Season 33 Race Preview Sprint Championship 3 Yo + Filly Final

By Author: Ronei Daselva
Total Articles: 10
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The big money sprint finals are finally here! We have 12 3 YO + fillies set to battle for 5F for the ultimate prize. The winner will get the lion’s share of 288,000Kc. It was a long journey for these horses to get the necessary points to make it into the big money finals. Amazing job by the connections to get to this point. Let’s take a closer look at the field.

#1 BATS IN THE BELFREY

Her connections finally broke through in the Route Champ series last week and the pressure to secure his first championship is now over. This lightly raced sophomore filly has been on the bench much of this season and hasn’t been seen since her powerful stretch-running 2nd in late January that was good enough to qualify for tonight’s finals. One has to wonder why she’s been off nearly 3 months and has just two starts this season. She qualified for the Juvenile Champ Sprint final, but had plenty of issues navigating her extreme outside post to finish a well beaten 11th. She draws the rail tonight and both of her career wins have been at this distance. Despite those positives in her favor she figures to be an outsider ...
... for a podium spot.

#2 CATCH THE RHYTHM

Another lightly raced sophomore she has just 4 starts this season, with two of them coming against this group. She did finish nicely last out to be 3rd, but saved all the ground in that event when breaking from the rail. The bronze medalist in the Juvenile Champ final last season has yet to win a 5F race and despite another advantageous post draw she’ll likely need to take a big step forward to medal again.

#3 TROLLED MINE

Picked up two wins this season in a limited capacity as her connections laid off the gas in the last half of the season. The regally bred filly captured a 5F event against this group wiring the field impressively in 57.86. She’ll be breaking from the 3 gate, however, and loses the services of some of the top pilots this season. One wonders if she’ll be sent early or will be taken back. All 4 of her lifetime wins were wire jobs so the feeling is she may get hooked up early in what should be a sizzling pace.

#4 FAMILY TRADITIONS

Has a regular schedule this season racing 16 times, but up to this point has only managed 2 wins. The silver medalist in last season’s Juvenile Sprint Champ Final had attempted to qualify for the Class Final later this month, but was rebuffed by those foes in her most recent starts. If she can muster another big effort she had in last season’s final she could place here, but the cut back to 5F is a concern as her running style is more in line with a one run miler than a 5F sprinter. I like the 5F prep race she won last out, but the final time came back softer than what will be needed here.

#5 CARELESS MARIA

Saw her career earnings mark soar past 300Kc this season, collecting 4 wins and a half dozen places. Her connections have been high on this filly since she hit the track last winter and she’s been solid for him in most of her starts. The 5F distance does strike me as a bit short for her stalking and closing talents, but she does have some tactical speed to lay close from this post to perhaps find a nice spot to tuck into. Has a shot for the podium if she makes an early run. My 3rd choice

#6 HENSTER

The full sister to 3 YO HOY and multiple graded stakes champion STRATSTER has found this racing thing more of a challenge than her famous sibling recording just 1 win in 14 career trips to the track. Despite the perceived willingness to finish the job she did place twice in 4 gos against this group earlier this season. Needs to take a big step forward tonight for a slice.

#7 CC STREAKER

Was a bargain claim for 20K earlier this winter after she ripped off 10 wins in her first 12 starts! All the while doing this against mostly homebreds instead of creates makes her career to this point all the more impressive. The sophomore 4F DASH Champion has been less dominate the last half of the season, but has blitzed this group with her speed twice already at tonight’s distance. I would of preferred a more inside draw for her, but she’s the speed of the speed and figures to take them a long way. My top choice.

#8 BEAM

4 YO finally got win #8 after a long drought of 14 races without a picture taken. That last race was dynamite closing from far off the early pace to just get up by a head to record a 99 speed figure. She was the superfecta filler in last season’s 3 YO Champ Sprint Final employing a similar move. One has to wonder if she can duplicate that big effort again for a better placing than last season. Should contend for the minors once again.

#9 BABYLON

Has had another solid season for her veteran conditioner capturing 3 more wins and just over 103Kc for her 4 YO season. Her race 2 back in the Classic Qualifiers was as impressive a race I’ve seen all season long. She broke from the extreme outside stall, rushed up to the lead and held safe in a swift 1:21.37 7F. She looks like a strong contender in the Classic Finals given that performance, but is no slouch in these finals despite the cutback in distance. While she doesn’t have nearly as much speed as CC STREAKER to he inside, she does have enough tactical speed as evidenced with that resounding win, to be part of the early going. My 2nd choice to be right there at the wire.

#10 LEVERAGED

Has taken a step back the past two season since her successful juvenile campaign. The lightly raced runner has only been out 4 times this season and has been put away for nearly 3 months. Her best finish this season against this group was a non-descript 5th place effort closing from far back. She’s done no favors with the outside draw and figures to be a touch better over the turf.

#11 TAYLORHITTHEHAMMER

This race warrior is making her 73rd start this evening, a significant experience edge over the rest of the field. Her earnings this season eclipsed the 750Kc mark after she banked nearly 181Kc in 22 outs. Her best result last season in all 3 of the finals she qualified for was this event, chasing the extremely hot pace of SMACK A BOOTIE to be a distant 3rd that day. She draws poorly tonight and gets less distance than I think her best run would allow, but she has enough early speed to perhaps tuck into the first or second flight of horses. Podium contender, but would need a perfect trip.

#12 BLOOD THIRSTY

Silver medalist last week in the Champ Route Finals after showing some late interest splitting horses to be beaten a neck. She get much less ground to cover and a horrendous post draw. She has, however, run 2nd to my top choice earlier this season at 5F albeit a distant 2nd from an outside post. Has just one win in 11 outs, but is a strong player underneath given her form this season.