>(Jrogue Stables,18%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>5 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Stirling Form impressively broke her maiden on her first time out with a speed of 97!\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has only finished out of the money 5 times in her 18 career starts and 4 of those times were routes.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The only sprint where she hasn\u2019t been on the board was the G3-Vermont Is 4 Lovers<\/B> two races ago where she faced tough competition and when the other closers started passing her she faded.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There have also only been two sprints where this 5 year old out of Storm Halo<\/B> didn\u2019t put up at least a triple digit speed figure.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will let the other horses fight it out for the early lead, but I expect her to fly past most of them coming down the stretch.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Stirling Form is the reigning Unthinking Stakes Champion winner here last year.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She will be tough to beat.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 10\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>ACTUAL FACTUAL\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(BERNSTEIN x NOT FOR LOVE x PAS SEUL bred and trained by pacer <\/B>(Chayely A, 18%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>11 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Actual Factual is the second 6 year old in the race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In her 31 career starts she has only finished worse than 5th<\/SUP> twice.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Unfortunately the first time was in her graded debut and the second time was just two races ago.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Actual Factual is the only offspring of multiple stakes winner Missakiss.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>She is making her second attempt with graded company here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has had great success in allowance races and has come close in overnight and listed stakes, but hasn\u2019t won.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Against this tough field I don\u2019t think she is going to find her first graded win here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 11\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>WILDERNESS TRAIL\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(WOODMAN x SARATOGA SIX x AFFIRMED) bred and trained by losthecode <\/B>(Topicount Stables, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>11 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Wilderness Trail is making her 2nd<\/SUP> try at graded stakes.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Trainer Topicount<\/B> is hoping for a better go at it this time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After the first graded try she was able to string together 2 allowance wins, just missing the third by a head.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has been racing in stakes since then, but only winning once at The ORGANIC PROJECT Memorial<\/B> with her career high speed of 107.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Late last year this scratch bred horse finished ahead of Shaft Seeker<\/B>, also in today\u2019s field in The JILL\u2019S BURN Stakes<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has only finished out of the money twice in her last 7 starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 12\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>LA VINOTINTO <\/SPAN><\/B>(MINESHAFT x KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT) bred and trained by venezolano <\/B>(Otto Haack (Venezuela), 17<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>9 to 1<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

La Vinotinto, first and only offspring of Tete Storm<\/B>, will be making her American Division debut.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She had long trip over from Malaysia where she had her last three races.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After a successful run of listed stakes her trainer kept her at the Malaysia track for a track restricted allowance race in her last time out.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was an easy field and should have been an easy win, but she was only able to hold on for third place.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This will be her second try against graded company, her first a second place finish almost a year ago.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Unfortunately there is a lot of early speed in the field and that won\u2019t be working in La Vinotinto\u2019s favor.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 13\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SHAFT SEEKER\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>(MINESHAFT x UNFUWAIN x MR. PROSPECTOR) bred and trained by peeps10 <\/B>(Cobra Kai Racing Stables, 16%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 13 to 1<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Starting from PP 13 is Shaft Seeker.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is making her graded debut here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has only raced this distance 3 times, but hasn\u2019t finished worse than 2nd in those starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This 5 year old out of Prospect Dealing <\/B>has the speed to be competitive here, but has not been consistent.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has been alternating a couple of triple digits speeds with speeds in the 90s.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If she wants to be a factor her she will need one of her triple digit speeds.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is also coming off only three weeks rest so that could be an issue for her too.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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PP 14\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>MRS. STARK REALITY \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/B>(MR. GREELEY x GRAUSTARK x IN REALITY) bred and trained by stablebums <\/B>(Smubs Stables, 14<\/SPAN>%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>9 to 2<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Smubs Stables picked up Mrs. Stark Reality almost 2 years ago for $20,000 at a claiming race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since then she has gone on to win 9 times and finish in the money 68% of the time on the dirt.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This six year old scratch bred horse is making her 4 attempt to be in the winner\u2019s circle against graded company. Mrs. Stark Reality has a pair of seconds in her other tries.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I would say going from a $20,000 claimer race to being ranked 6 overall in dirt sprints is quite impressive.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And as the favorite here I think she may continue to impress us.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

I think there will be quite a few horses fighting it out for the early lead and I think we will find Stocking Filler<\/B> in the lead most of the race.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Late in the race I expect many to make their move and overtake most of the early speedsters.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It is hard to choose from all the late runners, but I think Fleetwood Mia<\/B> and Mrs. Stark Reality<\/B> will move up impressively, but I think Stirling Form<\/B> will reign here again.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>My picks for second and third are Fleetwood Mia<\/B> and Stocking Filler<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

Good luck and happy racing.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/SPAN>J<\/SPAN><\/SPAN>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>

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\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Unthinkable Stakes attracts top sprinters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":252,"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-5839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5839","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\/252"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5839\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}