The Alpine Sprint brings out some of the best filly turf sprinters the sim has to offer.� You have a great blend of speed and backend closers.� Should make for one heck of a finish.� Let's take a look at the field and then I will provide my winner.
HONG KONG RACING CLUB
DANEHILL SEEKER(IRE) - Trained by: trotter5 Ranked: 23 Odds: 9/1� This filly had a string 7 straight 100+ SP's broken last out when trainer trotter5 cut her distance back from 7 to 5.5 furlongs. While the SP was lower and the finish wasn't what you expect from her, if it were one of her normal distances, she would have been right in it as she was closing fast. Given nearly 2 months off and looks to come back fresh at her favorite distance.
UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB
CIRCASIANA(KY) - Trained by: fersara Ranked: 95 Odds: 14/1 Currently in the midst of arguably her best stretch of racing as she comes in with 4 straight 100+ SP's. 4 of 6 wins have come at today's distance, so that should not be an issue.� The only issue I see is she gets star struck in the gate and comes out flat against her best competition to date.
ALPINE TURF CLUB
ON HER TOES(SAF) - Trained by: safrace1 Ranked: 139 Odds: 75/1 Has yet to record a 100+ SP to date, but this filly enjoyed dropping to today's distance in her last out winning wire-to-wire and posting a career-best 99 SP. 3 of 6 wins have come at this distance.
COMEDY CENTRAL
REWARD DANCE(KY) - Trained by: bhm Ranked: 549 Odds: 35/1 Former claimer has high hopes today and trainer bhm finds nothing funny about representing the Comedy Central residency today. Interesting that this horse is ranked 410 points lower than the just talked about 'On Her Toes', yet is 40 points better in odds. Will gun to the lead with hopes of hanging on.
EAAA RACING
IN DEEP SPACE(IRE) - Trained by: redcar Ranked: 1168 Odds: 14/1 Hasn't won a sprint race since Jan '09, but is coming off a career-best 111 SP in most recent outing, while producing a win. Once was 5 for 5 to start career, and has won 3 of 4 to date. One win at this distance in stakes, so the horse does have the know-how. Another of the go fast or go home horses in the field.
IRELAND
DOYEN THELI(ENG) - Trained by: sabbath4 Ranked: 2051 Odds: 36/1 Lone stakes start resulted in worst career finish. Only one previous sprint race on record as well. Don't underestimate the connections here, but 36-1 seems a bit of a reach.
MIDAS
CATCH THAT MONTE(IRE) - Trained by: monte1 Ranked: 107 Odds: 18/1 Winner of two straight, both at today's distance. This fillies racing style puts in her in the mix every outing. Only concern here is that both previous graded resulted in career worst races.
NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)
LEADER OF THE PACK(IRE) - Trained by: cgk Ranked: 15 Odds: 10/1 Listed as co-second favorite and comes in off five straight 100+ SP tries and 8 of 9. This distance is a bit of a bump for the filly as she runs primarily 6f, but her running suggests she should love the distance. Her race two-back at this distance showed that. Only real knock I can find is that she's yet to get her picture taken in a graded race.�
BENELUX
NORTH FROM SLEW(KY) - Trained by: glengorm Ranked: 87 Odds: 13/1 Nice recent form with six straight 100+ SP races, but has yet to win at 7f. Appears on paper 6f is her best distance, but she certainly will not make a fool of herself in here.
BLAZING SADDLES
BEST THERE IS(IRE) - Trained by: desperado5 Ranked: 135 Odds: 9/1 Morning line favorite comes in with ten straight 100+ SP's. But if you have to find a knock on this filly, it's that only 2 of her 8 careers wins have come at less than 8f. But with 2 graded wins and the consistency she brings to the track every week, it will be tough to beat her.
VERMONT
CHANNEL A SPIRIT(KY) - Trained by: streakin6s Ranked: 27 Odds: 11/1 Winner of 4 of last 5 races with lone loss being by a nose at the wire. This filly seems best fit to run 6f as the tends not have enough left in the tank going longer.� Factor in the amount of speed in this race, it makes for a tough situation.
OHIO
SIM GLORY(KY) - Trained by: ocalafarms Ranked: 2316 Odds: 22/1 This filly is a former claimer and comes in to the race with only 1 prior grass race and it was nothing to suspect she will like it today. Late closing ability plays well in this field, but that's on the dirt. Looking elsewhere for the winner.
DEL PENN
SHE MIGHT BE GIANT(KY) - Trained by: gradeone Ranked: 9 Odds: 11/1 Highest ranked filly in the race and is coming off the 2nd best last race SP (110), while scoring a pull away win at this distance.� Unlike a most in this race, 7f appears to be the filly's favorite having scored 5 of 12 wins. Owns victories in a G2 and two G3's.� Hard to find a knock here, but if I had to find something it's that her last 2 races off only a 3 week break resulted in two of her worst finishes.
SIM HISPANO
WORLD COLLIDING(KY) - Trained by: seinfeld1 Ranked: 297 Odds: 10/1 This filly has proven it doesn't matter dirt vs. turf or sprint vs. route when it comes to winning races. Interesting part here is that this filly is favored over the #9 ranked filly just above her, yet is nearly ranked 200 spots lower.� I think the oddsmaker is playing games on us.� Haiving said that, until her most recent outing, her form seemed to be on the decline, but a drop in distance and a little different strategy sitting just off the lead, brought this horse back to the winner's circle. Which effort do you get today?�
GR SIMSTERS
ASSAULTED(ENG) - Trained by: simsters8 Ranked: 14 Odds: 9/1 Arguably this lady is the "class" of the field, having run in the Breeder's Bowl ('08) and 8 other G1 events.� Coming off a much needed 6 week break and today's distance is where she has almost half of her 15 career victories.� Closing style is as consistent as they come at this distance and the morning-line favorites looks ready to "assault" the field.
GREAT PLAINS RESIDENCY
MAMBOGATE(LA) - Trained by: glbstable Ranked:� Odds: 18/1 Had a steller stakes career until early '09 and suddenly things fell apart. Looking for a cure, trainer glbstable tried dirt and when that failed, tried long distance running (13f).� When that failed, next came a drop in class and back to the sprinting ranks where she now has 3 wins and only one off the board in 7 races. Is she ready to step back up in class?� Short break after, but it's her favorite distance.
MINNESOTA DOWNS
ANOINTED PRAYER(KY) - Trained by: pazjazz Ranked: 35 Odds: 14/1 If you could give wins based on breeding, this filly would win just about everytime. Sadly, the sim does not award wins like that. Yet to face graded company and only has 1 win in nearly 8 months.� But on the bright side, last 4 SP's put her in the mix for a podium finish.
QUEENSLAND
SECRET REEF(ENG) - Trained by: bountyhawk Ranked: 201 Odds: 14/1 Does anyone know the "Secret" to finding consistency?� If so, please pass it on to trainer bountyhawk as this filly is the leader in the clubhouse for inconsistency.� Well, there is some consistency...win one, lose two or three...win one, lose two or three.� But guess what, if that cycle lives up to itself, a win is in the cards this week.�
EAST-WEST CONNECTION
SEEK MALIBA(IRE) - Trained by: smubs Ranked: 287 Odds: 13/1 Career allowance runner has yet to taste stakes company let alone graded company and 7f seems a bit of a stretch for this filly.� This is a bad combination, but the oddsmaker sees something with this filly as she is listed at 13-1.� Has a nice run of 100+ SP's, but that was mostly against NW.
My Selections:
Co-morning line favorite Best There Is seems to be a little short on running ground today to make it first across the wire. Channel A Spirit, World Colliding along with Deep In Space will have there own race to see who can hold on longer. She Might Be Giant ordinarily would be right there, but I follow trends and her trend is not good when coming off short rest.
This leaves me Danehill Seeker, Leader Of The Pack and Assaulted for the top spot. Danehill Seeker excels at stalking, while Leader Of The Pack and Assaulted close from the parking lot. My concern with Assaulted is that she will get lost early and with the class in this field, not be able to overcome the deficit. But in the end, I'm going to go with Danehill Seeker off the nearly 2 month break. She will get first run at the leaders and I feel will be able to get to the lead before Assaulted and Leader Of The Pack will be able to get there.� But I think they will be able to get up for podium finishes.
If you're looking for a longshot, take a look at North From Slew and Anointed Prayer.
Goodluck to everyone!!
