Thursday, September 29, 2011

Norfolk Stakes Re-Match

lokinatluckybcjuvieOnly two colts, Chiefs Crown and Capote, have pulled off the Norfolk/Breeders’ Cup Juvenile double since 1984. In the last three years, two Norfolk victors, Street Hero and Lookin At Lucky finished in the money in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after tough trips.

This year’s renewal of the Norfolk Stakes attracted only five entrants, but the race appears to be a re-match between Del Mar Futurity (G-1) hero Drill and the unfortunate Creative Cause, who was impeded in the stretch by Majestic City during that roughly run contest. Both colts are racing over dirt for the first time.

DRILL (Lawyer Ron - Cat Dancer, by Storm Cat)DrillDelMarFuturity has won his last two races by a neck. His sire Lawyer Ron was a determined competitor and the dark brown colt appears to have inherited his sire’s tenacity. Drill descends from one of the strongest distaff families in the race. His dam is 1 for 12, but she’s a half-sister to Monmouth Oaks (G2) winner Magic Storm. Fourth dam Luina is a blue hen and fifth dam Banquet Bell is also a blue hen. Preakness/Belmont Champ Little Current and Derby/Belmont Champ Chateaugay plus Kings Bishop Stakes winner and new sire Hard Spun are members of this female family. Drill has taken to the Santa Anita surface and posted a bullet seven furlongs in 1:23 (1/5) in his last work.

CreativeCausePhotoBenoitCREATIVE CAUSE (Giant's Causeway - Dream of Summer, by Siberian Summer) gave notice that he is a colt to be reckoned with when he easily beat his foes in the Best Pal Stakes (G2) by 1 ¾ lengths. He was the favorite in the Del Mar Futurity, but was squeezed between horses when Majestic City bore out. Creative Cause was granted second place through disqualification of Majestic City. Creative Cause’s pedigree indicates that he should be competitive at longer distances. His sire Giant’s Causeway gets runners over all surfaces and at all distances. Creative Cause’s dam Dream of Summer was a top race mare. She won her maiden at first asking, then developed into a Grade 1 winner, taking the Apple Blossom (G1), A Gleam (G2) and several other stakes races. The pretty gray colt has trained and raced exclusively over synthetic tracks, but he has a pedigree to handle every surface.

RULER OF DUBAI (Tribal Rule - O K Topless, byrulerofdubaiaugPhotoBenoit Old Topper) has shown improvement in his last three starts, which includes a two win race streak against state-bred competition. Ruler of Dubai has a sprinter/miler pedigree and 1 1/16 miles may be at the top of his limit. He is the first foal for his dam who was stakes placed as a two year old. Otherwise, there is little blacktype in this distaff family. The bay gelding has been training at Santa Anita all year, but his latest works are on the slow side.

BASMATIBASMATI (Borrego - Abruzzi Ridge, by Mountain Cat) is the only maiden in the group. He finished fifth, beaten only 1 ½ lengths in the Del Mar Futurity. His Brisnet speed figures have improved in almost every start and one day he’ll break through with a win, but probably not today. Basmati has a stamina-oriented pedigree and will benefit with time and distance. His sire’s only stakes wins came at 1 ¼ miles, in the Jockey Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Basmati’s dam went 0 for 4 in her career on the track. She’s a half-sister to Molly Pitcher (G2) heroine March Magic. Basmati should improve with a switch to dirt.

SUPER CANDY (Candy Ride - Zuppa, bySUPERCANDY2 Woodman) finally earned a win in a maiden claimer in his tenth start when stretching out to 1 1/16 miles over the Fairplex dirt. His pedigree indicates that he’ll be a late maturing type that could prefer the lawn. Super Candy’s second through fourth dams were all stakes horses so there’s some quality in his background. Super Candy had a three furlong tune-up for the Norfolk, but it’s a big jump from maiden claimers at Fairplex to the top of the heap at Santa Anita.

LOUKIS (Haafhd - Mount Street, by Pennekamp) invades from England. The lightly raced colt won his maiden in early August sprinting over the lawn. Loukis’ pedigree indicates that he’ll be best as a turf router. His sire won the 2000 Guineas at a mile and the Champion Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles. His offspring win from sprints to routes over the lawn. He’s sired five blacktype runners, but no Group/Grade 1 winners in five racing crops. Damsire Pennekamp was a Champion Juvenile in France. His daughters have produced only a handful of stakes winners, including Lilly of the Valley, heroine of the Prix de l'Opera at 1 ¼ miles over the turf. Loukis’ dam won once in five tries, but she’s a half-sister to 2000 Guineas and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (G-1) hero Golan. Loukis has recorded one moderate work over the Santa Anita Dirt.

SELECTIONS:


How the track is playing: In an attempt to solve the longstanding drainage issues and to slow the track down, a significant amount of sand has been added to the track surface and the amount of clay has been reduced. The race works appear to be faster, but we won’t know how the surface will play until races are actually run.

DRILL and CREATIVE CAUSE appear almost evenly matched. However, DRILL has posted a bullet work over the Santa Anita dirt and CREATIVE CAUSE gets a jockey switch. Will it matter in the end? Probably not, but these little exceptions have me leaning towards DRILL. RULER OF DUBAI jumps into graded stakes competition, but he proved himself against state-breds last time out and deserves a shot here. His speed figures have been improving steadily and he finally gets to race over his home track. BASMATI should benefit from the switch to dirt and longer race distance. His try in the Del Mar Futurity wasn’t all that bad. If one of the top two falter, Basmati could be right there. Super Candy lacks the class of the top two and Loukis could be another Boxeur Des Rues, who won his maiden in England than shipped in to finish last in the 2010 Norfolk Stakes.

#5  DRILL

#4  CREATIVE CAUSE

#3  RULER OF DUBAI

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Round-Up of Juvenile Colts

The summer racing season officially ended with the closing of the 2011 Saratoga and Del Mar racing meets. This year, there isn’t a decisive stand-out colt in the Juvenile Colt Division last year’s top two year old Uncle Mo. However, the colts in California appear to be more competitive than those in the East. To be fair, the major two year old stakes for colts at Saratoga, the Saratoga Special and Hopeful, were contested over a sloppy track, so a true gauge of talent was difficult.

The up-coming Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont on October 8 could decide the Eastern favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Union Rags, the runaway winner of the Saratoga Special, skipped the Hopeful Stakes, but is pointing to the Champagne.

 

The Grade 1 event could see the match-up of CurrencySwapPhotoCoglineseUnion Rags with Currency Swap, victor of the Hopeful Stakes (G1). Currency Swap’s trainer Teri Pompay has stated that the colt’s goal is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and she hasn’t made a decision to run in the Champagne Stakes. Another possible Champagne entrant is She Digs Me, the 6 ¼ length winner of the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.

FortLoudonPhotoJimLisaIn the South at Calder, Fort Loudon is poised to become only the eighth colt to sweep the Florida Stallion Stakes after victories in the Dr. Fager and Affirmed Stakes. He is on track to contest the 1 1/16 mile In Reality, the final leg of the series on October 15. The colt is a son of Awesome Of Course, the sire of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly heroine Awesome Feather. Fort Loudon is a half-brother to Sexy Stockings, the dam of recent Forego (G1) winner Jackson Bend. Should Fort Loudon win the In Reality, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile will be strongly tempting to his connections, trainer Stanly Gold and Jacks or Better Farm, who incidentally, are the team behind Awesome Feather.

In the West, three closely-matched contendersDel_Mar_FuturityPhotoBenoit have arisen after a wild finish in the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Drill, the victor of the race, was almost knocked off of his feet due to the lugging in of Majestic City. Creative Cause was between the two and got squeezed back due to Majestic City’s actions. In beating the previously unbeaten stakes winners Majestic City, winner of the Willard L. Proctor and Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3) and Creative Cause, hero of the Best Pal Stakes (G2), Drill may be considered a slight favorite should all three vie again in the Norfolk Stakes (G1) on November 1.

SharedPropertyPhotoFourFootedFotosThe Mid-West has been fairly quiet all year, however this weekend saw the first graded events since the Bashford Manor (G3) was contested at Churchill on July 3. The Arlington-Washington Futurity hero Shared Property drifted out badly, but got up to beat a tiring Take Charge Indy by a length. Both colts could meet up in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on October 8.

Over the next two months, we’ll review the pedigree profiles of contenders for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile races on the main IMT website. 

Next week, well review the fillies that may contest the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

KIDDIE LIST 8-3-11

Six graded stakes races for two year olds are scheduled to be contested over the next few days. The pedigree profiles of the entrants and race selections for all juvenile graded races will be posted on the main Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds website.

Race replays of many of the two year olds mentioned on the Kiddie List can be found at the Iron Maidens You Tube Video Channel. You can keep track of the two year olds through free virtual stable email notification systems at:

Equibase (http://www.equibase.com/index.cfm)

or DRF (http://www.drf.com).

Below are yesterday’s results and highlights of the two year old races at Saratoga. The highlights of Dal Mar’s juvenile races will be posted later today.

RESULTS (FRIDAY 9/2):

Monmouth | R3 | 5 ½ F | Starter Allowance Fillies

Smokin Gold (Smoke Glacken - Added Gold, by Gilded Time) – 1st $7.60

Saratoga | R2 | 6F | Gold and Roses S. | 2 YO (NY Bred)

Zow (Bluegrass Cat - Then She Laughs, by Distorted Humor) – 1st $4.10

Silent Thunder (Northern Afleet - Strong Little Girl, by Wolf Power) – 2nd $7.40

The Prize Fighter (Pure Prize - Miss Winning Sweep, by End Sweep) – 3rd $2.80

Saratoga | R5 | 1 1/8 miles | MSW

Speightscity (Speightstown - My American Girl, by Quiet American) – 1st $8.20

Raconteur (A.P. Indy - Miss Kate, by Storm Cat) – 2nd $2.90

Politicallycorrect (Kitten's Joy - Exceedexpectations, by Tale of the Cat) - $3.00

 

ENTERED (Saturday 9/3):

Saratoga Race 2 | 1 1/16 miles Turf | MSW Colts

Gloryland (Pulpit—Netherland, by Roy) is a half brother to Full Snow Moon, who was second in a French juvie stakes. Their dam is an Argentinian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly and she also won a listed stakes on dirt at Del Mar.

Super Saturday (Any Given Saturday—Lady Aloma, by Cozzene) is a half brother to Chopinina, named Canada’s Champion Female Turf Horse who was second against colts in Atto Mile (G1). His half brother Despite the Odds won the Hill Prince (G3). Their dam won the Ontario Colleen over the lawn.

O'Prado Again (El Prado - Leh She Run, by Pulpit) Pretty gray colt is the third foal produced by his dam and both half brothers are winners. His dam was unplaced in three tries, but she is a half sister to the dam of First Samurai and stakes winner Audacious Chloe.

Da Vinci (A.P. Indy—Friendly Michelle, by Artax) is is a half to a Russian stakes winner. Their dam won Prioress (G1) and placed in the Las Virgenes and Acorn, both G1 races. Her half sister produced multiple graded stakes winner Kathmanblu and the second dam is also a multiple stakes winner.

Punctual Jeff (More Than Ready—Floating Island, by A.P. Indy) is first foal to race out of his dam. She is a half-sister to Pico Teneriffe, a multiple graded stakes winner over the lawn. Pico Teneriffe is the dam of two-time Canadian Champion Older Horse Marchfield and Sky Classic, a G2 winner. Another half sibling, Salmon Ladder, is a Group 3 winner in England.

Ur (Giant's Causeway - Sue's Last Dance by Forty Niner) is a half brother to Acorn and Delaware Handicap heroine Island Sand, stakes winner Pozo de Luna and five other winners.

Winston C (Corinthian - The Happy Hopper, by El Prado (IRE)) is the fourth foal produced by his dam. All three half siblings raced, two are winners. Their dam is a multiple stakes winning sprinter and the second dam is also a stakes winner.

Todd Cole (Malibu Moon—Critical Cat, by Tactical Cat)is a third foal. His dam won 2 of 10 starts and she’s a half-sister to multiple G1 winner Critical Eye.

Corinthian's Jewel (Corinthian - Rhumb Line, by Mr. Greeley) is a half brother to Las Virgenes (G1) and Hollywood Oaks (G2) heroine Zazu.

St Moose (Lemon Drop Kid—Lady Reiko, by Sadler’s Wells) is a half brother to the turf stakes winner Chopper Won. Their dam won a listed stakes and she is G3 placed over the lawn. She is a half sister to G1 winner Willa on the Move and Traver’s hero Will’s Way.

Saratoga Race 7 | 7F Dirt |MSW Colts

Alpha (Bernardini—Munnaya, by Nijinsky) is a half-brother to French stakes winner Mystic Melody and Lavender Sky, who placed in four stakes races over the lawn in California. Their dam is an English stakes router and she’s a half to two French stakes winners. This family produced Champion Fantastic Light, Multiple G1 winner Turbulent Decent, KY Oaks heroine Seaside Attraction, the top sire Cape Town and many other top runners.

Timely Tally (Mr. Greeley - Score, by A.P. Indy) He’s the second foal for his dam who went 0 -2. His half sister needed six tries to win her maiden. Their dam is a half to two stakes winners and the second dam is top race mare Educated Risk. His third, fourth and fifth dams are blue hens.

Invocation (Pulpit - Missamerica Bertie, by Quiet American) He’s the first foal out of his dam. She went 0 for 4, but she’s a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Allamerican Bertie. Their half sister Hurricane Bertie is also a multiple graded stakes winner. The top sprinter Peeping Tom is a member of this family.

Julius Caesar (Empire Maker - Redhead Riot, by Top Account) He’s the fourth foal produced by his dam and two half sisters are winners. Their dam is a G2 stakes placed sprinter.

Hierro (Hard Spun - Brief Bliss, by Navarone) He’s a half brother to the multiple stakes winner Cherokee Triangle and stakes placed Sam’s Bliss. Three other half siblings are winners. Their dam placed in the Arlington Washington Lassie.

A Cat That Flies (Fusaichi Pegasus - Sweet Sarah, by Deputy Minister) He’s a full brother to Amped, who placed in the Henry Walton Stakes (9F) at Saratoga. His dam went 0 for 5 during her racing career and she’s a half to a stakes placed runner. The second dam is also stakes placed.

Africanist (Johannesburg - Mekko Hokte, by Holy Bull). He’s a half brother to My Jen, heroine of the Letellier Memorial S. (FG,6F) as a juvenile and the Gallant Bloom H. (G2,Bel,6.5F) at three. Africanist’s full brother Ninja Blade was second in all three of his starts, but hasn’t worked or raced since March. Their dam is a listed stakes winner.

Friday, September 2, 2011

KIDDIE LIST 9-2-11

As we draw closer to the Breeders’ Cup, the Juvenile races begin in earnest. Six graded stakes races for two year olds are scheduled to be contested over the next few days. The pedigree profiles of the entrants and race selections for all juvenile graded races will be posted on the main Iron Maidens Thoroughbreds website.

Race replays of many of the two year olds mentioned on the Kiddie List can be found at the Iron Maidens You Tube Video Channel. You can keep track of the two year olds through free virtual stable email notification systems at:

Equibase (http://www.equibase.com/index.cfm)

or DRF (http://www.drf.com).

 

RESULTS (Wednesday, 8/30):

Del Mar | R1 | 6F Poly| MSW Fillies

Charm the Maker (Empire Maker - Charm the Giant (IRE), by Giant's Causeway) – 1st $6.40

Indecise (Pleasant Tap - Independent Grace, by A.P. Indy) – 3rd $3.00

 

Del Mar | R7 | 6F Poly | Generous Portion Stakes | State-bred Fillies

HELEONOR RUGBY (Tribal Rule - Eleanor Rose, by In Excess) – 1st $14.00

Roar Baby Roar (Roar - Babe in the City, by Carson City) – 2nd $8.00

 

ENTERED (FRIDAY 9/2):

Monmouth | R3 | 5 ½ F | Starter Allowance Fillies

Sweet and Lowdown (Street Sense - Mombasa, by Dynaformer) None of her siblings have blacktype, but her dam is a half sister to two stakes winners, including Funistrada (30-7-6-6 $ 479,404) winner of the Fall Highweight (G2) over colts. Funistrada is the grand-dam of Rahystrada, a multiple graded winner over the turf. The second dam Mesabi is a half sister to the Champion Turf Horse and sire Cozzene. Keep an eye on Sweet and Lowdown if she goes 1 mile or farther over the turf.

Smokin Gold (Smoke Glacken - Added Gold, by Gilded Time) three of her four half siblngs are winners, including the sire Stonesider. Her dam Added Gold (11-4-2-1 $222,000 ) won the Black Eyed Susan (G2). Added Gold’s full sister produced Spinaway S. (G1,7F) heroine Irish Smoke. A half sister, Added Asset won the Arlington Heights Oaks (G3).

Promise More (Songandaprayer - Rainbow Promise, by Known Fact) She’s a ¾ sister to Rainbow’s Song (8-3-2-2 $135,253) who placed in the Kalookan Queen H.[SA,6.5F]. Her half sister Class Above (11-3-0-2 $214,758) won the Ky Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Bourbonette a year later. Her dam Rainbow Promise is a half sister to Spinster S. (G1) heroine Try something New.

Saratoga | R2 | 6F | Gold and Roses S. | 2 YO (NY Bred)

Zow (Bluegrass Cat - Then She Laughs, by Distorted Humor) He’s a full brother to the stakes placed sprinter Hysterical Cat (8-2-1-1 $112,957). His dam won the Miss Woodford Stakes and placed in a G3 sprint. The second dam Dances With Quack was stakes placed.

Dehere of the Cat (Discreet Cat - Dehere of the Dog, by Dehere) He has 5 half siblings, all brothers. None have earned blacktype. His dam won 3 of 21 races and placed in a minor stakes. She’s a half to Cowdin S(G3) winner Sunray Spirit and Endeavour Stakes (G3) heroine Ballymore Lady.

Silent Thunder (Northern Afleet - Strong Little Girl, by Wolf Power) He’s the seventh foal produced by his dam. All six half siblings raced and all except one is a winner. The second dam is a listed stakes winner, but overall, this family has no blacktype but is filled with durable runners.

Bay Park Boy (Johannesburg - Combanchera, by Seattle Slew) He has two half siblings, both colts. Each have won only once despite multiple starts. Their dam was in the money four of five starts and placed in two listed stakes. The second dam In Her Glory won the Garland of Roses S. and was G1 placed.

The Prize Fighter (Pure Prize - Miss Winning Sweep, by End Sweep) He’s a half brother to graded stakes placed Winning Expression (5-1-2-0 $78,138) and stakes placed Shrewd One (6-2-5-2 $140,776). All of his half siblings are winners and their dam is also a winner although there is no other blacktype in two generations of this family.

Saratoga | R5 | 1 1/8 miles | MSW

Maori (Even the Score - Karaka, by Storm Creek) His sire won the G2 Californian at 1 1/8 miles. His offspring win from 4 ½ to 1 1/6 miles, but he had a recent mdn. winner over the Arlington Poly at 1 1/8 miles. Damsire Storm Creek is a little light on stamina; however second damsire Secretariat adds some oomph. Maori’s dam is unraced, but she’s a half to the multiple graded turf miler Dubleo.

Why Broadway (Whywhywhy - Angry Reply, by Grand Slam) his sire was a precocious sprinter and his dirt offspring generally don’t win beyond 1 1/16 miles. His turf runners can go a bit longer. Damsire Grand Slam won the Peter Pan (G2) at 1 1/8 miles, but he’s versatile, and his daughters produce sprinters through route runners, depending on the sire of their offspring. Why Broadway’s dam is unraced, but his second dam won a listed stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Raconteur (A.P. Indy - Miss Kate, by Storm Cat) No lack of endurance in his sire line! He’s a ¾ brother to stakes winner Katerbug, who won her maiden in her first attempt. His half brother Heron Lake also won at first asking. Their dam is stakes placed. She’s a half sister to multiple G1 winner Clear Mandate, who won from a mile to 1 ¼ miles. Clear Mandate produced stakes winners Full Mandate and Newfoundland. Another half sister Drean Scheme is a G2 winning miler. The second dam Dream Deal won the Monmouth Oaks (G1, 9F). This distaff family produced Belmont Stakes hero Crème Fraiche.

Our Midnight Run (Mr. Greeley - Quiet Maggy, by Quiet American) His sire gets winners at all distances and often the dam (sprinter/route runner) is the key to how his offspring perform. Our Midnight Run has plenty of stamina through his distaff line. His dam Quiet Maggy is an unraced half sister to Champion Afleet Alex and his full brother Unforgettable Max. An unraced half sister bore the stakes winner Cash’s Girl.

Politicallycorrect (Kitten's Joy - Exceedexpectations, by Tale of the Cat) No surprise that Champion Turf horse Kitten’s Joy gets the majority of winners over turf and synthetics. He has some winners over dirt, but they are far and few between. Politicallycorrect’s distaff line has no blacktype in two generations.

Speightscity (Speightstown - My American Girl, by Quiet American) His sire, a Champion Sprinter, gets mostly sprinter/milers. His son Haynesfield is one of his few dirt runners who has been victorious past 1 1/16 miles. Speightscity gets stamina from his damsire. His half sister won a listed sprint and his dam is multiple stakes placed. Her half sibling produced True North (G2 6f) winner Anew. The second dam is a G3 stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles.

A Single Man (Bernardini - Kettleoneup, by Victory Gallop) has the pedigree to run all day. His sire was Champion Three Year Old and damsire was Champion Older Horse. His second damsire Storm Cat adds more class to the mix. A Single Man is the first foal produced by his multiple stakes winning dam, who includes the Sixty Sales Handicap (G3) and Falls City Handicap (G2) on her resume. Both races are at 1 1/8 miles. Should A Single Man perform well, he could be one to keep on your Derby List for next year. Trainer Nick Zito knows a thing or two about getting a horse ready for the Classics.

Doctorious (Smart Strike - Dandanna (IRE), by Linamix (FR)) receives stamina from his sire and miler speed from his damsire. Second sire Shirley Heights lends plenty of endurance. Doctorious has a pedigree better suited to the turf, as his distaff line is mostly European. His dam didn’t do much on the track, but she’s a half to a couple of stakes winning turf routers.