I swear, the turf races on Friday are the best shots to catch a price. We’ve got another good one lined up in the $2,000,000 Filly & Mare Turf, going 1/14 miles over the Santa Anita turf.
Goldikova is a worth favorite. Let’s just start right there. She’s beaten colts when racing in Europe and has faced off against the likes of Zarkava before (without embarrassment). Good luck getting past her, is all I’ll say.
Still, turf racing lends itself to exciting, blanket finishes with a cavalry charge of horses battling it out for the wire, and the Filly & Mare Turf should be no different. Wait a While looms as a great price for a horse that has yet to lose over the Santa Anita turf (“horse for the course”). On top of that, you’re likely to catch Mauralakana at a good price as well due to her most recent defeat. This is a horse (Mauralakana) who has sat atop the U.S. charts in the DRF and here at the TBA for most of the year. I see some folks predicting as much as 6/1 on her.
Toss in the x-factor runners here like Forever Together and Halfway to Heaven and suddenly this thing looks more wide open than upon first glance.
Forever Together wins a sneakily good running of the First Lady
I’m still going to go with Goldikova and hope that she’s shipped well, but I wouldn’t be shocked if Wait a While or Mauralakana turned in the best races of their 2008 campaigns. Watch out for Forever Together though! I think she may get ignored at the windows. If so, lock and load!
I liked Goldikova at first glance, but then I noticed she has first preference in the Mile. Halfway To Heaven looks good!
Halfway to Heaven is definitely an x-factor. Gotta love that close third to Zarkava (and Goldikova) in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp back in May. Plus, we know the 3-year-old filly crop out in Europe is legit.
WIth Halfway to Heaven you’re getting a horse that is ALWAYS in the mix as they reach the wire. 3 Lengths is the most she’s ever been beaten by, and it took Zarkava to do that. Yup, she’s a good one. Hopefully we get a decent price.
Dynaforce is the one I didn’t mention that I’ve got respect for. You’ll hear a lot of people say to discount her becasuse she got sloppy footing in the Belmont race last out – but note that she’s been fairly consistent in the lower 100′s Beyer wise.
Here’s what I should have gone into some greater depth on regarding Forever Together…look at the versatility. 3 for 7 on dirt. 3 for 5 on turf (no out of money finishes). Toss in a decent 2nd last year at Keeneland in the only synthetic try…I think there’s less risk of Forever Together “not liking” the Santa Anita turf. Just a hunch though.