The Fantasy (Grade 3) (KYO)- $400.000 Purse
OP- For Fillies Three Years Old
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
April 14, 2017
This is it! If you want to be in the KYO, and you’re not currently in position to make the field, you better be a part of The Fantasy here at OP. This Grade 3 event provides the final chance for talented fillies to pick up those valuable points for the Oaks, with 100 points going to the winner, and 40 points going to second; totals that alone can shake things up at the last chance to do so on the KYO leaderboard. Not surprisingly, we see a few who are on the bubble, but appear to be on the outside looking in, and they are joined by some up and comers who will be looking for the grand prize. As I look back at the history of the Oaks, I can’t help but notice that dead heat in 2011 between Jersey Dream and House Of Wax, but mainly because I had the third place horse who only missed making it a three way dead heat by .01. KYO points weren’t considered by the game back them, so all three were able to have a rematch. Now, the Fantasy means so much more with the implementation of KYO points in the game. There will be going to post for this race, so let’s take a look at them now!
#1- Seven Cedars (Smokey Stover, ridden by J J Hernandez) (4 KYO Points)- This Ashkalani filly showed promise at the end of her two year old season, that saw her run second in the Alcibiades at KEE to earn a spot in the BC Juvenile Fillies. She was towards the back there, and has not really been given the chance to take on graded company since that race. Three weeks ago, she picked a win in a SUN allowance sprint. Seven Cedars looks to be a filly who knows how to rise to the occasion, and has run well wherever she’s been placed. It’s good to see her running against these again.
#2- Tunn Up (John Henry, ridden by J S Rocco Jr) (12 KYO Points)- Ran last month in the Grade 3 Bourbonette Oaks, and close nicely to get third, and the twelve points that come with it. Her 86 SRF for the race seems low, and I am not going to concern myself with that number on her. They’ll need to be watching for her in the stretch, but if you want to go for a filly of this trainer’s, the better option is down on the other end of the starting gate. Tunn Up knows how to be near the front, though, having hit the board in six of seven career races.
#3- Toleration (Mb Stables, ridden by M E Smith) (10 KYO Points)- Looking at that KYO points leaderboard puts me in real envy of Mb’s position. I also like that he is not letting up, and keeps sending out stars who are outside of the cutoff line, which Toleration is. She’s won half of her eight races thus far, and was also able to participate in the BC Juvenile Fillies last fall, but finished in the back half of the field. Her last couple efforts, including a fifth in the Honeybee here last month, show that she does need to have a bounce back race to regenerate positive momentum.
#4- Killer Angels (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J R Leparoux) (0 KYO Points)- Twin Towers took some chances with Killer Angels as a two year old, putting her in spots like the Grade 2 Adirondack at SAR, but did not get the results then. That placement says she has always had the talent, but even as we went into this year, she was not showing it, and her career seemed to hit a standstill. Finally, her last start saw her win for the second time in her career, a muddy allowance at GP. Now, Twin Towers hopes she will find that stake winning potential. Has worked well coming into the race.
#5- Viking Libra (Delta Farms, ridden by R J Albarado) (23 KYO Points)- Sitting 26th on the points leaderboard, Viking Libra must step up here and finish in the top two. A third place run probably has her in as well, given the limitation on entries that will be imposed on Mb Stables. Winning the Golden Rod last fall got her some KYO points, though the particularly promising effort was her third place performance here at the Honeybee last month. This race could set up for her running style well, too.
#6- Queenwood (Smokey Stover, ridden by J R Velazquez) (60 KYO Points)- Speaking of the Honeybee, Queenwood was the queen bee that day, and it helped advance her on the KYO leaderboard to 9th place overall. So, unlike the others, she doesn’t necessarily need the points here, and will be racing to make a statement to the competition she will see. Overall, she has won five of eight career races and it looks like she is just going to keep being able to run longer and longer. I like her chances in this race.
#7- Scaredy Cat (Mb Stables, ridden by A L Canchari) (4 KYO Points)- Purchased by Mb Stables from Heavens Own for $330.000 just two days after she finished third in the Grade 3 Scarlet. Since then, she has been productive, but has not made a loud statement on the KYO trail, as of yet. Her best run for the new trainer was a third place Santa Ynez in January. Her last race an optional claimer at SA, looks to be a large dud, but she was on the lead that day, something she has not always done, before dropping out of it.
#8- Chase (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J J Castellano) (0 KYO Points)- After her first five starts were all sprints, Chase will make her debut going long in tough company here. Two of those were wins, and one of them a solid triumph at the $100.000 Franklin Square for NY-breds at AQU. She has demonstrated that she has plenty of speed in shorter runs, but can she carry it out to 1/16? If you think she can, then you might want to take a shot on her. She’s the wild card in this field.
#9- Komodo Freestyle (John Henry, ridden by R Bejarano) (10 KYO Points)- Picked up some big results while running in the FL Sire Series as a two year old. With that statebred condition, she would win the $200.000 Vixen and the big one, the $500.000 My Dear. Unfortunately for her, though, KYO points are not earned in those races. What they do show is that she really does belong in the Oaks, and it would be disappointing if she were not part of the field. She earned points in January with a Santa Ynez win, but since then, she has not been able to follow that up. The trainer knows her talent, and has no qualms about putting her in this race after having raced on April 1st in the GP Oaks, and that’s no joke! Time to step up is now. Komodo Freestyle is the most talented horse in this field, but is this too quick a turnaround?
#10- Duggu Duggu (M.b.o. Racing Stable, ridden by J L Oritz) (0 KYO Points)- On the outside, we get an entry that is an example of a trainer taking a shot. M.b.o. acquired Duggu Duggu in a $16.000 claimer at GP, and in their first race together, he put her in a $25.000 claimer. She won that race nicely, and if that can be duplicated, anything is possible. Duggu Duggu has flashed potential before, and did appear in the Grade 2 Demoiselle as a two year old. I am not too impressed with her recent breeze at SAR.
Prediction: 6-5-9-3
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
