WELCOME all to the much anticipated Equinics Gr. 1 race for 2 yr old Juvenile Fillies. The race here is named after the Saint Louis University White Coat Scholarship Fund. A University who performed the 1st heart surgery west of the Mississippi and continues to pave the way for research and its approach to the H.I.V disease. For more info or to donate please check out http://medschool.slu.edu/index.phtml.
It�s a gorgeous day here in Vermont, our host track for this grand day. We have some talented fillies here for this race and a win or good showing here may put one of these fillies in line for a Breeders Bowl run. The track is fast and we will be running at a distance of 6 furlongs for a whopping purse of $1,000,000. The crowd is anxious and getting inpatient as the all star residency horses make their way onto the track. Banners and pins blanket the stands, rooting for their filly to represent their residency. 18 fillies and residencies pound the windows in hope for legendary sim glory. Let�s get a detailed look at these fillies starting from the rail outwards. Wash down your pancakes with a soda or beer �cause its post time.
Sheikh Indy represents the blue blood breeders of the Kentucky Horsemen Residency. The 2 yr old brown filly is by Preakness and Travers winner Bernardini. The impeccably bred filly comes into the race with earnings of $63,000 from 2 wins in 4 starts. She is trained by the class act of Oaklawn. In Sheikh Indy�s first race in the heat of Florida, Sheikh went off favorite at 3-1 in a full field of 14. A $48,000 Msw of 5f on dirt seemed to be much too easy for the filly. Sheikh Indy broke towards the rear and stepped on the gas peddle with 2f to go. She won by a � length with an impressive speed number of 71. Impressive because it was only March and she was already giving out stakes times and speed numbers. Trainer Oaklawn88 says of that performance, �She ran like her Grade B mother (Indy Connection), who also won first time out. Her mother was a graded winner, so we had high hopes for this filly.� Her next start would come in a conditioned allowance race of nw2l. Going off 2nd choice at 2-1, she sat mid pack and made a move for the lead, but tired a bit, losing by 1 � lengths. Trainer Oaklawn was not concerned in the slightest, telling the Bluegrass Daily News, �She�s By Bernardini and Dam sired by Forty Niner. She needs one more race to fill out a bit. The winner of that race came back to run a good 3rd in a Grade 2, so we liked the race.� Oaklawn would back up that statement next time out. The North Wailing Stakes in Georgia proved to be the race. The 5 � f race would have a field of 7. Sheikh Indy would go off slight favorite and win the race by � lengths. At the top of the stretch, down by 3 lengths, she put it into overdrive and came home powerfully. Her time of 1:05 flat for 5f was good enough for trainer Oaklawn to test the graded waters. The race that was picked was the Gr3 Butterfly Futurity. At the same racetrack as last, Georgia, the filly went off at 2nd choice 4-1.
In a full field of 14 on a track listed sloppy, the long legged filly broke 12th. After trying to make up ground with 3f to go, jockey A. Clancy started making up ground. She finished a closing 8th, missing only by 31/4 lengths. Trainer Oaklawn told the Georgia Peach Times �she�s long legged. That sloppy track didn�t help us at all. Just cross a line through that race and move forward. The jock said she couldn�t get a handle of the track. She came back to the barn not even out of breath. Her slight speed number increase of 77 from 75 was our indication that this is not the filly you will see come Equinics Day.� Sheikh Indy has some real good qualities for this one. She�s a stalker with closer speed late. Her question today is can we totally throw her last our because of the slop or is she not graded ready just yet. She can be very dangerous here if her speed numbers improve and I think they most definitively will. The wise men of Kentucky Horsemen have chosen none other than Churchill downs to be the celebration site. Mint Juleps will fill the air. She has the red #1 and will be ridden by 18% winner V.Gardner. She is co-4th choice at 9-1.
Representing the Ohio Residency is the lightly raced but talented filly in Noble Nino. Trainer Gsp brings the scratch bred filly by 1st year sire El Nino into the race having won her last, an allowance event. In Noble Nino�s first race, a Msw race in Nevada, Noble Nino faced a field of 14, going off at 14-1 odds. She lit up the tote board by winning in convincing fashion by drawing off at the end by 2 � lengths and earning a speed number of 68. Trainer Gsp states �we like what we saw a lot. Being by El Nino, there�s not much information on how they run early in their career. She relaxed down the backside and the responded when asked.� Gsp then decided to put some stiff works into the filly and give her a full 3 months off. Gsp said to a newspaper reporter �she ran so good first out, she bucked her shins, so we decided to give her a rest.� Her next race was an allowance Nw2l event in Arkansas. At odds of a more respected 3-1, Noble Nino finished 2nd, getting nipped at the wire. �The wire came up quick. We put her at 7f for this one to prep for today�s race. With the layoff and the added distance, she ran a very credible race having upped her speed number to 82 (14 pt. jump). I think she will have her work cut out today, but if she can handle the class jump, she should be in the fight.� She won�t be 3-1 today, but if Noble Nino runs her race she may be able to get a check. She has a versatile running style in the sense she can lead or rate. The class jump is big, but I�ve seen them do it before. The home of the Cincinnati Reds Great American Ballpark is where the celebration will be held if this filly can improve. She is wearing the white #2 and is ridden by 18% Renfroe. Currently she is 23-1 on the board.
Representing the famed DelPenn Residency is the 17th ranked juvenile filly named Echo Pass. The bred in the purple 2 year old filly boasts a 3 for 3 perfect mark. Trained by Malekfarms, the strapping chestnut filly out of Horse of the year Ghostzapper, enters this race with a victory in the Swampy Mill Stakes. In Echo Pass� first race, a MSW restricted race for Del Penn and Keeneland residents, Echo Pass convincingly defeated 17 rivals by 1 � lengths. In that race she earned a speed number of 76 and ran a much respected time of 1:11 4/5. Trainer Malekfarms did not hesitate, when ESPN asked the trainer about the next possible start. �We�re going in the Lady Arc Handicap on May 10th.� In the Oregon race, a $50,000 stakes, Echo Pass was surprisingly facing nine more rivals. In her usual stalking position, Echo Pass waited patiently and zoomed by the leaders as pleased. Malekfarms was quoted by a reporter as saying, �I was surprised after her first race that nine other trainers would contest this event. As evidence of her 2 point speed number increase (78), jockey N. Wakeman told me that he never moved a muscle on her�. On June 14th, in The Swampy Mill Stakes at 6 � furlongs, Echo Pass again faced 10 rivals. �I don�t understand trainers sometimes. How impressive does a horse have to be for a trainer to not run their horse in a race in which they know beforehand, they will be defeated?� stated Malekfarms. Echo again sat patiently waiting for her cue from jockey J. Webb and the filly responded impressively. Her time of 117 1/5 and speed number of 88 will again not scare off the competition. Malekfarms, when asked, said �This was our goal from the beginning. She will surely get her class test here and we are supremely confident that she will answer all comers�. Echo Pass has a great running style for this type of race. Look for her to be in the mix at the � pole and she will have a say in the medals given out there. Her right off the pace running style will be very conducive for this race. Front runners going backwards and closers taking to long to close. She will be handily spotted and gauge the race as it unfolds. She will have a birds eye view on everyone. The winning banner will cross 2 states if this filly runs the way she�s been trained. #2 jock here today B.F. Abman gets the luxury today. She is currently the 5-1 favorite for this prestigious Gr.1.
Representing the 1.4 million square miles of area, is the residency known as the Great Plains Residency. Their star 2 yr old filly is Cognitum. The Californian bred filly is sired by Sea Of Secrets. Cognitum comes into the Gr1 event with a record of 2 wins in 4 starts and earnings of $37,000. In her first race, trainer Tsunami decided to go to Oregon in a Msw event worth $16,000. Going off at odds of 13-1 in a field of 13, Cognitum made up some late ground to finish 3rd missing by 3 � length with a speed number of 59. Her next race would stay at Oregon and she would run again in a Msw event with again a field of 13. Going off at the same odds of 13-1, Cognitum would pay a handsome $28.00 as she wired the field taking command through the stretch. Her winning speed time of 62 and time of 59 and 4/5 didn�t concern Tsunami. The Oregon paper quoted Tsunami as saying �She�s a developing filly and we have to take our time with her. She hasn�t quite grown into her frame as of yet, but she�s learning the game. When both her frame and her experience come together, that�s when you�ll see her shine.� To back that statement up, Cognitum would next be entered in the Their Catch Stakes. A $45,000 stakes race in Utah with a field of 5. One trainer in the race was overheard saying �don�t know why Tsunami would ship that horse here with her speed numbers being 59 and 62. He probably should have saved some gas money and stayed in Oregon.� Going off at the longest odds in the field at 6-1, Cognitum toyed with her rivals and won by 1 � lengths. Her final time of 1:11 2/5 and whopping increase of speed number to 80 made Tsunami laugh and say �They won�t tell me which trainer said that remark. You can tell them that we are staying in Utah and pointing for the Gr2 Stoker Handicap if they want some more of this. Besides that nonsense, we were very excited about her performance and she telling us she�s ready for some big girl, big track action.� In her Gr 2 Stoker race, a full field of 14, with many shippers, took to the track. The 6 � f event would show Cognitum at odds of 19-1 as of post time. In that race, Cognitum never got to show her real ability. Trainer Tsunami said afterwards �she hit the gate coming out and was bounced sideways. She was last with 3 furlongs to go and still finished strongly to miss by 4 lengths. The break definitely cost us the race. You don�t go down 9 speed points to a 71 when she was ready to run. She will be ready for the Equinics and she�s on her toes.� In that race there was 11 graded placed or stakes placed horses in the field; A tough assignment for any filly. She has proved many wrong before and if ready, she will undoubtedly do it again. If she breaks well and settles toward the middle, this horse has a very nice late kick and could be seen late. Yellowstone National Park, for the first time, will shut its doors to outsiders where the massive celebration is to be staged. 3rd leading rider here today Haynes gets the mount. Listed at the underlay price of 29-1. She is the Number 4 today.
Representing the EAAA Residency is the first time out Maiden winner Gilded Ridge. This brown Canadian filly is out of former 2 yr old champ Gilded Time. She has only one race, a Msw event with a purse of $48,000. The race was held in Florida and had a contentious field of 14. Trainer Cuschera picked this spot because of the difficulty level. In this race at 7f, Gilded Ridge went off at 9-1. She bounced out of the gate and held the lead throughout. Her winning time of 124: 4/5 was very respectable for a firster going 7f. Her speed number of 78 said that all the training had paid off. Cuschera told the Equinics News team �9-1 in her Msw was a joke. I just bought a Lexus with the bet from that race. She ran the way we knew she could and we were expecting that. She will probably have to relax for the Equinics race, but we�ve been training her to steady herself early. She�s gotten better with not fighting the bridle. For her to win today, she�s going to have to gut it out. She�s a fighter though and we hope she responds.� Gilded Ridge is one of those maidens you fear. It is one of those harmless horses in a Gr1 event that has only won one start. That�s until Sat night and you see 2 for 2 with earnings of $628,000 and her last speed number of 89. It�s a distinct possibility in this one, although she must put forth an extended effort. She is capable. The EAAA residency has booked their celebration on a yacht were the ship will get christened more than once with a bottle of bubbly. She is 14-1 today and will be ridden by 19% winner Mccoy. Look for the number 5 if betting this one.
The beautiful chestnut filly Thea�s Dreamer, proudly represents The Ireland Residency. Thea�s Dreamer, a daughter of High Octane, has won her last three starts with earnings of $154,000. The filly�s only loss came in her first race, a MSW event on turf, where she finished 5th by 2 � lengths. Trainer Sveningvar says of that race, �She has small feet, so we thought she may like the turf being out of a High Octane and Broad Brush dam sire�. Trainer Sveningvar then entered the filly in a 6 furlong MSW at Delaware. In a field of 14, going off at 11-1, Thea�s Dreamer went wire to wire in a convincing 2 length score. �She responded on dirt, the way that we had hoped.� Her speed number of 76 showed a 20 point jump from her turf Msw race. Sveningvar then entered Thea�s Dreamer in a restricted 6 furlong stakes race. Again the talented filly showed that her first race on dirt was not a fluke. Up by 4 lengths at the top of the stretch, she was a shut down winner by 2 in the easiest of fashion. A final time of 1:12 was not indicative of how easy she won it. Thea�s Dreamer would get her first real test on June 21, in the sloppy Gr. 3 Butterfly Futurity; Thea�s Dreamer faced 13 rivals at a 6 furlong distance. The trainer states, �We were very concerned the day of the event. The Georgia race track tends to hold moisture very well. Many horses that do not run well on turf may not run well on slop. We discussed the possibility of scratching her and at the last minute decided against it�. This decision proved to be valuable. In that race, Thea�s Dreamer again flashed her early speed and splashed her way to a 1 � length victory. Her speed number of 83 and the winning time of 1:11 1/5 showed that this horse is one to recon with. �I�d love it to come up sloppy. I already know that she can handle it where others may not.� When asked about her early speed (she has never been headed on the dirt), the trainer replied, �She�s an anxious filly and sometimes hard to control. We�ve put some long gallops into her and hope that she can relax on the front end today�. Thea�s Dreamer, the 13th ranked horse in the division, will be showing her tail to most all in this race. Her question will be how much those morning gallops have gotten her to realx. If she can do it easily, look for Thea�s Dreamer to be in the mix in deep stretch. Deep closers in the race will be hoping that she won�t be able to settle down early in the race. If she can settle and not battle early, she may have enough to hold off everyone. The chants of �Erin go bragh� will be heard for miles. Trainer Sveningvar will surely have a large pub tab if this filly represents. She will be ridden by J.Caves (19.5% booter) today and stands at 14-1. She totes the #6 cloth today.
From the Northwest Racing Circuit Residency hails the 2 yr old brown filly Parthian Shot. She roams the stable of trainer Lawman. She brings a race record of 2 wins from 3 starts with earnings of $43,000. In her first start, a 4.5f Msw race in the residency home of Utah, Parthian Shot went off at the favorite odds of 2-1. In the field of 8, Parthian broke alertly but was soon throttled back by her jock. On his command, Parthian Shot pulled within 2 � lengths at the � pole and gracefully strode home a winner by a full length. A month later, the entries for an allowance race of Nw1x would surface with the name of Parthian Shot coming into California. Lawman told the California Free Press �we wanted to ship, �because we�re pointing towards a stakes race next in Oregon, if all goes well here.� Going off at 4th choice at 6-1, Parthian Shot broke last and tried to make up ground late. She finished the race 3rd by 2 � lengths. The jock O. Brim told Lawman not to worry. �the track had a lot of moisture in it. She couldn�t get hold of her feet. She still responded when asked, but it was like running on a treadmill.� Trainer Lawman heeded that concession and decided that they would continue on their plan to Oregon. He knew that her speed number of 68 in the last race would have to improve to win this one. Her stakes appearance would come in the Blue Roll Special Stakes at 6 � furlongs. In a field of 10, again Parthian Shot broke last. Lawman was overheard at the break yelling �C�mon Writer, you�re only job was to get her out of the gate cleanly.� Lawman worried that the same race was to be run as last. Parthian Shot had different plans though. Learning from her last race, she conceded the field 6 lengths with 3f to go. But this time, she would make her move earlier and wear down the speed. She closed from 7th at the 1/8th pole to win by � of a length. The ecstatic Lawman said �Phewwwww. We we glad to see her run that way. The jock didn�t help us at all today. She�s learning the game pretty good right now and I think she�s capable of improving. Her next start will be the Equinics.� Her speed number of 74 shows that she�s on the improve. She has some dangerous closing speed and her class and quality will be tested here. A good break with some good fast fractions up front should benefit Parthian Shot greatly. She will be thundering late. The Seattle Space Needle was reserved by the mayor for the celebration activities. 4th leading jock J.White gets the mount and is listed at 28-1. She�ll be wearing the #7.
Next up is the Alpine Turf Club Residency with their juvenile filly in Candy Alps. The 2 yr old filly is winless in 2 starts and has much room for improvement. She is by the speedy and talented sire Discreet Cat. In Candy Alps� first race a Msw race in Germany, the filly tracked in 3rd in the 8 horse field and ran evenly through the stretch to finish 3rd by 3 � lengths. The trainer of Candy Alps, Airtiger, was not distressed by the first start. �she ran evenly and she needs a couple of races. She�ll be fine as she matures with age.� The connections for Candy Alps decided to change course with the filly. This time they put her in a Residency Restricted Stakes event on turf. Going off 8-1 in a field of 14, the filly finished 11th by 9 lengths. Her speed number of 53 was 17 points less than her maiden try which prompted this answer by trainer Airtiger, �We put her in that turf race for 2 reasons. First off, it was a residency race and we thought we had a shot to win. But more importantly, we had to find out if she liked the turf or not. Her mother was a 5 time stakes winner on turf and we thought that she would prefer that surface. She still may, but we expect her to run better for now on the dirt.� As a sire, Discreet Cat has in his early career, been able to turn a horse�s number around real quick. She has the ability to do the same. She will definitely be happy to be back on the dirt, and look for her to be sitting mid pack and try to make a move earlier than the rest. If she gets her dirt happy feet running, she would shock all by having her first career victory be a Gr1 event. She has a lot to improve, but that�s why they run the races. Mont Blanc has been chosen for the celebratory feast and the mountain may be torn down if this one wins. Ridden today by W. Jackson, she wears the number #8 and is listed at 35-1.
Representing the northern Residency of Minnesota is Babelicus. The 2 yr old filly is sired by Brahms. The brown filly started her career of in Mexico in a Msw event that drew a field of 14. Going off at odds of 6-1, Babelicus ran 6th. Trainer Falcon said of the race� I wasn�t too concerned with the loss. She needed a race and I thought she ran evenly through the stretch. It was what we wanted for her first time out.� Her 2nd race, where Babelicus was ignored at 22-1 found her in the winners circle. Her winning time of 59 2/5 and increase speed number to 67, gave trainer Falcon a lot of optimism. �She ran better in this one and the works and gallops are starting to pay off.� He would stay cautious with the fill and enter an allowance nw1x race next. In the field of 8, Babelicus would make short work of the competition. Her 66 speed number was not very encouraging, but she got the job done. Falcon says of that race �good horses don�t always run at their peak, but they find a way to win and that�s what she did.� Falcon then made a phone call to the owner in which he was petrified to hear the response. Falcon remembers the phone call laughingly; I called the owner and said �she has been training phenomenally. I would like to put her in the Gr2 Vermont BB Juvenile. He hung up so fast, I thought I was disconnected. Anyway he called back and said to me you train the horse and decide its race, but it�s you�re neck on the line.� So with her trainer�s confidence Babelicus would go in the Vermont BB Gr2. The public didn�t have much confidence like the owner. They dismissed her at odds of 16-1. As she took the lead at the top of the stretch, you could hear the pessimistic owner saying �I knew she could do it.� Trainer Falcon just smirked. Babelicus pulled off the upset with a time of 1:04 3/5 and a speed rating of 82; A mesmerizing 16 point jump in speed numbers. In her last race, the restricted Smackdown $500,000 race, Babelicus could not duplicate the previous effort. Sitting mid pack throughout, she steadily dropped back and finished a disappointing 11th. Falcon told Smokeglack �I gave her 5 weeks off, which I thought was enough. In retrospect, she may have wanted more time off from her grueling win. She looks to be back to her old self and is full of confidence.� Look for Babelicus to revert back to better form here. Will it be enough, it�s hard to tell. She has all the tools to win this one. She�s proved many people wrong already and may do so again. Tread lightly going against her.
The Mall of America will be bustling with proud residency members if she gets it done. All the breweries will be doling out the beer if she wins. She will be guided by leading rider here today in A. Rolling. She wears the aqua number 9. Listed at 21-1.
Next up is the E.W.C. Residency (East West Coast). They are represented by the perfect resume of El Noble. This 2 yr old filly is another in this race represented by first year sire El Nino. Trainer Marks said of the filly �we bought her for 300 bps at the Ohio auction for juvenile fillies. She had good conformation and she seemed like she could be a runner early on.� That first test would come in the bayous of Louisiana in her Msw race. A 5f race on dirt worth $36,000 and a field of 8 were entered. El Noble went off as the 3rd choice at 6-1. Breaking from the 8 hole, El Noble broke mid pack only a length and a half off the leaders. At the 2f marker she would be set down for the drive. She responded to the calling by winning the race by a widening margin of 1 � lengths. Marks was quoted as saying to one of his partners �well, we made half our money back, but more importantly it seems like we may have a good one here.� In El Noble�s next race, an allowance NW1X, the brown filly broke more forwardly and took command at the 3f pole and set sail for home. The filly backed the Jamaican bettors by winning by 1 � lengths and paying $5.60 for the win. Her speed number of 73 was an increase of 9 points for her; the owners and the trainer were pleased. Her final time was 1:12 that day. Marks said to the Black Type Bugler reporter Smokeglack �we wanted her in allowance; to run her in her conditions and show us how good she may be. We know she�s an improving filly and we want to try her here. We think she�s capable of a 10-15 point speed number increase that puts us right in the mix.� Marks could be right. Yes, this filly has to improve to run well here, but her versatility is an asset. She should be one of the stalkers early on in the race and then she will be tested from there. If she is capable of a class jump, she can definitely win this. If she does, Madison Square Garden and the Staples Center are the 2 venues who have picked up the residency parties. She is ridden by Libitfarm and listed at 27-1. She will wear the number 10.
The pride of The GR Simsters Residency is the 2 year old filly Bloodflowers. The 2 year old filly out of Posse boasts career earnings of $358,000 (the highest ranked juvenile for sire Posse). Trainer Lopo34, wasted no time in putting Bloodflowers in a residency restricted stakes race. In that $125,000 stakes, Bloodflowers had the lead at the top of the stretch, but got caught and lost by only � lengths. Trainer Lopo34 says, �She showed us a lot in that race. We have a strong residency, particularly juveniles, and Bloodflowers confirmed our beliefs that she was a runner�. In her second start MSW $36,000 in North Florida, Bloodflowers wasted no time breaking her maiden condition. In a field of seven going 5 � furlongs, the chestnut filly bided her time and closed to win by � length.Her second straight speed number of above 70 showed she had some good potential. Lopo34 then gave Bloodflowers a six week rest, to give her time for her next event which was the Gr. 2 Vermont BB Juvenile Filly. Bloodflowers, going off the favorite in a contentious field, struggled getting through traffic and finished a closing 5th. Lopo34 says, �She stumbled coming out of the gate. She made a nice mid pack move and then ran into a wall of horses at the top of the stretch. With the number two ranked Repeat Performance and Makes A Positive in that same race, we were satisfied because we knew the trip she had�. On July 5, Lopo�s confidence was justified. In the $500,000 restricted Smack Down, a race of three residencies, Bloodflowers did her owners proud. Breaking 9th in a field of 15, Bloodflowers was midpack at the � mile pole. Making a determined run, Bloodflowers swooped by the leaders and rewarded her backers with a $21.00 pay off. Bloodflowers ran the 7 furlong race in a whopping time of 123 4/5, earning an 86 speed number. Trainer Lopo says, �We�ve whipped other residencies already and now we look to whip them all. We are not concerned about the 1f cutback in distance for we think we have the best filly in the race�. If Bloodflowers runs back to her last she will be taking pictures and wearing the flowers. She appears to be the budding at the right time filly. If she runs back to her Smackdown race, the 60% winners share will be made out to Lopo and the streets that the Gr Simsters reside will be amuck with celebration. She wears the #11 saddlecloth today and will be piloted by F. Gosset (19.8 % winners). She is co 2nd choice at 8-1.
Representing the Hispano Parlante Residency is Valdestale, who struts her undefeated 3 for 3 mark. The beautifully bred filly is the highest 2 yr old earner by the talented sire Tale of the Cat. Trainer Valdes has done a nice job bringing this filly along. In her first career start, a Msw race in the Finger Lakes of New York, Valdestale went off the favorite in an 10 horse field. She didn�t disappoint her backers or connections by winning the race by 1 � lengths .She broke last and only had 2 beat at the top of the stretch. She then passed rivals with ease. Her bold closing kick impressed her trainer so much he was quoted as saying �we are pointing towards the Equinics as our first major goal, however we may have a Breeders bowl win in Oct.� What followed though proved their vision to be possibly correct. In an open allowance race held in DC, Valdestale again went off the favorite in a 6 horse field. After breaking 5th, she again turned on the jet streams late and won by a distancing 1 � lengths. Her time of 1:12 and speed number of 74 (an increase of 8 pts in her MSW) proved that she was ready for bigger competiotion. Trainer Valdes told the Simulado Los Deportes newspaper, �She hasn�t even been tested yet. Our next race will be her first class test, but we are extremely confident she will win with ease.� Valdestale would wait a month to get her first test. Valdes and Co. chose the Sashina Mem. Stakes at Delaware to test the waters. Going off 2nd choice to already graded place horse Kithara, Valdestale toyed with her competition to win by 2 lengths. Her run was again repeated in the sense of her furious closing kick. Trainer Valdes states �I could run this horse every 2 weeks. In a 6f race, she only runs 2f of it. She has great communication with her jockeys and responds when asked to go.� Her impressive time of 1:11 and speed number of 84 is competitive in this field as is. Any kind of improvement in this race may have her in the winners circle and onto the plans of her trainer. A very dangerous horse in this race because she will be going forwards, when some may be backing up. The Spanish speaking people of the Sim world will be knocking back some Coronas if this filly gets it done. Also at co 2nd choice at 8-1, she will be ridden by Cadigan and will be wearing the violet color #12.
From the hometown track, representing the hometown Vermont Residency is Lol Fang Tan. The 2 yr old filly, a beautiful grey horse by Aptitude, is trained by Semolina. Lol Fang Tan comes into the race toting 2 wins from a 3 race mark. Lol Fang Tan is currently the number 8 ranked horse in the division and a win here puts her up to a possible number 1 spot. In her first start, a Msw event in Utah, Lol Fang Tan went off at 2-1 with 10 others contesting the race. With O. Osbourne in the saddle the quick footed filly took the lead and never looked back. Trainer Semolina then had a placing dilemma, for her next start. The answer became clear when the pp�s came up for the Bonnie Seattle Special came up 6 weeks later. The filly would skip her allowance conditions and go into a 6 furlong stakes. Trainer Semolina states �we were very pleased with her first start and she trained very forwardly, so we decided to test the waters.� In the Bonnie Seattle stakes, Lol Fang Tan went off 3rd choice against a very well matched field. What came next wouldn�t be revealed until almost 5 weeks later. In the race, Lol Fang repeated her fine 1st effort and broke on top and never looked back. After opening up at the top of the stretch by 2 � lengths, she was reigned in and coasted to the wire a 1 � length winner. Her 79 speed number and time of 1:11 3/5 was impressive. Trainer Semolina said �oh boy did we have a party after that win. It was nice. We knew she could run, but wasn�t sure with her pedigree being more distance and time suited, if we had made the right choice.� But what was interesting and later revealed in that stakes race was that she defeated the #1 ranked 2 year old juvenile filly in Quiet n Discreet. In Lol Fang�s next race on June 28th, trainer Semolina decided to enter the 2 year old filly in the Gr. 2 Stoker Handicap contested at 6 � furlongs. In her first graded try, Lol Fang again took the early lead, but this time was nipped at the wire by � length. Trainer Semolina views that race as an excellent prep for today�s event. Lol Fang had now had two straight starts with a speed number of 79 and 78 respectively. Semolina says �We are really excited to be here and represent the Vermont residency and we think we have an excellent chance here today�. Lol Fang Tan is one of the few in here that has answered every obstacle she has been given. She has class, brilliant speed and it seems a lot of heart. It wouldn�t behoove many to run with this one early for they would most likely compromise their own chances. Semolina and Lol Fang Tan loom large here. The liquid gold from the maple tree will be flowing freely if this filly wins. The number 13 horse is ridden by 5th leading jock D. Givens (20 % winner). She is listed at 14-1 today.
Representing The Rash Residency is the 2 year filly Celtic Sprite. Trainer Rene brings this filly, a daughter of Belmont winner Commendable, into the race with a perfect 2 for 2 record. In Celtic Sprite�s first race, a MSW event at 5 � furlongs, Celtic Sprite closed from off the pace to win by a photo finish nose. The 24-1 shot won with a 65 speed number on a track labeled as good. Trainer Rene decided to go to allowance company with the 2 year old chestnut filly. Rene says of that decision, �We had mixed feelings about her maiden win. Her time of 105 4/5 was not as swift as we wanted it to be. So we let the horse come to us and decided that NW2L conditions would be best�. The trainers� astute decision paid off handsomely for the connections. On June 21, in the mountains of Tennessee, Celtic Sprite faced seven rivals in the 5 � furlong event. Going off a disrespected 9-1, Celtic Sprite closed to win by 1 � and a speed number of 79. In that race Celtic Sprite seemed to run more evenly. Trainer Rene quotes, �We were ecstatic that she improved her speed number 14 points to a very respectable 79�. Celtic Sprite, out of a grade D dam Andorras Wish, belongs with this company if she can duplicate her last speed number. Rene is excited about his chances saying, �Gotta be in it to win it. We feel that if we can not only run like her last, but improve, we have a shot�. She�s been unwisely ignored in both her races by the betting public and look for her to pull the shocker again. If she can improve even more off the last, this horse could steal the show. The big group better known as Anarcho-Syndicalists Hermits will be partying in public. The number 15 in the race, she will be coaxed along by 17 % winner V. Jennings. She stands at 34-1.
Representing the Eastern Kentucky crew and The CR Racers Residency is a 2 year old filly by Belmont winner Touch Gold. Trained by Backnine, Touch enters this race with having only two prior starts. In her debut race, Touch was entered in a $45,000 MSW event. The regally bred brown filly went off at odds of 2/1 and strolled to an easy win by 1 � lengths earning a speed number of 76. Backnine states, �We knew she had been training well for her debut. Our main goal was getting her to relax and find a comfortable stride�. Trainer Backnine was confident and next entered Touch in the Gr. 3 Unusual Circumstances Juvenile. Going off at second choice at 8/5, Touch came closing strongly to miss by � length. Backnine said, �We were concerned about the distance, not about the competition. Our thinking proved to be correct in that she finished strongly missing by a rallying � length. We are confident today that no horse in this field will be closing faster than we will.� Touch�s sire, dam sire, and dam/dam sire have all won the Belmont Stakes (her ds and dds both won triple crowns). Touch, is out of the game dam La Secret, a G ranked mare that has already produced a stakes placed filly. Look for Touch late in the lane, for she will be passing horses at will. She is lightly raced but has the makeup of a filly that is going to just keep getting better and better. The 6f distance should be right up her ally. This one commands some respect at the windows. The farms and hills of Kentucky will be parading if the hometown Kentucky bred filly gets the job done. Touch will be the #16 in the race and be guided by C. Wolff. She stands at 9-1.
The Blazing Saddles Residency proudly presents 2 yr old graded placed Hoochie Glide. This 2 yr old chestnut filly by Cigar Mile winner Purge, has 2 wins from 4 races with earnings of $73,000. In her maiden race down in Louisiana, Hoochie Glide was one of 11 entrants in the race. Hoochie broke 2nd and ran down the leader for fun, winning by � length. Trainer Slowjet lit up the tote board with a whopping $64.00 winner. Slowjet said of the Msw race, �I know I�m notorious for bringing my horses up slowly and that�s why her odds were that. The public didn�t know what I saw in the mornings though. She is so easy to train.� Slowjet decided to go against the grain in his training methods and put the filly right into the Gr3 Arizona Shootout. In a speedy field of 12, she was again overlooked going off at odds of 29-1. Cutting back from 6f to 4 � f would be tough for the filly. She responded with an excellent effort, finishing 3rd and only losing by a length. Trainer Slowjet says �She couldn�t get the lead in this calvary charge for the lead, but she still showed some good speed and was able to make up ground. She showed us that she�s a black type horse. She beat Repeat Performance in that race (who is #2 ranked in the div).� Her next start would be the Sunday Challenge Stakes in the desserts of Nevada. In a field of 7, going off at a ridiculous 8-1, the 16 hand filly toyed with her rivals and won by a convincing 1 � lengths with V. Jef in the saddle. Her speed number of 77 and time of 1:18 1/5 convinced Slowjet, that he was going to put her right back in graded company. The Gr2 stoker in Utah was the site, facing 2 other horses that are in this race today. Hoochie Glide went off at 21-1 and never got going. She broke 10th in the field of 14 and stayed there throughout the stretch. Her 66 speed number was not indicative of her past races which led Slowjet to respond �I think she may have had one to many tough races in a row. We backed off of her and prepared her for today�s race. She�s been training superbly and we expect a good effort here.� After getting the 5 weeks rest, Hoochie Glide can definitely rebound in a big way here. She has never broken near last in any of her races (except the last), so the same outcome is not expected. She will be hoping to break mid pack and continue to advance through the field one by one. Her speed numbers must be improved here if she is to compete, but it�s a definite possibility. The famous Gem Saloon has been taken over by the gunslingers for this residency. Expect to hear Schlitz cans getting shot down if this one wins. At 31-1 today, jockey N.Lawton supplied the services. She is the number 16 horse today.
Representing The Benelux Residency is the undefeated Kalima. This gorgeous 2 year old chestnut filly is sired by Librettist. Kalima comes into the race having won two stakes races, the last being graded. In Kalima�s MSW, trainer Bestobene, entered the filly in a MSW at 5 � furlongs on dirt. In a field of eight, Kalima sat patiently through the first two furlongs in the race and closed powerfully to win by � lengths. Her 76 speed number and final time of 1:05 was what the connections wanted. Trainer Bestobene felt confident enough to enter Kalima in a stakes race held in New York. In a field of eight, Kalima, the second choice in the field, again unleashed a fury down the stretch to win by 1 �. With her 78 speed number, and time of 104 4/5, the English bred filly boosted her earnings to $151,000. Trainer Bestobene then decided to give Kalima a one month break. Bestobene states, �The Gr. 3 Desert Filly Juvenile was our first goal with this filly. With the distance increased to 6 furlongs, we felt that her times and running styles were conducive to that race�. They proved to be correct. On June 7 in the sands of Dubai, Kalima revealed a closing kick that is a rarity for juvenile horses. After breaking last in a field of 12, the Storm Cat granddaughter was content to sit in last until the � mile pole. Gradually picking up her feet, she then set sail on the leaders and blazed through the stretch to win by a head. S.Ledwith, the jockey on Kalima that day noted, �I have yet to ever ride a horse that eats up ground as well as she does. I simply nudged on the reigns, and she did he rest�. Bestobene states his outlook for today�s race, �Sure we�d love a fast pace, but we think she can win from anywhere she is positioned. After looking at the pp�s for this race, we are confident that we will get speed up front and she will be able to run clear of that�. The #6th ranked filly in her division will be a major threat today. She is a graded winner already and is very consistent. Kalima will be closing late and definitely has the class and the turn of foot to win this. No shocker here as she merits much respect. The western Europeans will be drinking the newly acquired Budweiser�s all night if she gets the trip expected. W. Mclendon (20 %) beckoned the call on this filly. She breaks from the outside in the number 17 post.
Tiz Cielo Slew proudly represents the Aussies of the Queensland Residency. The 2 yr old brown filly by 2 time Breeders Cup Classic winner Tiznow, comes into the race with 2 wins in 4 tries. She is trained by the talented Iousome. In Tiz Cielo Slew�s first race, a Msw event in Jamaica, Tiz Cielo broke mid pack in a field of 14. She raced evenly down the backstretch, where she made a move turning for home but couldn�t sustain it. Trainer Iousome said �we weren�t totally disappointed, because we knew she had to mature a bit. What better way to mature then to run a couple of races and learn the game.� In Tiz Cielo Slew�s next start, she broke mid pack again, but this time turned on the motor and sustained it through the stretch. Her 77 speed number bested her 1st try by 13 speed points. �We were glad to see her improve in the 2nd start. She dug in this time and the slop may have been to her advantage, by skipping over the track.� Trainer Iousome decided to give stakes company a shot. Her 3rd race was The Glory Boomer Stakes, an 11 horse stakes race worth $55,000. Tiz Cielo Slew was starting to mature as the connections had hoped. Sitting mid-pack with 3 furlongs out, Tiz was put into contention by jockey Culpepper and she responded big. She went onto win the race by a length earning a speed number of 82 and a final time of 1:11 1/5. �She beat Eagle Flyer in that race, who came back to finish 2nd in a grade 3. Sure we felt good. She also learned to rate and close powerfully, something we have been working on her with�, says Iousome. Tiz Cielo Slew would be given a nice rest of almost 2 months. She would then face her first graded company in the Gr2 Faber College Juvenile. Going off at 9-1, Tiz Cielo Broke next to last and finished mid pack 7th, but only losing by 3 lengths. Iousome says of that race �between the rest and the way she broke, we were in trouble. In a Gr2 of that caliber, you will see some flyers on the front end. We didn�t give ourselves a good chance with the break we got. But we feel this was our ultimate goal anyway, so she will be ready.� Look for Tiz Cielo to be sitting mid pack and make her move at the half mile pole. If she breaks cleanly and gets through traffic, she has a chance. The opera house at Sydney is the site of the possible celebration. Fosters lager will be plentiful if this filly gets it done. She breaks near the people today in the number 18 post. She will be ridden by O. Haack (20 %) and is at 11-1.
Smokeglack�s Analysis:
What a tough field. There are many in here today that will go onto Sim glory for years to come. But which one? On the biggest bragging rights day of the Simulated community there will only be one.
I have limited my choices down to 5, and even then struggled. I looked at pace scenarios, class provisions and finally how they are coming up to the race. I would like to give an in depth scenario, but I can�t. It�s way to difficult with these younglings. From the winner down I stabbed at:
#1 Echo Pass. Beautifully bred and has stalking style for this race. Class is will not be a real upgrade considering the back to back wins in stakes already. She should benefit from a slightly fast pace.
#2 Bloodflowers. Another in here who should be closing late. Loved her last in the Smackdown and I think she�s a big threat today to Echo.
#3 Valdestale. Looms big and closes big. Would love her more if slightly quicker up front. Big Chance.
#4 Thea�s Dreamer. One of the fillies who should stay around on the front end. Tough heart and races. Possibly steal it on front end.
#5 Touch. Want to put her up higher, just slightly afraid bounce factor may come into play. Very talented filly that will be heard from again, regardless of how she runs today.
Longshots: Recent maiden winner Gilded Ridge could shock after only having one race to her credit.
Oh well, I hope everyone enjoys the race today and their respective Residencies get the job done. Let the games begin with the first race on the card��.The $1,000,000 Equinics 2 yr old fillies on the dirt. Good Luck to all!!!!