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Will It Be a "Date With Destiny" in Golden Rod
By
McDuffy
Nov 24, 2011,
11:56:54 AM
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Saturday November 26th, 2011 Churchill Downs Race #6 Post: 14:20
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CD 6 Golden Rod ( Gr. II )
$150.000 For Two Year old Fillies Mile and a sixteenth Dirt
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The ninth annual Gr. II Golden Rod event here at CD is meant to highlight some of the top fillies here at HRP. This season will will see six entries try to capture this event, and then look to next season for earn some top class affairs.
In recent years we have seen the likes of female thoroughbreds like Mrs Bombastic take on the boys and steal away a TC effort from Five Fives ( CC Farms ) by winning the Gr. I PRK Stakes in 2010. Others like Rouge River Stables Mai Mia Bambina would finish third in the KY Derby and go runner-up in the Gr. I BEL Stakes this season, once again showing the talents of a female runner against the boys.
So can any of this Saturdays fillies win this event, then look to take on the boys next season in top class events? Why not!! We have seen a season of juveniles who have outclassed many past two year olds, and we may even see more yearlings this season grow into even faster runners in 2012.
Three trainers are looking to try and capture both this event and the earlier Gr. II KY Jockey Club title, those being Dynark Stables, Tirstar Stables and 5 A Racing , who sends out two Date With Destiny foals.. No trainer in the past has been able to win two titles, and with this field of trainers, we will add a new name to the trophy once again.
Event record time is held by 2009 winner Diva Thin Muffin ( Spinetingling ) , with a final time of 1:43.41 and who went on to win three more Graded titles in her sophomore year. She was recent claimed for a tag at the first of the month with her new trainer retiring her, and she should be heading to the breeding shed.
So heres a look at this seasons runners;
The only runner in this group who has the TC designation next to her name. She has one win and two place finishes in five starts this season, with the sole victory coming at four and a half furlongs in first asking. Has been competing at this distance over at SA, finishing fifth by two lengths in the Gr. I Oak Leaf Stakes, then finished second by three quarters of a length in the CA Cup Juvenile Fillies race. The winner of that event seems to be preparing for the Gr. I HOL Starlet in two weeks. Should hit the tote.
Was purchased in late July for a $60.000 investment, and his new trainer would guide her to three victories in four starts, the most recent win coming in the Gr. II Pocahontas at a mile over this very track. Hopefully her most recent morning work of 1:39 handily on the eighteenth here is no indication of her form, but that she just likes to run against other horses to perform at her best. Has the highest earnings going long against this group and looks to be the one to beat here. Contender.
In five starts this season, this grey filly has a record of ( 3-1-1 ), never missing to hit the tote. Has won both the $100 Landaluce Stakes and most recently the $65 Anoakia Stakes on the westcoast, but both of those events have come at the six furlong distance. This will be her first try at going over a mile, and it will be interesting to see how she handles the two turns here. Has equal talents on both sides of her pedigree, so hopefully her sires bloodline will take the lead here. Should be out quick, but needs one to judge. Fringe effort possible.
Will definitely be the stalker amongst this group sitting just off the established frontrunner, and she is coming off a closer then ever finish in the BC Juvenile Sprint against the boys. The winner of that event Motivator ( Mm Racing ), just came off a nice closing effort in last weekends DED Jackpot to miss by two lengths at todays distance. Looks to fit well with these and she could be just one of those fillies to take on the boys once again next season. Though she hasnt gone long, I love her chances. In the mix.
Has just three starts this season and is making a bold move making this her next race. She did compete with another in here in the Gr. III Pocahontas in her most recent, and after taking the lead at the quarter pole, she was unable to sustain the drive down the lane, and would find herself three out in fifth. The extra sixteenth here could have her coming up short once again, and her Speed Figures fall a bit short. Outsider.
Since breaking her maiden going a mile on the dirt, has been in against tougher runners, with her two most recent going on the grass. She finished three quarters out in fourth in the Gr. III Natalma Stakes hoping to go to the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf, then followed that up with a fourth place finish in the Gr. III Jessamine, once again trying to hit BC Fillies Turf race. Now steps to this event to hopefully close out her juvenile campaign on a high note, but the switch to the dirt may not be to her liking. Smaller share possibilities.
Duffers Picks
2- Rosetta................Has some nice closing speed to make this distance her own.
4- Flying Destiny... Can "Destiny" rule in both this race and the KY Jockey Club?
1- Summer Haze....Should be up close early, then hang for the show purse.
From trackside
I'm Mc.D.
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