Churchill Downs: Closer Looks for June 8, 2014

Race 3

Oh Wise One

If you're looking for the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here, you don't have to look any further, and this filly shows up for a barn that has been doing little wrong at this meeting; she's a 1/2 to stakes winner Kong Congie (2-6, 115k over turf), and Albarado has won with 3 of 4 mounts for this outfit at the current stand.

Run Hide My Girl

Four of her first five starts have been decent performances and that includes a start over the Gulfstream Park turf course three races ago, a race that was followed by a layoff; this looks like a decent spot to get her back over turf and Rocco knows her well.

Too Cool

This is a barn that is capable of moving a new acquisition forward and Bridgmohan has been a go-to rider for this outfit over the years; she has turf in her pedigree and her dam was a G2 winner while winning 9 of 20 starts for 572k, including 2 of 8 turf starts for 97k; must consider.

Brown Baggin It

She has a little bit of turf in her pedigree, and her dam was minor stakes placed while winning 2 of 11 turf starts for 62k, but this filly has yet to run a race that is up to the level of the top contenders in here; note that she was soundly defeated by today's rival Oh wise One in her latest outing.

Saturday Storms

She's going to need to improve over what she's shown us in her three turf attempts in order to have a shot at the top spot, but willing to upgrade her chances in the event that this race has to be moved to the main track; Johnson has won with 3 of 9 mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Country Conceited

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who won 4 of 10 starts for 29k, and she didn't make a turf start; she brings some early speed with her but she must show up with an improved performance if she's to have a say in the outcome in her first turf test. - Brian Pochman

Race 4

Richie's Trix

Decent gate breeze turned in 4 days ago; her sire won a G1 stakes and 239K overall (offspring of Majestic Warrior have won 11 out of 126 debuts); the dam won 4 of 15 and 93K; among the winning siblings is 209K earner Second Street City.

Tapalite

From red-hot sire Tapit who bagged a G1 and 557K (his progeny have won 63 out of 479 initial starts); the dam won 2 of 3 attempts and 48K; sib to G1 winner Cuvee who earned a total of 402K.

She's Slammed

Set a pressurized pace in her first encounter before fading late; her sire won multiple G1s and 1.18 million; the dam won 7 of 34 and 94K; among the winning siblings is 29K earner Otay; needs to get away free and clear.

Gotit Todo

She is among the first crop to race from Prophet Man who won 2 of 17 and 58K; the dam involved went zero for 3 lifetime; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; shows a modest work tab for the most part.

Mercer Mill Mae

Raced evenly despite trouble in her maiden voyage last month; her sire won a G2 and 725K while the dam won 2 of 13 and 90K; this is her sole foal to compete; note very fine a.m. move earlier this month.

Ol Sanish

This grey was sired by multiple champion Curlin who annexed 10.5 million (his descendants have won 12 percent of their initial starts); the dam went 9 for 24 earning 239K; this is her lone foal to start.

Rachel's Ready

Progeny of More Than Ready, a multiple graded stakes winner who captured 1.02 million, are 87 for 709 as far as winning their first test; the dam won 3 of 13 and 138K; sib to 1221K earner Firehouse Red.

Aniell

Dueled with She's Slammed last month and that battle took its toll on both; her sire won a G2 and 360K while the dam won 1 of 12 and 26K; this is her only foal to compete; may change tactics from this wide slot.

Greely's Striker

Held well in her recent unveiling but faced only 3 rivals that day; her sire won 7 of 26 races and 475K; the dam won 2 of 9 attempts and 51K; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate.

Miss Mandate

New face was sired by G1 victor Pioneerof the Nile who won 1.63 million and whose descendants have won 7 of 47 initial starts; this is her only foal to race; very consistent workout pattern to note.

Maysouthernbeauty

Sired by multiple G1 pure sprinter Street Boss who amassed 831K and whose offspring have won 21 out of 114 debuts; the mom won 3 of 28 attempts and 70K and this is her only foal to make it to the races. - Jim Kachulis

Race 5

Spittin' Feathers

Doing the rain dance; her CD win was on a sloppy race track; have mixed reviews from her recent-fresh attempts coming off the 67-day absence for this; the winner from last Beyered 71 in a next-out SUF-optional-claiming win; she beat the 3-back show finisher who posted a 70 Beyer speed figure in a next-out TAM-$12,500 claiming victory.

Give Me Thy Heart

20%-winning fresh trainer following the 52-day absence adds to the appeal; the winner from last repeated in a CD-starter alw. with a 78 Beyer; has been best on synthetic surfaces which makes latest very disappointing; drops back into a claimer for the 1st time since purchased 3 back where defeating the show runner who Beyered 57 in a next-out TP-5K-claiming win.

Befuddler

IND invader makes her CD debut; the barn owns outstanding win numbers in almost every category listed and hard to ignore 33% winners in 2014; he's had just 1 CD starter at this meet; exits her best Beyer since July which was a great sign racing 2nd time off the claim; the 3-back winner repeated in a BTP-8K claimer with a 53 speed figure.

Demure Halo

Exits a best-last-race Beyer when flashing speed at longer; seems set to go all the way up top here; main concern is she has only raced 6F once in career April, 2013, when finishing far back on a wet track which she hasn't liked; claimed by a trainer 4-for-7 first-off-the-purchase since 2013 who brings her right back to the 10K level where she figures very tough; posted the field's best Beyer speed figure November, 2011, winning a 20K claimer by 9 lengths on CD dirt at 1 Mile; the pick.

Lucygotgame

1-for-13 on dirt and leaves synthetic where she is perfect; recent Beyers are extremely light when compared with this group while away since December figures to need a start or 2 especially when her best game seems to be routing; will be taking a wait and see approach. - Art Gropper

Race 6

English Kiss

Sire gets 7% winners from his first out runners and 13% winners from his first turfers; dam was winless from 4 main track starts prior to dropping 10 winners, 3 of whom won on the green including G2 SW turfer and 664K earner Skyring; some of this Calumet gal's recent morning moves are ok and the barn scored at a price with its lone recent firster.

Summer Camp

Showed speed but little staying power in each of her 3 races and now she'll give the green a shot while luring a top turf pilot; sire is 0 for 22 with his initial surface starters and neither the dam nor her other foal to race, G3 SW juvenile sprinter and 90K earner Really Mr Greely, tried this type of footing.

Blushing Aura

Sire hits with 7% of his firsters and 8% of his first time turfers and the dam was a G2 SP, SW and 222K earner who won first time she stepped on the green; she's kin to 6 winners including one who scored on the lawn; listed drills aren't much and the barn hasn't had any recent luck with newcomers.

Mizzen Miss

Gray makes her first start of the year while stepping on the lawn for the initial time; her sire gets about 11% first time surface winners from his offspring and she's the first foal to race out of a dam who never made it to the gate; don't know that she'll love the green, but she worked pretty sharply here the other day and the barn boasts a recent winner off this type of break.

Cozy Nicole

Shortens up for her return to the green for the first time since the near miss first time out; she showed good speed on the stretchout last time and her dam was a winner so she has a right to be better second time over the footing; worth a good look in here.

Reckless Behavior

Makes her first start for a new barn while stepping on the lawn for the initial time in this spot; filly did show improved early interest last time and her sire gets about 14% winners from his first time surface runners; SP dam never tried the footing but she did drop SW turfer and 194K earner Starry Pursuit.

Quality Moment

Runner up in her last 2 out of town makes her first start since last summer while returning to the scene of a sharp surface placing at the level in her lone local start; she boasts some stepped up drills of late at her base and she does have the speed to be involved from the outset here; there's other speed drawn inside her but she's a player first time back.

Mizzen Moon

Fresh gray makes her first start in 3 months after holding second money as the chalk in the last out off the turfer in Louisiana; her turf debut in a stake heat this past winter was quite good and she draws a nice post from which to put stalking tactics to good use; hot barn calls upon a top pilot and that main track breeze here 2 moves back suggests she's sitting on go; one to beat. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Baja Bessie

Makes her CHurchill debut after stepping up in class last time; the track was very slow and she did not get to the early lead after a crooked start; settles in for $15K tag and would not be surprised if she had some early power from this inside post; still has questions to answer with those low Beyer Figures; fringe player.

Have Faith Sister

Won 2 of her last 3 races on all-weather surface at Turfway and her Beyer Figures on that surface are better than her dirt numbers to this point; her entrymate looks a tad better for this race on the class drop.

Clear the Clover

Took control early in her latest when heavily favoured and she won as expected; she was also claimed in that second outing since a one-year layoff; the 3rd place finisher from her win came right back to win for $15K with a 64 Beyer Figure; loves Churcill and her new trainer has a lofty record of winners off the claim.

Magical Cat

Her current form is in question but she gets some class relief for this return to Churchill; she has been traveling around a lot in 2014 and can pop with a good one now and then; minor share.

Go Daddy Girl

Had a short vacation before her return to Churchill and she raced evenly while 3 wide most of the way and that was a quickly run event; this is her first attempt at the 1 mile distance and the breeding is there for her to handle the trip; using in trifectas.

C P Hath a Way

While she has won on the dirt, it was some time ago and her better outings have come on turf; she was in a similar race as this last time and trailed; she did not have a workout showing at the time of this writing.

Marlene's Love

Offered for $10K and she had a better outing last time when just behind Go Daddy Girl; interesting to note that Lanerie rode this gal last summer and the pair won; distance and dirt are the big questions. - Jennifer Morrison

Race 8

Fioretti

The show and 8th-place finishers from last posted 84-78 Beyer speed figures winning PIM allowance and KEE-40K-claiming events next out; the 2-back winner repeated in a LRL-15K claimer with a 72 Beyer; same owner/different trainer today in need of a wakeup call following a career-low number.

J. L.'s Princess

Have to love the career-improving Beyer pattern however there is a bounce chance drilling a new Top right off the long layoff; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 87 in a next-out CD alw. win; the extra half furlong adds to the confidence level on the one to beat.

Not Again Nancye

5-0-0-0 all double-digit length defeats since her CD-exacta finish in September when earning a career-best Beyer that day; the 2-back winner and show finisher posted 74-69 Beyers in next-out TP-OPC and HOU-alw. wins; view as a pace presence for part.

Tiz May West

A ton of upside off the debut win nearly 1 year ago where she professionally raced off a hot pace overcoming a troubled trip to score; 29%-winning long layoff trainer suggests we don't worry about the absence exiting a field-best Beyer speed figure; the pick.

Devious d'Oro

The turf experiment is over for now returning to CD dirt where she poisted a career-best Beyer in May, 2013, at 7F; she won her career debut so perhaps the long layoff will be right up her alley?: the 3-back winner repeated in a SAR-100K stakes with an 88 Beyer.

Daddy's Memory

Adds to the pace here but stamina recently has not been her strong suit; doing the rain dance as her lone win was on a CD sloppy oval; return race was dull and has defeated just 3 runners combined in her last 4 starts; would be a surprise.

Swept Up

Just 1 start so has a of upside handling the one post which can be a tricky draw for some 1sters; another who sat professionally right off the pace in her debut then scored the victory; the fact that she handled the sloppy footing is a great sign and could be even better on a fast track; looms a logical contender for win honors. - Art Gropper

Race 9

Rinella Bay

Like the idea of getting her back over turf, and if she can regain some of her better form, she's eligible to prove to be tough to tackle; third-place finisher from latest returned to win next out at Wo on 9/2 going 6f vs. 32-30k claimers with a 72 Beyer.

Greek Bird

Her best effort doesn't appear to be strong enough to get the job done in this spot, and from four starts over turf, she hasn't posted a top three finish; she looks like more of an outsider.

Regal Joanne

She's a little interesting from the standpoint that she can prove to be the dominant early speed, and even though she's a question that today's one mile distance, it is encouraging to see what she did the last two times she raced over turf.

Fine Lookin Lady

Don't like to see that she hasn't recorded a victory in her last 12 starts going back through 2013, but her overall turf form has been right in line with what it will take to get the job done in this spot, and that includes a couple of starts over the Churchill Downs turf course.

Bustle

Have to be at least mildly concerned when seeing that her most recent start wasn't anywhere near her best, but this is a filly who has run well enough over turf in the past to suggest that she has the ability to be competitive against competition of this caliber.

Get Real

She ran pretty well in her first start back from a layoff just two races ago, and her most recent start might be a bit stronger than it looks on paper when considering the slow early pace she was trying to overcome; going to look for her to give a good account of herself against these while being reunited with Bridgmohan.

Bandi's Gal

Like to see that this mare has enough early speed to get herself forwardly placed through the opening stages and she might find herself sitting a comfortable trip in behind the early speed of Regal Joanne; she appears to be well meant while getting a rider switch to Lanerie for her third start back from a layoff.

Megnog

Her recent form hasn't been her best but she does have turf form on her card that is strong enough to help give her a competitive look against these; not sure if it's reasonable to expect her to be able to bounce back with one of her better efforts, but she's clearly capable on a top try.

Jane's Heir

It would have been nice to have seen her show more in her latest outing, but don't want to be too hard on her when considering that she has been at her best racing over turf in her career; if she can regain the form that she displayed the last time she was seen racing over turf, she can have a say in the outcome.

Katy Lied

She seems to be much more comfortable racing over a synthetic surface or dirt than she is over turf and she's really going to need to step it up over her previous best turf attempt to get the job done against these; it might be worth noting the presence of Albarado aboard another in here.

Black Tulip

She needs to see a scratch from the main body of this race in order to draw in and she must improve over her recent form in order to threaten the top contenders in here; runner-up from latest returned to win next out at TP on 1/1 going 1m vs. 12.5-10.5k claimers with a 65 Beyer. - Brian Pochman