Del Penn Dirt is sort of a drab name, coming from a colorful residency, but the race itself is anything but plain Jane. Nineteen fillies and mares are set to go for the gold, with only the State residency sitting this one out after a series of mishaps.It is a sign of how competitive the race is when the favorite is 7\/1, with the next three choices at 8\/1 and 9\/1. Plenty of fillies\u2019 odds hover in the teens, so if you can figure this one out, there are payouts a-plenty to be had. Figuring it out is the trick, though, in a race that could be just about anyone\u2019s.Hong Kong Racing Club\u2019s<\/U> representative, Suzy\u2019s Empire<\/B> was awarded the role of morning line favorite, and hopes to parlay that status into medal holder. The royally bred filly, by Empire Maker out of the ever classy Suzyjinsky (Danzig x Nijinsky II \u2013 who was eighth in her Equinics try), is in fine form entering this race. Snag<\/I> has this chestnut primed to go, after a sharp second to fellow rival K\u2019s Bureaukratic in the Exploding Outhouse Stakes (9.5 f, 111 SF) five weeks\u2019 ago. Prior to that, she narrowly missed in a G1 on fittingly, DelPenn Champions Day (107 SF) in a 9 furlong event, and has been a consistent star at 10 \u00bd furlongs winning with speed figures of 107, 106 and 105 SF. Somewhat curiously, given her success at 10 \u00bd and 9 \u00bd furlongs, this is her first start at the 1 \u00bc mile distance, but it seems to be right up her alley. Strong figures and past performances make her a clear medal threat, and a good showing here would push her over the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings.
Breathing down Suzy\u2019s neck are Vermont\u2019s<\/U> Lacada Point<\/B> and Sim Hispano\u2019s<\/U> K\u2019s Bureaukratic<\/B>, both at 8\/1. Lacada Point, a rangy brown mare owned and trained by lasthope<\/I> was eighth behind Suzy\u2019s Empire on DelPenn Champions Day, the rebounded with a third place effort at this distance over a sloppy track. Vermont was doing a rain dance for the daughter of Giant\u2019s Causeway, who exploded in the G1 Personal Sign at this distance last summer, but alas, it was not to be, as the sky is clear and crisp blue. Still, over a fast track, Lacada is no slouch, as she recently scored in the G3 Lapel Pin Stakes at this same distance (110 SF). A bit unlucky in her last two, it would be no surprise if the five year old mare rebounded to grab a spot on the medalists\u2019 platform. Sledwith\u2019s<\/I> K\u2019s Bureaukratic is the latest in a long line of K themed fillies to strut her stuff at the highest level. She handed Suzy\u2019s Empire a defeat in the Exploding Outhouse Stakes after stalking that rival in the early going, posting a solid 114 SF in the process. The six year old hasn\u2019t lost a step, and has won four of her last five starts, all at 9 \u00bd panels. The daughter of Woodman absolutely loves that distance, racking up victory after victory, with speed figures consistently above 100. She has won at this distance, and a medal would be no surprise.
The only other filly in this race with odds of less than 10\/1 is Benelux\u2019s<\/U> Just for Laughs<\/B>, who, as you might guess, is a daughter of Distorted Humor. Kilbirnie<\/I> owns and trains this five year old mare, who is proven at this distance, winning the Nitey Nite Neriah two starts back (110 SF), and most recently was fourth in the G3 Girls Cap behind Austillana. Versatile sort has been a threat at both 9 and 10 furlongs and is another hopeful who has consistently broken the 100 SF mark. Lots to like about her.
Another mare proven at this distance is the NWRC<\/U> representative, Austillana<\/B>, who won the G3 Girls Cap (108 SF) by a determined head, and has previously scored in the Jewel De Nyle (99 SF). The Awesome Again five year old has also scored at 9 \u00bd and 10 \u00bd furlongs. She has been sharp in her last three starts, including a victory on Cavalcade Cup day, and a narrow loss over an off track last time out. Appears to be primed by triska<\/I> for a big performance, and offers some real value at 11\/1. EAAA\u2019s<\/U> contender, Proscurator<\/B> is taking a step up in class, but the Proud Citizen mare looks equipped for the challenge, taking a long win streak at this distance. After working her way through several allowances, with speed figures of 101 to 108 SFs, the chocolate hued mare won the Pro Deed Stakes (105 SF) last out for trainer cwhisper<\/I>. Her speed figures put her in the thick of the hunt for the medal chase.
How often can you get a G1 winner at odds of 12\/1? Here, apparently. The GR Simsters\u2019<\/U> entrant, Elizabeth Swann<\/B> has been somewhat ignored in the betting, probably due to her low speed figure in an allowance prep over a sloppy track last time out. But, she has won the Winterthur Oaks-G1, at 11 furlongs to closer out her year, posting a 107 SF. She previously hit that mark in taking down the 2009 GR Champs, and has simply dominated the residency, also scoring in the GR Simster Alabama at this distance (105 SF) and the GR Simster Kentucky Oaks (105 SF). Besides the Winterthur, the Smart Strike filly has proved she is just as effective in open races as she is in restricted, capturing the G2 Fast Feline at 9 panels (112 SF), and just missing in the G2 King Classic at 9 \u00bd furlongs (112 SF). Spgr<\/I> has done a great job with this four year old, and with earnings of over $1.6 million, Elizabeth is the richest horse in the field, and stands a good chance of adding to that total before the Equinics are over. Another value play. Also at 12\/1 is valdes\u2019<\/I> homebred miss Valdestale<\/B>. The copper hued four year old respresents URC<\/U>. After winning the G2 Margarine at two, this Tale of the Cat filly has been a bit of a hard luck horse, knocking on the door, with not too much to show for it. Things seemed to turn around, with a romp in the slop to capture the Prospective Dance Stakes (117 SF, 9 furlongs). She was fourth last time out, and didn\u2019t show quite the same sparkle over a track rated good. Not really proven over this distance, but the running style suggests it should suit, and she has the back class to do it. If Valdestale puts her running shoes on, she can be right there at the wire.
A trio of fillies are listed at 13\/1 on the morning line. Paradise Starlet<\/B> represents the MIDAS<\/U> residency, and has earnings just over the half million dollar mark. The Vindication mare seems slightly better at 9 furlongs than 10, although her deep closer running style suggests she should do just fine at this distance, given an honest pace. Sparadise<\/I> has a real funner here, as she won the G2 Jump Town Handicap (9 furlongs, 110 SF), and was third behind Suzy\u2019s Empire on Del Penn Champions Day (106 SF), and was most recently fourth against males in the rich G3 Heaven Stakes (105 SF). The closing style makes her a bit vulnerable, but if the front runners don\u2019t slow down the pace too much, watch for her to come flying at the end. Babyfarm\u2019s<\/I> Pitchafit<\/B>has been close, but not quite there in her last few starts, and the Queensland<\/U> residency hopes the six year old mare turns things around here. The daughter of Oratorio has finished second in her last two starts, including a 10 \u00bd furlong open allowance last time out. Digging further back in her past performances, the dark bay mare has won an allowance at this distance with a 108 SF, and won an allowance at 9 furlongs with a 109 SF. If she can bounce back to that form, which I think she can \u2013 her speed figures haven\u2019t dropped off that much \u2013 Pitchafit will be a contender. SJ\u2019s Ghost Dance<\/B> has been more of a sprinter than a router most of her career, so it was a little bit surprising to see her here, especially based on her recent form. But factorx<\/I> and the East-West Connection<\/U> residency hope that she can revert to the form she showed last year, when winning the G2 Ramp Art Handicap (111 SF, 9 furlongs). She\u2019s pretty much a front runner through and through, so her best bet is to try to steal the race on the front end, like she did in that race. I\u2019m not sure the pace is going to be dead enough to allow her to do that. Still, you don\u2019t get to 20 wins from 39 starts and earnings of over $850,000 without being able to pull out the win. If she\u2019s up to the stretch out and gets a smart ride, the ghost hued mare will be on the medalist\u2019s stand.
Streetsmart Prayer<\/B> has a running style that suggests she\u2019ll appreciate the extra distance, and has put her racing shoes on for more than one occasion. The parthree<\/I> trainee won the Silver Act Special three starts back (107 SF), and closed for fourth in the tough G2 Hunted by Lions (107 SF). Improvement here would be not a shock, and Minnesota Downs<\/U> hopes she does exactly that. Call the Cat<\/B> has proven to be a smart claim for maple6337<\/I>. Whether it was the change in barns, maturity or a little of both, the Cat Thief mare has shone, winning the Comedy Central Distaff two starts back (105 SF), and second last time out in open company. She was second in her lone try at 10 furlongs, and the Comedy Central<\/U> residency hopes she can make them smile and laugh when the running\u2019s done. The Great Plains Residency<\/U> fields Johari<\/B> as their representative, and the graceful daughter of Johar appears to be up to the challenge. The dark chestnut has scored in a 10 \u00bd furlong stakes (109 SF), and placed second in an allowance at this distance (110 SF). More recently, she has been rounding back into form, with three straight on the board finishes, including a win at the N1y level last time out (100 SF). Another step forward, and the dan426<\/I> trainee is poised to make a medal run. Wegotgame<\/I> has a rather frustrating entry in Turban of Cream<\/B>. The veteran distaffer has started alternating good and bad efforts. The good news for the OHIO<\/U> residency is that if this trend holds, the Persian Turban mare will be on the \u201cgood\u201d part of this cycle on Saturday. She won a pair of open allowances at this distance with 103 SF, and if this seven year old feels like running, she is capable of putting up a legitimate run for a medal. The Blazing Saddles<\/U> residency has Skunking Alishan<\/B>. I have to admit that this royally bred daughter of Kingmambo is somewhat of a surprise entrant, because she has only run once on the dirt. That said, it was a winning performance for the beenskunkd<\/I> trainee, and it was in an owner restricted stakes. Still the coppery chestnut with plenty of chrome has won seven of 11, and been quite effective from 8 to 9 panels. Lots of questions to be asked, but the dark horse of the competition may just sneak up on everyone.
Rounding out the oddsmaker\u2019s book are three fillies. The DelPenn<\/U> residency hopes to win their namesake race with genesis\u2019<\/I> own Genesis Galaxcy<\/B>. The daughter of Galileo has been steadily working her way through her allowance conditions, and has done well at this distance, winning her maiden and a pair of allowances, but has yet to put forth a speed figure close to the favorites, hovering more in the high 90s than in the 110 range. The lightly raced Catitude Wild<\/B> has only ten lifetime starts, and just six on the dirt, but has performed well for daniel2<\/I>. The Forest Wildcat filly has won four of those six tries, and been in the money for all six, most recently scoring in an 11 furlong N3x with a 101 SF. Gets a big class jump here, but all of Ireland<\/U> is hoping that she passes with flying colors. Alpine Turf Club<\/U> sends Two To Dance<\/B>, who is another lightly raced sort. The Tiger Dance filly has 14 starts to her credit, winning three, most recently a 1 1\/16 mile N3L (89 SF). The safimport<\/I> trainee has never tried this distance but was a good second against 3yo fillies at 9 \u00bd panels (89 SF). However, she gets a class test here, as like Genesis, her best speed figures have been 10-15 points slower than some of the bigger names in the race.
Best luck to all of the competitors and their connections!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nineteen Set to Chase for Gold and Glory<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":438,"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-7783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7783","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\/438"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7783"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7783\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}