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The Go For Wand Handicap Draws Seven
By
Iwin
Nov 24, 2011,
1:36:15 PM
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The Go For Wand Handicap Grade II
For Fillies and Mares Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile on the Dirt Course
For a purse of $100.000
at Aqueduct Park
on Friday November 25, 2011
This is the sixth year that The Go For Wand Handicap Grade II has been run at HRP. In the past five years there has been no trainer that has won this race more than once. Back in 2009 trainer Saratoga Stud saddled the winner Resurgent Friar who holds the race record with a time of 1:47.38. This is the first year that this race will be run at a mile. The time this field will be chasing to beat will be set by Omni with a time of 1:33.67 saddled by Fuji Stable on November 27, 2004. The track has been fast there and it looks like there is no chance of rain before this big race. Lets look at the 2011 entries
1 Catch The Fever
Owned by Dynark Stables
Bred by Bush Wackers Of Ohio
Sire HRP-Snow Ridge
Dam HRP-Pilgrimage
Life Record 20-4-3-5
Catch The Fever has been racing against Sprinters in her last five races. You have to go back to February of this year to find a race at a mile when she ran at Gulfstream Park in the Grade III The Sabin, where she stalked the pace in the opening half mile, to go on to win. She blew a 97 SRF Speed Figure in that Race. To find another race over at or over a mile you have to go back to before she was purchased for $33.990 from her breeder on March 18 2010. She also had a win over the sod at a mile. She definitely can get the distance, and to be honest she probably could have converted those recent seconds to wins if there was more ground to run. Going back to a mile is a great move by her trainer Dynark Stables, and should pay dividends today.
2 Pariah Kite
Owned by Nakamura Stables
Bred by Ringleader
Sire BomBayMedic
Dam Out Of Hawk
Life Record 22-8-6-3
Looking four back at May at the Artlington Park where she ran over a mile and an eighth on the muddy dirt. She ran in the Grade III AP Matron. She went right out to the lead, and held the lead until the three quarters mark, where she ducted out to be second. She had no problem coming back for the win by a head. Then shipped over to Woodbine to run in the Grade III WO Matron Stakes to capture a win from off the pace. After that win she would run in the slop at Monmouth Park in the Grade II The Pitcher Stakes where she would come from off the pace to finish second. In October she ran in the Grade I The Beldame at Belmont Park, where she was in the middle of the pack to go on to finish fourth in a field of five. Her SRF Speed Figures have been consistent between 95 to 98. She rates well here.
3 Unique Beauty
Owned and bred by TwinTowersRacing
Sire Kimbo Slice
Dam Chicxulub
Life Record 13-4-1-3
Unique Beauty has never run in a route in her 13 career starts. Her last victory came three starts ago when she was at Del Mar in an Optional Claimer Non Winners of 4 races $100.000 at five furlongs on the sod. She has no wins against Stakes company let alone Graded Stakes Company. Recently she was at Churchill Downs in the Dream Supreme at six furlongs on the dirt. I expect Unique Beauty to be your long shot here, and she should struggle to be competitive here.
4 Faithful Warrior
Owned by Maverick Racing
Bred by Ken Allan
Sire Faithful Companion
Dam Fleeing Warrior
Life Record 14-6-4-2
Faithful Warrior has just missed in her two last races that were over a mile. She was in a mile and an eighth against Allowance $58.000 at Saratoga Race Course where she had the lead until the last furlong to go on to finish third. From there she raced at Hawthorne in the lllini Princess Handicap for $100.000. She had the lead throughout the first six furlongs, and would lose it in the last two to finish fifth. Prior to the $80.000 tag price that she was sold for in August 2011 she had no problem winning at a mile against lower level Allowance company. I think the mile distance will do her well, and expect her to be on the lead. I think she will struggle to keep up with this competition.
5 Follow Paula
Owned by Chili King Stables
Bred by Team 7 Illusions
Sire Big Ideas
Dam Paulas Missile
Life Record 13-6-2-4
Follow Paula three back ran in the Mrs. Penny Stakes at Philadelphia Park against Pennsylvania Breds at a mile and a sixteenth on the sod. Here she was on the lead to until after the three quarters mark where she would fade to be second. She would stay at Philadelphia Park for her next start in the Grade II Cotillion Stakes where she did not rate well and finished fifth. She went off as the 1.10 to 1 favorite in the Fayette Grade II at a mile and an eighth where she was on the lead for the first six furlongs and would finish third. She should be able to redeem herself here, but I do not expect her to be your winner.
6 Sweet Chimes
Owned and bred by Barcelona Farms
Sire HRP-Chimes Band
Dam HRP-Sweet Alliance
Life Record 29-14-6-6
Sweet Chimes has been racing over the sod, and will now come back to the dirt to face a field of 6 other fillies and mares. Two back she was at Del Mar where she ran in the Adoration Stakes and won in a big way by seven at a mile on the distance. She can definitely get the distance, and I think she will do well on both surfaces, so I do not see that being a problem. Her SRF Speed Figures rate among the highest here today, so she should do really well here.
7 Dirty Kitten
Owned by Dynark Stables
Bred by Jsl Racing
Sire HRP-Line In The Sand
Dam HRP-T C Kitten
Life Record 23-5-4-7
Dirty Kitten is coming off a disappointing eleventh place finish in the Breeders Cup Fillies & Mares Sprint Grade I, about three weeks ago. In eight starts this year, she is still winless, which is never a good sign. Prior to the Breeders Cup she ran at Santa Anita in the Grade I Lady Secret Stakes where she would finish seventh. Prior to that she was at Saratoga Race Course in the Grade I Ballerina where she scored a show place finish. This is trainers Dynark Stables second entry, and I think Catch The Fever is the better of the two. Dirty Kitten is facing stiffer competition but is struggling to get a win.
Iwin Picks: 6-1-4
The Tout Picks: 6-2-7
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
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