One of my favorite cartoons as a child many, many years ago, was the Flintstones. Actually, I still like them. When I saw that the Pebbles Flintstone Stakes was running in California this weekend, I packed my bags, bought myself a sim ticket, hopped aboard the sim plane and headed straight to the sim track in sunny California!
The Pebbles Flintstone Stakes is listed as a G3 race for the girls that are three years of age. It will be run at 7 furlongs on the dirt track and a total of 6 will be running. Kind of amusing how with the Flintstones and their friends the Rubbles, counting their kids, there are also 6 of them…hmmmm…. Anyways, lets take a look at the sim runners!
1. Hymns and Hers 7-2
I like the name of the horse! But names don’t mean winners…Hymns and Hers has won 4 of 7 starts and loves to be on the lead. Her best speed is a 97 and that has been accomplished at 7f and in the slop! She jumps up in class from the allowance level but does seem to fit in this group.
2. Super Saturday 4-1
Super had a 3 race win streak come to an end when she finished off the board in non-graded stakes. She ran the 6.5f event with a speed drop to 87, dropping from 97 the month before in which she won the G3 The Chicago at 6f. Expect to see improvement from this gal who likes to stalk the pace setter.
3. Righteo 5-1
Righteo finished 2nd in her first stakes event last month in the Barb’s Bawa Wawa missing by a mere head equaling her career best speed of 94 over 6.5 furlongs. Righteo has good closing speed and has been on the board in each of her 6 lifetime starts. Her speeds are a little below others in the race but she somehow tabbed F. Griffen who has won 23% of his rides in 73 starts.
4. Chicken Shack 7-2
Chicken broke through the 100-speed threshold in her last start while winning the Miss Salski Stakes (7.5f). She wired the field and drew off to more than 2 lengths by the wire. She has just made a change from the grass to the dirt recently and has falling in love with the surface. She will be tough to beat!
5. Leftism 2-1
This horse is a danger at 7 furlongs. Her last 3 races have an average speed of 98 and she has finished 2nd twice, missing by a head in both, and a win in the other all at 7f. The two seconds were in G2 races. Last September she pulled took a win at 7f over this track surface in a G1 race. (She followed that with a big loss over this track, but in a much more prestigious race going a further distance). Leftism is a late closer that loves the distance and will be a factor.
6. Midnight Surf 5-1
Midnight Surf is a developing filly who has put in some good races. She likes to close late in the race and does show a few races where she just didn’t make her move. Her speeds are a tad lower than others in the field, averaging 90 over her last 3 starts. I’d like to give her a few more starts and see if she can get that number up a bit more which will definitely make her more competitive.
Yoss Picks: 4-5-1-6
Trackman Picks: 5-4-1-2
My Picks: 4-5-2-1
