A Happy New Year everyone, and what a nice sprint for fillies and mares we have to open the new year, 6.5f on the fast dirt and a Grade 2 race could show us some new faces for the fillies sprint scene. While the names headlining the race may be Minister of Humor, a BB Sprint participant, and defending champion Sterling Form, the early race favourite for the Bookies is Vo Mimbre, but let\u2019s take a look at the complete field: #1 <\/SPAN>MY GODDESS(KY) 7\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=8637<\/A> 26 Races \u2013 10 Wins \u2013 303,555$ The 5yo A.P. Indy Mare is no stranger to Graded Sprints, however recently she produced better results over 7 and 7.5f, and tends to be better in longer sprints. Last time out her race was a complete disaster, in the Minnesota sprint she ran a 94, her worst result since 2007, but before she moved pretty steadily, winning a stakes race and finishing Top 3 in the next two. Her top speed over 6.5f is a 111, resuting from an ALW win back in May 08. She likes to take the lead, and that will be key to her race, only if she can get the lead she has a decent chance, so let\u2019s see if she has to face other front runners. #2 <\/SPAN>KATIE’S SONG 7\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=110217<\/A> 25 Races \u2013 9 Wins \u2013 294,490$ The 6yo Unbridled\u2019s Song mare is a very lightly raced horse, she only ran in 7 races in 08, and could notch 3 wins. Her most prominent appearance was at the Equinics, but she had a sub par race, and could only manage a 101 good for a 9th<\/SUP> place. Last time out she finished 5th<\/SUP> in a 7f Grade 3 event, her last win dates back from June, but was in a 6.5f event, a distance she usually enjoys. Katie\u2019s Song usually comes from the back end of the field, with a timed move towards the second half of the race, it will be critical, if she can time that move well enough to move to the front. #3 <\/SPAN>CLASSICALLY STYLED(KY) 10\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=112932<\/A> 27 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 81,950$ The 5yo Hennessy Mare makes her first stakes appearance, and whenever that happens in a Graded race, I hear the alarm bells sound. Being claimed for 25K back in August 07 chorwon has made her a nice pick up of ALW races, where she won 3 of her last 5 races, but now ran out of ALW conditions, so after nice 105 and 106 performaces in the last two races, however at 7f, she was moved up in class. I\u2019d prefered her to try Ungraded Stakes at her prefered distance 7f, as she will face a tough task in todays race. #4 <\/SPAN>STIRLING FORM 12\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=8006<\/A> 24 Races \u2013 8 Wins \u2013 702,350$ The 6yo A.P.Indy Mare is the defending champion of the Dandelion Sprint, last year she won with a nice 112, a speed she couldn\u2019t reproduce afterwards, as 2008 was a tough year for her. After a 2nd<\/SUP> place in a Grade 2 Race in March she couldn\u2019t hit the Top 3 anymore, even worse had a slight injury in the BB Mare Sprint, resulting in a distanced finish. However it seems her connections still have no plans sending her to stud for Mare Services, where her pedigree should produce good results. Perhaps the well known track at Arkansas can bring out another great race, but I have my doubts, last time out she ran a 102 on a good dirt in Delaware, and it seems her best racing days are behind her. #5 <\/SPAN>PEGASUS PRAYER(KY) 7\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=128349<\/A> 39 Races \u2013 10 Wins \u2013 296,216$ The 5yo Sky Mesa Mare always has been a great ALW horse raking her chances at stakes racing from time to time, but after two wins in November at 6f and 7f in Ungraded Stakes, it seems she is ready to take the next step. Last time out was a flop, but can be put on the off-track, and a 95 in the Grade 1 Lightning Sprint surely wasn\u2019t what she can bring. With 3 108+ performances before she showed her class, and I think thats where she can produce today. 2008 was a great year for her, and she tries to open 2009 by finally taking it to the next Level in Graded racing. #6 <\/SPAN>S R EVERYDAY(KY) 23\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=129116<\/A> 30 Races \u2013 7 Wins \u2013 143,607$ The 5yo Toccet Mare is surely a little misplaced here, her best race coming two back, a 102 over 6.5f resulting in an ALW win may point to more class, however that was her only 100+ race in the last 8 tries, and so she will likely be leading the way to last place. #7 <\/SPAN>VO MIMBRE(KY) 7\/2 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=151092<\/A> 13 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 204,475$ The 5yo Ghostzapper Mare has been flying recently, winning her last races all with 109+ speeds. Being unraced until November 07 she has had a nice 2008, winning 3 stakes races all at 7f, her move up to Graded Racing comes well timed, and her first Graded Race could also be her first Graded Win, as it will be tough to beat her, if she can produce a 110+ speed, which is very likely. Usually placing near the end of the field, she has recently won in smaller fields, which could cause trouble with an almost full 12 runners field, however a well timed move and her speed, with which she closes should give no problems. #8 <\/SPAN>MINISTER OF HUMOR(KY) 6\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=147628<\/A> 15 Races \u2013 9 Wins \u2013 1,2930,570$ The 4yo Distorted Humor filly will surely be the toughest rival to beat for Vo Mimbre, as she comes into 2009 with a blastering 2008, which saw her win the 3yo fillies sprint at the Equinics as a highlight. Taking on older horses for the first time, she looked kind of intimidated in the BB mare sprint, and only finished 10th<\/SUP>, but rebounded nicely in the Grade 1 Lightining Ladies Sprint, last time out, where a 112 on the good dirt resulted in a 2nd<\/SUP> place finish. Winner of 4 Graded Races in 2008, she really has made a name to herself in the Dirt fillies sprinter scene, which she wants to transfer to 09. Her best races she made, when taking the lead early, so expect her to battle My Goddess early on, with the faster likely being her. #9 <\/SPAN>ROSE OF CAIRO(IRE) 11\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=49114<\/A> 21 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 275,290$ The 5yo Noverre Mare has revived her racing career, which seemed done in June 2008, after getting injured and being forced into a 2 month break from racing. But since then she has gotten better and better, with 2 Top 3 finishes, followed by a great win last time out. She really flew the 7f in a Stakes Race in Dubai, scoring a 112, her lifetime best, she\u2019ll likely need to reproduce that performance, and go even quicker over the 6.5f today, being a late closer may not really help, as there are quite a few mares waiting to make that last move towards the end of the race. #10 <\/SPAN>QUAY DANCER(KY) 9\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=151915<\/A> 11 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 112,508$ The 5yo A.P. Indy Mare made the transition from ALW to Stakes racing very well, with a win and 2 3rds in her 3 stakes starts, now the question is, can she transfer that to Graded Racing, it will surely be a tough task for today. Last time out she ran a 107 over 7.5f and looks another horse in the race, that has had most success over 7f, however her sprint ability, was well reflected in her only stakes win, with a 106 over 6f. Look for her either gunning for the early lead, or with likely more speed coming from Minister of Humor perhaps settling for a stalking role.