Female Sprinters Bring Handicapping Challenges And Possible Rewards To Match

The Sentient Jet Filly and Mare Sprint may not have all the history of many of the other Breeders’ Cup races having been run only three times, but the third renewal may be one of the best wagering opportunities of the two days. With a full field of 14 set to go to the post and four of the six favorites breaking from outside the number 10 post position, there may be some opportunities.

Favorite Rightly So comes into the Breeders’ Cup off of wire-to-wire victories in the the grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga Aug. 28 and the July 5 Bed of Roses Handicap (gr. 2) at Belmont Park. She appears to be plenty fast enough to get to the lead with plenty of time before the final turn having a full three-eighths of-a-mile before making the turn. She is stands out with defending champion Informed Decision, Gabby’s Golden Gal and Champagne d’Oro as the only fillies or mares coming into this race with grade 1 win at the seven furlong distance of this year’s female Sprint. Trainer Tony Dutrow has told the press he has no concerns about the outside post, but that is probably not his only concern.

Defending champion Informed Decision appears to have lost some of her form from last year and comes into this race off of a nice third-place finish in the six furlong TCA Stakes (gr. 2) at Keeneland behind fellow Sprint entrant Dubai Majesty over the Keeneland synthetic. She is a multiple grade 1 winner and has won three times at this distance. She also won the Humana Distaff (gr. 1) at Churchill Downs last year and finished a good third in that race again in July, so she does seem to have a fondness for the Churchill Downs surface. That along with the benefit of breaking from post 4 may give her the boost she needs to repeat but betting her at anything less than her 7-2 morning line does not seem to offer enough return for the risk.

The female sprinter who may throw a monkey-wrench into this race is Bob Baffert-trained Gabby’s Golden Gal breaking from post number seven at 15-1 odds. Although she has not raced since winning the grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface in January, her Saturday morning work at Hollywood Park was very impressive, going a half-mile in :46 4/5 with the greatest of ease. She has all the qualifications to win this race but they were all accomplished more than 10 months ago.

At 15-1 morning line odds and the 1 post, My Jen could also offer some value. In her last race she defeated fellow Breeders’ Cup foes Moontune Missy and Sara Loise in the grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Sept. 25. But the 3-year-old filly has taken exceptionally well to the Churchill Downs surface since arriving from New York and has the stalking running style that might set up well for her if she can manage to stay out of trouble along the rail of a full field of sprinters.

Breaking two gates outside of My Jen, Secret Gypsy will be trying to add to her three-race winning streak in the Filly and Mare Sprint. Since winning the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows in June, Secret Gypsy has won graded stakes at Saratoga and Del Mar while compiling her six-race record this year at six different tracks. She also has a victory over Churchill Downs from five starts under the Twin Spires, but Secret Gypsy seems to take her race track with her wherever she runs. She has no grade 1 wins during her 17-race career, but at 12-1, it may not be wise to discount her.

The 2010 Filly and Mare Sprint provides great wagering possibilities from the $2 win ticket to the more exotic trifectas and superfectas. Like it’s male counterpart on Saturday which has a rich history of rewarding those that can decipher the sprint puzzle, this race seems primed to follow suite.

Selections
1. Secret Gypsy
2. Rightly So
3. Gabby’s Golden Gal

The Zenyatta Show Goes Much Longer Than the Expected Two Minutes

Sometimes the intangible, or at the very least less measurable definitions of greatness are the most obvious. While the streak of 18 undefeated career races no doubt defines the greatness of Zenyatta most definitely, it is her charisma that will forever be noted in the annals of the great mare.

Like some of her great human counterparts known as rock stars, Zenyatta can be measured by the length of her show. Like any historically anticipated entertainment or sporting event, of which I consider Zenyatta races to be now, the show begins long before the star comes on stage. Just the excitement of the crowd at Del Mar from the apron to the paddock hours before Zenyatta’s race exemplifies her popularity.

But when the big mare arrives, the show begins as she struts and paws around the walking ring near the saddling enclosure. But that is just the preliminary to the post parade and warm up where she adds some swaying and pre-race posing to her repertoire. Even her return to the winner’s after the race gets extended to include a stretch run long encore, that if not for a picture, the next race and her date with a big bucket of hot mash, could and would last much longer.

What’s next for Zenyatta? Possibilities include the $350,000 Beldame (gr. 1) at Belmont Park Oct. 2 or the $250,000 Zenyatta Breeders’ Cup (gr. 1) at Santa Anita during Oak Tree the same day. My vote? Take her to New York. If for no other reason than to see what a welcome a Belmont Fall crowd would bring. Do you think they would eclipse the 32 thousand fans that came to Del Mar Saturday? Get outta here!

Other Thoughts, Comments and Questions.
With victories this weekend by Secret Gypsy in the Honorable Miss Handicap (gr. 2), Majestic perfection in the Alfred G. Vanderbuilt Handicap (Gr. 2) and Concord Point in the West Virginia Derby (gr. 2), Iowa racing took a big step in credibility. Each of those horses had made their last start during Prairie Meadows’ Iowa Festival of Racing June 25 in ungraded, but relatively rich stakes. Concord Point won the $250,000 Iowa Derby, Majesticperfection crushed the Iowa Sprint Handicap and Secret Gypsy won the Saylorville Stakes. Here’s hoping the American Graded Stakes Committee closely examines these races at the Altoona, Iowa track when passing out the graded stakes honors for 2011… Doesn’t being at the top of the handicap division dictate carrying the most weight? In no way criticizing Blame’s nose victory over Quality Road, but it should be noted that Blame carried five pounds less than high weight Quality Road. A notable point in what is known as the “handicap” division. It’s really a mute point because Blame is apparently headed to the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. 1) at Belmont Park Oct. 2 to prepare for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic a month later. Quality Road seems to be taking the Woodward (gr. 1) path to the Classic. All three races have weight for age conditions, meaning assigned race weight is based on their age – not handicapping. But it is safe to say any racing secretary would be careful to assign the six pound swing Blame would need to carry more than Quality Road. And by-the-way, both Quality Road and Blame are 4-year-olds so they will likely be toting the same weight in their next match up… Horse racing took a hit when top turf mare Tuscan Evening collapsed and died during training at Del Mar Sunday due to an apparent heart attack… 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra put in a stellar work on the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Monday morning. With jockey Shaun Brigmonhan aboard she went six furlongs (3/4 of a mile) in 1:12.96 but did so impressively according to reports. After the work trainer Steve Asmussen said “Shaun did a great job with her. She was very strong to the pole, broke off at the three-quarters. Her first eighth of a mile was excellent, to get her to settle down. She came home the last quarter in :23 and change, which is what we were looking at, and galloped out strong.” Rachel Alexandra is preparing for the grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga August 29 in her first attempt at 1-1/4 miles. Fans can more closely follow Rachel Alexandra on her “Rachel’s Sandbox” website. Asmussen also said at the barn this morning that Majesticperfection will likely to pointed to the grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Oct. 2 in preperation for the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 7.



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