Girl Power in Wonderland

Huge Saturday, as preps for the AR Derby, SA Derby, Apple Blossom, Oaklawn Handicap, and Wood Memorial take place. Add in the SA Oaks, Kilore Mile and the Big Cap (the latter two the reasoning behind today's title), and you have a fantastic Saturday card (weather permitting).

Going East to West.

Aqueduct - March 6, 2010
Race 10 - 5:12 PM Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Daily Double Wagers
STAKES Gotham S. (Grade III)
Purse $250,000. For Three Year Olds. No nomination fee. $2,500 to pass the entry box. All starters will receive a $1,250 rebate. Any horse that competes in both the Gotham and Wood Memorial will have their subscription fees waived for the Wood Memorial. The purse to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among remaining finishers. 123 Lbs. Non-winners of $150,000; or $45,000 twice allowed 3 Lbs.; $50,000; or $35,000 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 5 Lbs.; three races other maiden or claiming, 7 Lbs. ( Maiden, Claiming, Starter, Restricted or Restricted Stake races not considered in allowances). A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. Closed Saturday, February 20, 2010 with 50 Nominations. One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Inner track)
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 1 Three Day Rush (KY) 3/C L F Jara 116 T A Pletcher
2 2 Yawanna Twist (NY) 3/C L E S Prado 116 R E Dutrow, Jr.
3 3 Nacho Friend (KY) 3/C L J Bravo 116 K J Breen
4 4 Awesome Act (KY) 3/C L* J R Leparoux 116 J Noseda
5 5 I've Got the Fever (KY) 3/C L C Hill 116 J P Terranova, II
6 6 Peppi Knows (KY) 3/G L R Migliore 120 T C Kreiser
7 7 Shrimp Dancer (NY) 3/C L C C Lopez 116 D G Donk
8 8 Turf Melody (KY) 3/C L R A Dominguez 120 H G Motion
9 9 Afleet Again (KY) 3/C L K Carmouche 116 R E Reid, Jr.
10 10 Wow Wow Wow (KY) 3/C L C S Nakatani 116 D W Lukas

Peppi Knows upset Eightyinfifty in the Whirlaway, keep in eye of the Euro Awesome Act, Jeremy Noseda sent Wilko to upset Afleet Alex in the BC Juvi in 04, and what do you know there is an Alex colt in the race with Afleet Again. Shrimp Dancer is a half to one of my favorite fillies Dancing Daisy (who I love for sentimental reasons), but he might end being a better turf horse then dirt.

Oaklawn Park - March 6, 2010
Race 7 - 4:03 PM Exacta / 50 Cent Trifecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Pick 4 (Races 7-8-9-10)
STAKES Razorback H. (Grade III)
Purse $150,000. (Includes $50,000 – BC - Breeders' Cup). Four Year Olds And Upward. No nomination fee. $500 to pass the entry box and $1,000 additional to start with $100,000 Guaranteed and an additional $25,000 from the Breeders' Cup Fund for CUP ELIGIBLES ONLY. The Host Association's monies divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth, and 2% to be divided equally between remaining starters. Breeders' Cup Fund monies also correspomdingly divided providing a Breeders' Cup nominee has finished in an award position. Any Breeders' Cup Fund monies not awarded will revert back to the Fund. Weights: To be announced Sunday, February 28. This race will not be divided. Preference will be given in the following order: Breeders' Cup nominees only of equal racing quality orweight assignment (Respective of sex and weight for age). Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. Trophy to winning Owner given by Breeders' Cup Ltd. Closed Friday, February 26, 2010 with 18 nominees. One And One Sixteenth Miles.
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 1 Prom Shoes (KY) 6/H L L S Quinonez 115 W H Fires
2 2 Spotsgone (KY) 7/H L J K Court 113 W H Fires
3 3 Jonesboro (KY) 8/H L C H Borel 117 R L Morse
4 4 Win Willy (KY) 4/C L M C Berry 116 M Robertson
5 5 Acting Zippy (FL) 5/G L T J Thompson 117 W D Bennett
6 6 Mad Flatter (FL) 5/H L S Bridgmohan 112 J D Thornbury
7 7 Racing Bran (IL) 5/G L C A Emigh 116 S Becker
8 8 Gone Astray (KY) 4/C L E Castro 119 C R McGaughey III

Gone Astray makes his 4 year old debut in this race, however he's not the one I fear the most for our heroes Prom Shoes and Jonesboro. Keep an eye on Acting Zippy, outside of Spotsgone and Racing Bran he is the speed of the race. If he gets away with Racing Bran got away with in the Essex, it will be difficult for Shoes, Jones and Willy to close on. However the fact that there is more speed in the race there is a chance of a speed duel. I just hope that we don't see a repeat of last year's Razorback where everybody fired at the same time bascailly shutting off both Jones and Shoes in the stretch.

Oaklawn Park - March 6, 2010
Race 9 - 5:02 PM First Half Late Daily Double / Exacta / 50 Cent Trifecta / 10 Cent Superfecta
STAKES Azeri S. (Grade III)
Purse $150,000. (Includes $25,000 – BC - Breeders' Cup). Fillies And Mares, Four Year Olds And Upward. One And One Sixteenth Miles.
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 1 Freedom Star (KY) 4/F L* C H Borel 115 B Baffert
2 2 French Kiss (KY) 5/M L J M Johnson 115 G G Hartlage
3 3 Spirit Seeker (KY) 4/F L* E Castro 113 J Hollendorfer
4 4 War Echo (KY) 4/F L S Bridgmohan 119 S M Asmussen
5 5 Superior Storm (LA) 5/M L L S Quinonez 122 R D Jackson
6 6 Just Jenda (KY) 4/F L* T J Thompson 115 C Jones
7 7 Afleet Deceit (KY) 4/F L C A Emigh 115 S Becker
8 8 Taptam (TX) 5/M L I Ocampo 117 W B Calhoun
9 9 Euphony (KY) 5/M L M C Berry 115 D K Von Hemel

These nine fillies and mares are basically fighting for eight spots in the Apple Blossom (2 of them have already been called for). Outside of the Big Cap, this could be the race of the weekend, you have High Heels' little sister French Kiss, War Echo Pryo's little sister, Just Jenda who is trained by Cindy Jones (wife of Larry Jones, trainer of Proud Spell, Eight Belles and Hard Spun), Superior Storm whose been tearing up the LA tracks and others.

Santa Anita Park - March 6, 2010
Race 7 - 3:24 PM $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 7-8-9) $1 Superfecta (.10 min)
STAKES Sham S. (Grade III)
Purse $150,000. For Three-Year-Olds . By subscription of $150 each to accompany the nomination. Closed with 6. $1,500 additional to start, with $150,000 guaranteed of which $90,000 to first, $30,000 to second, $18,000 to third, $9,000 to fourth and $3,000 to fifth. *Early Bird nominees to the 2010 Santa Anita Derby (Closing Date: Saturday, January 2, 2010) are automatically eligible to the Sham Stakes with all fees waived. Closed with 114. Weight: 122 Lbs. . Non-winners of a $150,000 at one mile or over since September 1 allowed , 2Lbs. Non-winners of $90,000 at one mile or over in 2009-10, 4 Lbs. Non-winners of a race other than maiden or claiming at one mile or over since November 1, 6 Lbs. Starters to be named through the entry box by the usual time of closing. A trophy will be presented to the owner of the winner. One And One Eighth Miles. (All Weather Track)
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 1 Marcello (KY) 3/C L* J Valdivia, Jr. 116 B Baffert
2 2 The Program (KY) 3/C L* M Garcia 118 B Baffert
3 3 Outlaw Man (VA) 3/C L* G K Gomez 116 K G McPeek
4 4 El Mirage King (KY) 3/C L* T Baze 116 M S Han
5 5 Boulder Creek (FL) 3/C L* V Espinoza 116 C Dollase
6 6 Kettle River (KY) 3/C L* B Blanc 118 E G Harty
7 7 Setsuko (KY) 3/C L* R Bejarano 116 R E Mandella
8 8 Wolf Tail (CA) 3/C L* C Sutherland 116 D F O'Neill
9 9 Nextdoorneighbor (FL) 3/C L* M E Smith 116 M Machowsky
10 10 Alphie's Bet (CA) 3/C L* A O Solis 116 A Barba

This race was actually supposed to be last Saturday, but due to rain it was moved to this Saturday (and if it rains tomorrow, it gets moved to Sunday). I like Setsuko and The Program in this race, alot of buzz is on Kettle River, and I have a gut feeling that Wolf Tail could do well in here.

Santa Anita Park - March 6, 2010

Race 8 - 3:57 PM $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 8-9-10) $1 Pick 4 (Races 8-9-10-11) / $1 Superfecta (.10 min)
STAKES Santa Anita Oaks (Grade I)

Purse $250,000. For Fillies, Three Years Old. By subscription of $250 each to accompany the nomination. Closed with 14. $2,500 additional to start, with $250,000 guaranteed, of which $150,000 to first, $50,000 to second, $30,000 to third, $15,000 to fourth and $5,000 to fifth. 122 Lbs. Starters to be named through the entry box by the closing time of entries. A trophy will be presented to the owner of the winner. The winner of the 2010 Santa Anita Oaks will be automatically eligible to the 2010 Santa Anita Derby with no fees. Should the winner have paid nomination fees to the Santa Anita Derby, those fees will be refunded only if the winner starts in the Santa Anita Derby. One And One Sixteenth Miles. (All Weather Track)
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
2 1 Crisp (KY) 3/F L J Rosario 122 J W Sadler
3 2 Riviera Chic (KY) 3/F L1* M C Baze 122 J Lloyd
4 3 All Due Respect (FL) 3/F L G K Gomez 122 K Walsh
5 4 Blind Luck (KY) 3/F L R Bejarano 122 J Hollendorfer
6 5 Warren's Jitterbug (CA) 3/F L* J Talamo 122 J Gutierrez
7 6 Cozi Rosie (KY) 3/F L* M E Smith 122 J W Sadler
8 7 Zilva (PA) 3/F L* J Valdivia, Jr. 122 H G Motion

It's Blind Luck's world and we just live in it. I'm a little bit suprised and disapointed not to see Evening Jewel who gave Blind Luck all she could handle in her prep for this race. I'm expecting a much better race out of Crisp, who needs to show that if she's the real deal or not.

Santa Anita Park - March 6, 2010
Race 9 - 4:30 PM $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 9-10-11) $1 Superfecta (.10 min)
STAKES Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (Grade I)
Purse $250,000. For Four-Year-Olds And Upward. By subscription of $250 each to accompany the nomination. Closed with 20. $2,500 additional to start, with $250,000 guaranteed, of which $150,000 to first, $50,000 to second, $30,000 to third, $15,000 to fourth, and $5,000 to to fifth. A trophy will be presented to the owner of the winner. One Mile. (Turf)
P# PP Horse A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
2 1 Blue Chagall (FR) 5/G L* A O Solis 114 J C Canani
3 2 Awesome Gem (KY) 7/G L* D R Flores 117 C Dollase
4 3 Acclamation (CA) 4/C L* M Garcia 114 D Warren
5 4 Ever a Friend (KY) 7/G L* J Rosario 118 M R Mitchell
6 5 Red Alert Day (GB) 5/G L* R Bejarano 113 N D Drysdale
7 6 Monzante (KY) 6/G L* G K Gomez 115 M R Mitchell
8 7 Proviso (GB) 5/M L* M E Smith 114 W I Mott
9 8 Fluke (BRZ) 5/H L* J Talamo 116 H Ascanio
10 9 Battle of Hastings (GB) 4/G L* T Baze 119 J Mullins

Ever since last year with Rachel Alexandra, Ventura, Goldikova, Zenyatta etc. I think trainers are getting more brave in sending girls against the boys. Of course they could also fit the conditions of the race as well. I don't think she'll win, but Proviso has a good chance here. Awesome Gem is an old warrior who always gives his all. Battle of Hastings has had some hits and misses, and then there is Fluke, a former Bobby Frankel trainee who started an excellent weekend for Humberto Ascanio the weekend Venutra won the Matriarch.


Santa Anita Park - March 6, 2010
Race 10 - 5:02 PM $1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Superfecta (.10 min)
STAKES Santa Anita H. (Grade I)
Purse $750,000. For Four-Year-Olds And Upward. By subscription of $300 each to accompany the nomination. Closed with 31. $2,500 to pass the entry box and $5,000 to start with $750,000 guaranteed, of which $450,000 to first, $150,000 to second, $90,000 to third, $45,000 to fourth and $15,000 to fifth. The field will be limited to 14 starters. Preference shall be given to the high weights based upon the weight assignments, adjusted for the sex allowance. Total earnings in 2009-10 will be used in determining the preference of horses with equally assigned weights. No horse shall be assigned more than 126 Lbs. Trophies will be presented to the winning owner, breeder, trainer, and jockey. One And One Fourth Miles. (All Weather Track)
P# PP Horse Virtual
Stable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1 Pick Six (KY) 6/H L* A O Solis 114 D L Hendricks
2 2 St Trinians (GB) 5/M L* J Rosario 113 M R Mitchell
3 3 Rendezvous (KY) 4/C L* J Talamo 114 J Hollendorfer
4 4 Neko Bay (KY) 7/H L* M E Smith 117 J A Shirreffs
5 5 Eagle Poise (KY) 4/C L* T Baze 114 W I Mott
6 6 Loup Breton (IRE) 6/H L* G K Gomez 117 J C Canani
7 7 Mast Track (KY) 6/H L* D R Flores 117 J A Shirreffs
8 8 Pool Play (ON) 5/H L C Sutherland 114 M E Casse
9 9 Marsh Side (KY) 7/H L* M A Pedroza 117 N D Drysdale
10 10 Tiger's Rock (KY) 4/C L D Cohen 114 M W McCarthy
11 11 Dakota Phone (KY) 5/G L* V Espinoza 114 J Hollendorfer
12 12 Delightful Kiss (FL) 6/G L J C Leyva 115 P D Anderson
13 13 Misremembered (KY) 4/R L* M Garcia 116 B Baffert
14 14 Jeranimo (FL) 4/C L* R Bejarano 116 M Pender

In the long history of the Big Cap, a filly or mare has not won this race. That could change with St. Trinians who defeated Dubai bound Life is Sweet in her last race. She's already beaten the boys in England, and with the top older males Richard's Kid and Gio Ponti going to Dubai, this is her race to lose. Mast Track has the ability to wire this field and showed a few races back that he's not a one hit wonder. Misremembered ran into some steamrollers in his past few races, Neko Bay is playing fourth fiddle in his own barn (to Zenyatta, Life is Sweet and Mast Track. Marsh Side is probley better on turf, but we'll see.

So that's it! Our stakes preview for this weekend. The Wonderland part of the title? Alice in Wonderland of course! The Tim Burton remake came out today. Weekend review on Monday.

Snow, Rain, Track: Oh the Joys of Winter Racing

Maybe it's a good thing that I ended up, not doing my weekend preview. That's because, both Aqueduct and Santa Anita had to cancel racing yesterday due to weather conditions. The Sham will now be next Saturday, so it's going to be a nice day of racing with the Big Cap and SA Oaks also on board. The other good thing that I didn't preview this weekend is that Christine Daae who would have been one of the favorites in the big Oaks prep down at Gulfstream, raced in an allowance race today and won it with ease.

This is going to be a bit of an odd week as I'm really hitting the final stretch of getting all of the Hard Spun foals in list and I'm almost done at last!

However I do plan to have a few posts this week, including a weekend preview of the huge stakes action.