Race : Orange Blossom<\/B> – Grade I – $500,000<\/P>
Track : Arkansas<\/P>
Restrictions : Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up<\/P>
Distance : A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt<\/P>
\u00a0<\/P>
We have a wonderful day of racing lined up today in Arkansas and the weather couldn’t be more perfect, There is no Zenyatta vs Rachel\u00a0 in the cards this year and there is no Rachel ducking before the match up this year either. What we do have is a very contentious full field of thirteen going to post to try and get the Grade 1 win and the large winner’s share of the $500,000 purse. Let’s take a look at this year’s field.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Breaking from the rail for checkmate2 is our lukewarm favorite BECHEMEL <\/STRONG>at 5-1. This Grade 2 winning 5yo by Bernidini has won 10\/26 career races and amassed over $460k in earnings. She has run over 110 six times in her career including the last three in a row and is really going good right now. Only question is if she can string another good performance together and make it a winning one as she has been finding the winners circle every other race including the Grade 2 score last out. BECHEMEL <\/STRONG>is a big time contender for top honors.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Next up is GOLDEN LIONESS<\/STRONG>, going for the grrm stable and listed at 14-1. GOLDEN LIONESS<\/STRONG>, a daughter of A.P. Indy, \u00a0<\/STRONG>has won 12\/25 career starts for $495k in earnings. This multiple stakes winner and Grade 2 placed mare is stepping up to Grade 1 company off a dominating allowance prep. Her top number of 111 fits nicely here but her last three are concerning. She did crack 100 again last out but will need to bring much more to the table to find the winners circle today.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> In post position number three we have a Grade 1 winning millionaire, IDAAN(IRE<\/STRONG>) from the barn of given2. Winner of the 1 1\/4 mile Grade 1 Birmingham stakes last year and also a very strong 4th place finish in\u00a0the Breeders Bowl Distaff, IDAAN(IRE)<\/STRONG> proved to be a top class filly last year. Now making just her second start of the year there are some lofty expectations on this filly. She started her campaign with a dominating win over three overmatched rivals in an allowance contest and will find the waters much deeper today. IDAAN(IRE)<\/STRONG> has the looks of a very promising runner and is a viable candidate for win honors at a juicy 19-1.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Going post ward\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0from the fourth spot is cheadle stable’s runner, REPOSSESS<\/STRONG>. This five time winner by A.P. Indy has two stakes wins to her credit including a 3 length win in the Listed Expect’N Miracles last time out in which she ran a career top of 111 which is fast enough to compete here. REPOSSESS <\/STRONG>may have solid form but she takes a giant leap up the class ladder for this which will probably be her undoing. She is a talented filly with a bright future ahead but at 12-1 here, she may be getting a bit more respect than warranted.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Toreup stable’s PORTRAIT<\/STRONG> goes from the number five position. This Grade 2 winning and multiple Grade 1 placed daughter of Distorted Humor has earned $545k in her career to date. She comes in here off of a 5th place finish in the Grade 2 Ramp Art last time out in an effort that may be better than at first appearance. PORTRAIT <\/STRONG>really needed that race as her form had taken a turn for the worse at the end of her 3yo season. She made a real nice move down the lane to grab a check and in doing so matched her career top speed figure. She may be set to move forward again today at a solid 10-1. I would not leave this filly off the ticket.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Next in line is another 10-1 shot, BAD ASTRONAUT(IRE)<\/STRONG>. This 5yo mare by Sadler’s Wells has earned over $220k for her connections usctrojans. BAD ASTRONAUT(IRE) <\/STRONG>won the Grade 3 Bluegrass Cup lat year when earning her 112 top but regressed sharply thereafter. She finished a very dull 10th in the Ramp Art last out and will need a much better finish to have a say in the outcome.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Number seven in today’s lineup is Kate3’s Grade 1 winning filly, WHELDON<\/STRONG>. This California shipper was the upset winner of the Grade 1 Santa Marina two starts back before bouncing to the moon last time out. By sire Hard Spun, WHELDON <\/STRONG>really got good towards the end of her 3yo season and that form carried through until the dud she ran last out. Her two 110 numbers are a good fit here but I would like to see a better prep before billing for top honors. WHELDON <\/STRONG>looks to have a strong year ahead of her but she may be a race away from getting back in form.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> HOLBACH <\/STRONG>goes next for trainer rapt. This four time Grade 2 winning millionaire daughter of Vindication has had a strong career to date but missing from her resume’ is the elusive Grade 1 score. Her recent speed numbers suggest that she could be a factor here but she was found wanting in the Ramp Art last out. HOLBACH <\/STRONG>has had a wonderful career to date but this last gasp at Grade 1 glory may still be asking a bit too much. She is 7-1 on the line based on her past credentials but has very little upside potential. <\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> In post number\u00a0nine we have multiple Grade 2 winner and $860k earner, EMPIRE HAACK<\/STRONG>. Conditioned by marisol, this 5yo mare by Empire Maker is making a return trip to the Orange Blossom here in Arkansas. Last year she finished a dull 11th as the favorite and she has not been the same since. Including last years edition, she has run nine times and has only an allowance win to her credit but she also has 3rd place finishes in the Breeders Bowl Distaff and the Go For Gold both Grade 1 contests. EMPIRE HAACK <\/STRONG>clearly has the back class to win this and current form is good enough to have a say yet I do feel her best days may be in the past. She is a logical contender but at 7-1 I will be taking a stand against her.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Next up is papsstable’s SAN FRAN GOLD<\/STRONG>. This 4yo filly by Giant’s Causeway has earned $425k in her 16 race career including a win in the Grade 2 Black Middle Flower last year. She won the local prep for this winning the Grade 3 Azeri with a big 113 last out and has a 114 in the bank from last year. SAN FRAN GOLD <\/STRONG>has a ton of upside potential and should not be taken lightly. She is a top contender for win honors and at 9-1 may be worth the price.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> The second choice in the wagering at 6-1 is 2tohold’s entry, ARTEMIS AND APOLLO(IRE)<\/STRONG>. This Grade 1 winning 4yo filly by Montjeu has earned over $900k in her twenty race career. She has six career races in which she posted a 110 or better including three in a row and comes in here off a 3rd place finish in the Azeri. ARTEMIS AND APOLLO(IRE) <\/STRONG>did run a great race last out but she hung badly in the stretch which is concerning. Maybe she was saving her best for today or maybe her form takes another step back. It is a tough call but either way, ARTEMIS AND APOLLO(IRE) <\/STRONG>should be close in the stretch. She is a major contender.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> In post twelve we have reddog stables Grade 1 winner, DREAM LEAGUE<\/STRONG>. A winner of seven of her fifteen starts for almost $400k, DREAM LEAGUE <\/STRONG>has a nice resume’ but has never run fast enough to date to be able to take home top honors here. She has run a 106 or 107 five times including back to back which may be a sign of a big effort on the way but it is hard to gauge if she can run a top of 112 which is expected to win this. DREAM LEAGUE <\/STRONG>prepped for this in the Ramp Art against many of these and finished a non threatening eighth. I believe she may be able to move forward a hare but the top prizes may still be just out of reach.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> Finally from the far outside in post thirteen we have TAYLOR’S STORY <\/STRONG>being sent out by trainer deyoto3. This 4yo millionaire daughter of Distorted Humor, TAYLOR’S STORY <\/STRONG>is a multiple Grade 1 winner including her win in the Bluegrass Oaks last year. Her form tailed off late in the year and carried into the first part of this year, however she may be rounding into form now. She makes her all important third start of the form cycle today and looks to be sitting on a big effort. Her top numbers put her just below the top contenders here but she looks like she can move forward enough to have an impact. TAYLOR’S STORY <\/STRONG>should be flying late to at least get a major part of the prize money.<\/FONT><\/P> <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/P> This is a real nice competitive field that is assembled and it is very tough to handicap. I will take a shot with the longest price in the field IDAAN(IRE) <\/STRONG>and hope for the best. I will use her first and second with SAN FRAN GOLD, TAYLOR’S STORY and BECHEMEL <\/STRONG>for exactas and throw in PORTRAIT, EMPIRE HAACK and ARTEMIS AND APOLLO(IRE) <\/STRONG>in my attempts to take home the tri-fecta.<\/FONT><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" No Zenyatta this year and No Rachel like last year but still a strong field<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"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-9049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9049","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\/192"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9049"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9049\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9049"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9049"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9049"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}