Race 16 on this week\u2019s Let\u2019s work through the formguide for this event:<\/P> The inside gate is the starting position for Dynafast<\/B>, who is stepping up to what appears to be a huge challenge, but is doing so on solid and improving form. Her last two runs have seen her finish third and second in ungraded stakes races, very encouraging results as two earlier forays into black type racing last year, were both unimpressive. Restricted to allowance racing for the most part of this year to date, the added maturity has obviously been to her advantage. While it may be ambitious to expect victory in a Graded encounter when she\u2019s yet to take home the trophy in five ungraded starts, if she runs on the way she did last start, and can repeat the time, she could well put in a far better effort than her price would lead us to expect. Dynafast<\/B> is a four year old daughter of Dynaformer<\/I> from Xxxtra Fast<\/B>, herself a Grade 2 winning daughter of Belong To Me \/ Polar Falcon,<\/I> and this filly is the second, and more successful of her raced progeny. A winner of four from twenty three, it\u2019s hard to see her making the leap from allowance to Graded winner, but, having said that, her recent times are more than handy, and it\u2019s certainly worth the effort for Kobras3<\/B> to make the attempt. The barrier will be of little consequence, as she\u2019ll drop right out early, and will need to match strides with some very well established black type runners over the closing stages.<\/P> Gate 2 sees Bombalurina<\/B> line up for her second attempt against Graded competition. It would be wise to give this lightly raced, up and coming four year old plenty of respect, as she\u2019s steadily making progress through the classes. A veteran of just fourteen runs, her debut was a disaster, but since then she\u2019s never failed to make the podium, running first and second six times each. It\u2019s her last three runs which create the most interest. True, she won the two starts prior, but she ran around very short in small fields. Three starts back she ran third in an ungraded stakes, following it up with a win at the same level, before graduating to Grade 3 competition seven weeks ago in Gate 3 is the starting position for Shaft Seeker<\/B>, a mare whose recent formline suggests she may struggle against this level of competition. Out of the winner\u2019s circle since February, her last victory came in an ungraded stake, and her eight prior were all at allowance standard. This will be just the second time in her thirty three run career when she\u2019s taken on the Graded competition, while her first, back in April, resulted in a mid-field finish. Some of those she\u2019s taking on this week are heading in the other direction, dropping back to Grade 3 after fighting out a Grade 1 contest at their last outings. It\u2019s just hard to see her turning the tables. On a positive note, at her peak she is capable of running the type of time which is likely to be required here, so Peeps10<\/B> will no doubt focus on that, and the fact that she\u2019s run four triple digits and three high 90\u2019s from her last seven. Shaft Seeker<\/B> is a daughter of Mineshaft<\/I> from Prospect Dealing<\/B> (Unfuwain \/ Mr. Prospector<\/I>), making her a half sister to the sim\u2019s only Triple Crown winner I Seek U<\/B>. A member of such a prestigious family, she\u2019s worth a fortune in the breeding barn anyway, so there\u2019s really nothing to be lost by aiming a little high as she possibly nears the end of her racetrack career. With not a great deal of pace in the event, and an ideal draw with closers inside her, she should be able to settle in a prominent spot, but she\u2019ll need plenty to go her way for her to be able to improve that spot when called upon.<\/P> From stall 4 will jump Miss Roberts,<\/B> a most impressive winner over this journey at her most recent outing. Although it was just an allowance event, she stopped the clock in 1.28.4. It\u2019s highly likely that a repeat of that time will be enough to be right in the mix in this. She\u2019d put in a couple of sub-par efforts prior to that rebound, but she\u2019d established her credentials at this level, back on Derby Day in May when she ran second in the G2-Bluegrass Distaff Sprint<\/I>. Overall, since returning to dirt racing just over a year ago, she\u2019d taken home a check in all ten starts (six wins) before that recent, and hopefully temporary, form slump. A daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus<\/I>, She\u2019s the fourth of six progeny of the triple stakeswinner Kitty Katz<\/B> (Storm Cat \/ Seattle Slew<\/I>). She\u2019s a full sister to Hattori Hanzo<\/B>, a Grade 2 winner, and her dam has also produced stakes placed Natural Couture<\/B> (Lemon Drop Kid<\/I>). Miss Roberts<\/B> ticks almost all the boxes for owner \/ trainer Theoc2<\/B>. She\u2019s a stakeswinner who can run fast enough to give this a real shake on her day. The only box yet to tick is that Graded victory. She\u2019s picked a tough event in which to try and register it, but with a touch of luck she is some sort of chance to score it here.<\/P> Drawn stall 5 is Fulgurant<\/B>, an experienced five year old mare who, until her last couple of runs, was racing in career best form. She\u2019s lining up for her longest trip in a year and three quarters. In fact, her last thirteen have all been contested over seven furlongs, yielding her four winner\u2019s checks. Despite the fact that her two most recent attempts over this journey have been unsuccessful, she did win an ungraded stake at the seven and a half as a juvenile. From four starts in Graded company, she\u2019s yet to post a win, but has recorded two thirds, the more recent just two starts back when, on Bluegrass Derby Day<\/I>, she ran third in the G2-Bluegrass Distaff Challenge<\/I>. Miss Roberts<\/B> finished second in that event, and there wasn\u2019t a real lot between them. She had a couple of months off after that and hasn\u2019t quite regained top form yet. Fulgurant<\/B> is a daughter of KoKo Taylor<\/B> lines up in stall 6. Underlining the strength of this field is the fact that the trifecta runners from last month\u2019s G1-Dancer Cap<\/I> all line up for this Grade 3 test. Unlike the two who finished ahead of her that day, this filly has had a couple of starts in between, and the results of those two do not point to a likelihood of her turning the tables on Doctor Danzig<\/B> and Song Of The Hawk<\/B> this week. A talented four year old who thrives on racing, she\u2019s facing the starter for the fortieth time this weekend. At her best she\u2019s in with a genuine chance, as any runner with a recent Grade 1 placing should be. Among her positives are her recent ITM numbers. She\u2019s finished on the podium in seven of her last nine, all in black type company including the Grade 1 effort. On the other side of the ledger, her last four wins have been against ungraded opposition, and her only Graded win came eighteen months ago. She\u2019s gone home without the trophy in nine graded appearances since. A daughter of High Yield<\/I>, she\u2019s the initial progeny of Barb\u2019s Capote<\/B> (Capote \/ Forty Niner<\/I>), a winner of four from fifty seven, bred and trained by Banditkllr<\/B>. Koko Taylor<\/B> is one of a number of entrants capable of featuring if she can run up to her best. She won\u2019t be far away in the run and should be positioned for a solid finish. <\/P> Song Of The Hawk, <\/B>drawn 7, is one of a number of runners dropping in class from what may be the most significant lead up event for this. Currently enduring the longest losing run of her career, the winner of half her twenty two starts has indicated that she\u2019s well on her way back to her peak. And of perhaps greater significance, I\u2019d like to be singing the Song of the Hawk when Hawthorn pulls off a minor miracle and knocks off Gate 8 is the starting position for Reina Jade<\/B>, a filly with a very handy strike rate, racing well in recent ungraded races and well and truly ready for a return to the tougher competition. Of minor concern is the fact that this winner of half a dozen ungraded races, has yet to salute in six attempts at higher. But let\u2019s look at some of those \u2018failures\u2019. I know we\u2019re going back a bit, but she ran some top races at three, and we must remember that she\u2019s still only four. Third in a G1-Smackdown<\/I>, third of sixteen in a Grade 2 and fourth of fourteen at Grade 3 all provide evidence that she should be able to handle the promotion. She has put in a couple of shockers against the better brigade, and the fact that she\u2019s won nine from twenty three, but missed half a dozen times at this level, does mean she comes in with a question to answer. A scratchbred daughter of Giant\u2019s Causeway \/ Danzig \/ Unbridled,<\/I> she has absolutely nothing left to prove in the ungraded arena, and could well enhance her broodmare appeal with continued appearances in Graded races. We know Reina Jade<\/B> can run the sort of time needed, so owner \/ breeder 2aussie<\/B> can watch the race in the hope that she finally overcomes the Graded \u2018hoodoo\u2019.<\/P> Awaiting the starter in stall 9 we see Royal Birkdale<\/B>, and all she really needs to do is to repeat that most recent run. With four wins from her last five, including two black type wins, and with that last start speed rating of 113, she lines up with both consistency and ability on her side. If she has a question to answer, it may be that she appears not to like the extra half furlong. She\u2019s won eight races. Six of them have been at seven furlongs, while her only two appearances at seven and a half have seen her miss the podium, when well fancied in the betting on both occasions. A four year old daughter of Speightstown<\/I>, she\u2019s the first foal of Golden Reasoning<\/B> (Golden Missile \/ Seattle Slew<\/I>), a lightly raced winner of one from eleven. Owner \/ trainer Elranchoti <\/B>has found the key to this filly over the last five months. She took some time to settle in to her second home, but her recent form has been outstanding. Connections will expect Royal Birkdale<\/B> to drop right out early. She\u2019ll be taking giant strides down the final running, and if she can overcome that dislike of the extra hundred yards, she\u2019ll be right in the mix at the business end. Her 113 speed rating is the highest last start performance of any runner, and is matched only once on the past performance formguide<\/P> Barrier 11 holds Out Of Iraq<\/B>. The oldest contestant and the only six year old, she\u2019s still racing in the sort of heart which earns plenty of respect here. Of concern is the long time since she\u2019s shown much heart when lining up against Graded opposition. It was back in July last year when she ran third, beaten less than a length in a Grade 2 contest, proving that she is up to this standard. That was her first ever tilt against the elite. However, she\u2019s faced the higher quality races four times since, without reaching the podium. At this stage of her career, that has to be a worry. There\u2019s no doubt that she\u2019s capable of running the sort of time we\u2019ll be looking at this weekend. Back in April, in an ungraded stakes over this trip, she took the prize, stopping the clock in 1.28.0. That\u2019s probably very close to the time we\u2019ll be expecting in this, so a repeat performance would put her among the chances. Out of Iraq<\/B> is a scratchbred daughter of Forty Niner \/ Storm Cat \/ Northern Dancer<\/I>. Owner \/ trainer Dokki<\/B> has guided her to nine victories in her thirty four start career. She has the versatility to settle almost anywhere in the run and while I can\u2019t expect her to beat all of her proven Graded opponents, a forward showing won\u2019t be surprising.<\/P> Drawn in gate 12 we find Stirling Form<\/B>. While her most recent form may perhaps be described as a tad less than Sterling, she hasn\u2019t been shirking the competition, having lined up against Graded competition in twelve of her last thirteen appearances, and taking home the winner\u2019s share in three of those Graded runs, plus the one ungraded stake sandwiched in the middle. She\u2019s another coming into this via the G1-Dancer Cap<\/I>. She managed just fifth this year, with trifecta runners Doctor Danzig<\/B>, Song Of The Hawk<\/B> and Koko Taylor <\/B>lining up against her here. However, if we go back twelve months, she ran in last year\u2019s renewal of that same event and finished third, just a length from the winner. One of the strong points of this mare is her consistency. Even when unsuccessful she runs runs solid, honest races, as evidenced by her string of nine consecutive triple digit speed ratings, a string which would extend to fifteen, were it not for a pair of 99\u2019s. That consistent string has been enough for the early market to install her as favorite. Stirling Form<\/B> is a five year old daughter of A.P. Indy<\/I>, based on Storm Halo<\/B> (Dynaformer \/ Storm Bird<\/I>), a lightly raced winner of two from twelve. Stirling Form<\/B> is likely to settle just beyond mid-field early, and while breeder \/ trainer Jrogue2<\/B> will be trusting a bit to luck that the eight month losing streak is about to end, connections can be confident of yet another competitive effort.<\/P> Gate 13 is the starting position for Doctor Danzig<\/B>, a talented five year old mare who, in just her last five runs, has graduated from a handy allowance runner, to a Grade 1 winner. Not asked to compete in any level of black type race in her first sixteen runs, she nevertheless put together a handy record, winning four races and generally taking home a share of the spoils. Five starts back, in April this year, she contested her first ungraded stake, finishing second over the journey she faces this week, beaten just over a length with the winner stopping the clock in 1.28.0. We\u2019ll forget her next run, her first Graded attempt, before she won and ran second in two more ungraded stakes. But it\u2019s that most recent run which grabs the attention. In a full field in which she arguably held the least credentials (all other runners being either Graded winners, or Graded placed stakeswinners), she took them on and took home the trophy. Song Of The Hawk<\/B>, whose previous record was clearly superior, ran second to her in the Dancer Cap<\/I>, and the pair face off again this week. Doctor Danzig<\/B> is a daughter of Speightstown<\/I>, from Doctor J.O.<\/B> (Danzig \/ J.O Tobin<\/I>). The Dam, a dual stakeswinner, now boasts Graded winners from her first two foals with The Teacher<\/B> (Awesome Again<\/I>) sharing the barn of trainer \/ breeder Manon<\/B>. She\u2019s not likely to be giving the leaders too much start in the run, and, as a last start Grade 1 winner, obviously a repeat effort sees her as a great chance in this lower level contest.<\/P> Starting from the outside gate we find Dry Gulch Tavern<\/B>, a stakeswinner over this trip, and in smart time, back in July. That was the pinnacle in a thirty eight run career which, until then, was conducted at a lower level. A winner of eight races, her bank balance of $177k is probably the most accurate reflection of the level of competition she usually lines up against. Breeder \/ trainer Simond5<\/B> even ran the risk of losing her by giving her a few runs in claimers, albeit with hefty tags attached. A four year old daughter of Gulch<\/I>, she\u2019s the third, and most successful of five progeny of her dam, Cozzy Up To The Bar<\/B> (Cozzene \/ Nijinsky<\/I>), herself a stakeswinner. In assessing this filly\u2019s chances this weekend, we can really focus on just the one event. Three starts back she covered this trip in 1.28.4. That\u2019s the ballpark we\u2019ll be in again this weekend, so if she can reduce it slightly, she can finish in the mix. With the fact that this is, after an active racing career, her first tilt at Graded racing, I feel it would be prudent to watch her effort with interest. At her absolute best she\u2019s in with some sort of chance, and from her likely settling position mid-field, she\u2019ll be within striking distance. Dry Gulch Tavern<\/B> is worth consideration for your exotics.<\/P> Summary and Selections:<\/U><\/B> <\/P> It\u2019s the year of the Hawk! Well, that may be a tad ambitious come Saturday night, but it\u2019s been a long seventeen years and it\u2019s too good an omen for an old Hawks follower to ignore.<\/SPAN><\/P> Song Of The Hawk<\/B> to win. The omen is great. The form is better.<\/P> Bombalurina<\/B> for second. She doesn\u2019t run bad races and the price is most enticing. Across the board<\/P> Royal Birkdale<\/B> for third. Current form is the best form.<\/P> Many Chances In Girls Grade 3 Sprint<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":261,"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-6626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6626","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\/261"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}