Alex English a Challenge in Grade III Hill Side by palatine
on
Friday, March 12, 2010 at
8:56:57 PM
Favorite Leads Equinics Raid Of North Florida
Four weeks ago Alex English and Adrian4 had gold and residency glory taken away in the final moments. Saturday they try and move on in the $150,000 Grade III Hill Side Challenge. Arriving with her are three other Equinics performers and a group of ladies looking to gather their first graded stakes victory. The turf course has come up less than firm for this nine furlong event.
#1 Ididn'tmeantoo(Eng) - DESPERADO5 - H McCoy 9-1... 5yo daughter of Pivotal- Giant's Causeway races out of Desperado Stables supporting Blazing Saddles. Two-time stakes winner, both over yielding turf, gets a footing here she may enjoy. Performed well enough to finish second in the Gr. I Prix Opera although, that race has had only one horse come back to win a stakes event. Has the ability to stay in contention through the middle stages and the hoof to travel well on soft going. The slight drop in distance should also suit her chances.
#2 Alex English(Ky) - ADRIAN4 - O A Haack 5-2... 4yo Kingmambo- Seattle Slew filly for Astins Place from EAAA Racing. Owner strikes and a nice 25%. Definite pace of the race and will prove difficult to handle in the lane. Has matured into an excellent runner against top quality, with wins in the Gr. I Prix Marcel Bois and Gr. II Black Dahlia. Ships here after taking her shot at gold in the Gr. I Hong Kong Mile. Her best figure (117) came over a yielding sod, so the condition should not pose a problem. This is the lady all will be trying to pass late.
#3 Blazing Inferno(Ire) - NEWARKDE - K Braun 23-1... Teofilo- Cat Thief filly runs for Shamrock Stables supporting Blazing Saddles. Winner of the restricted Blazing Saddles Breeder's Showdown F&M Turf. Ships in after a failed effort against allowance foes over twelve furlongs. Drops back to a more suitable distance for her late kick. Must produce a lifetime best to contend. Has won in her only effort over this course last April.
#4 Anchorage(Ky) - VAMPIRE4 - Q Westbrook 9-1... 5yo by Stormy Atlantic- Seeking The Gold arrives for Empire City Racing supporting Yoss Simtools. Sister, to two other stakes winners, that were produced by Gr. I winning dam Quiet Little Drink. Has tried minor stakes in the past, winning once in six efforts. Always runs to the competition she keeps. This however, is a very serious bunch of runners. She must be at the top of her game to compete.
#5 Grand Ridge(Aus) - GRRM - B Gruber 5-1... Daughter of two-time Gr. I winner, Kiki's Moon Dancer. Bred by Encosto De Lago - Forty Niner for Given Stables; Fire and Blood supporting GR Simsters. A two-time stakes winner has run very well of late. She is in fact coming into this off of her best performance (110) in Dubai's Gem Dandy, where she finished second. She has strung together seven of eight races where her speed number was at least 100, the lone race that came in under that was her effort over a good course in the Gr. I Maybe Johnny Handicap. A very nice runner, only needs enough pace to challenge Alex English early, to be considered the top threat.
#6 Circasiana(Ky) - FERSARA - T Case 6-1... 5yo Giant's Causeway- Seeking The Gold mare for Fernando Empire supporting Universal Racing Club. Former claimer has improved like fine wine. Last five starts have been the best of her life, which includes a third in the Gr. I Alpine Sprint on Equinics weekend. Her speed numbers compare with the top contenders here. The down side is that, she has never tried to runthis far in twenty-five lifetime starts and her attempts at eight furlongs lacked punch. A tough spot to test her distance limitations.
#7 Rena(Eng) - VERTIGO - E Gillette 11-1... 5yo Red Ransom- Sadler's Wells mare racing for Taz Devil Stables from Universal Racing Club. Yet another coming in off of a lifetime best number (106). Overwhelmed minor stakes company in two of last four starts. Seems to be a mare is easy to handle, as she can stay close to pace or fire from behind. Is a perfect four of four at nine furlongs. Her coming back in eight weeks is a minor concern, her worst effort came off a break. Versatile five year old deserves lots of respect if ready.
#8 Capital Kindness(Ky) - SCREAMING - L Locascio 6-1... 4yo North Light- Machiavellian filly runs for Epcotlen Stables. Has not been to the winners circle since February of '09 yet, she may be the most dangerous filly in the field. Consistent sort runs hard every time she steps onto a turf course. Has multiple placings in graded stakes since last spring. She may have come back a bit too quick last time out, as she failed to fire on two weeks rest. She has a full four weeks geared for this race and should come in much more fresh and eager to perform. Look for her to be forwardly placed in the middle stages and have first run onto the lead pack. A scary female indeed, just think the distance might be a bit short for her.
#9 Blues In The Night(Ky) - SUPER 22 - C Weist 8-1... Filly by Dyanformer- Giant's Causeway runs for More Evil Than The Evil Empire! from DelPenn National. Has developed quickly in her last four outings and is yet another of these fine racers to have produced a career best effort last out (110). Yes, her last four races have been against allowance foes and she has been soundly beaten when in stakes company in the past. She is a completely different animal now. She deserves to take this shot now as she has never been better.
#10 Melanion(Ca) - HEMARFARM2 - Ga Walker 18-1... Cal bred by Cat Dreams- Private Terms running for Hemarfarms Stables from East-West Connection. Has raced over this turf course when finishing second against easier. Might be in deep water if she doesn't bring her best lifetime performance. Best case scenario is she gets to sit off a very slow pace by Alex English and is able to save enough to hold off the onslaught of challengers late.
#11 Palace Station(Ky) - BE1STFARMS - A Short 16-1... 5yo Theatrical- Sadler's Wells mare, based on two-time Gr. I winner Parker, runs under the banner for Coldwater Farm from Northwest Racing Circuit. Hinted at putting things together last summer when going from allowance company into stakes. Then the gal went sour in two straight and needed to take a rest. Came back from three month layoff to run second as her prep for the Equinics try in the Gr. I Del Penn Turf, where she finished up the track. Questions abound as to which mare shows up Saturday.
My final thoughts. Look for Alex English 5-2 to be the controlling pace of the race, unless one of the longer prices gets eager and makes an early run at her. Grand Ridge 5-1 going to be the major player late. Rena 11-1, really like the versatility she has shown and expect good things. Capital Kindness 6-1 so consistent I will toss her in with a chance. Enjoy your weekend and enjoy the races!
