off the turf again at Belmont today....ugghh

[covelj70]

have had 2 scratch two ML favorites in two days because of this stuff

[ColonelShillito]

Gonna be fast and firm at Churchill here tomorrow night. Looks like Oscar Party has a big shot to hit the board in the Regret S. Might have a chance to win if Kitten\'s Dumplings (Ramsey) doesn\'t fire.  I would figure that you guys are expecting a forward move which would put her right there in the mix.

[covelj70]

Thanks Colonel,

I would be thrilled to hit the board with her tomorrow night.

Kitten\'s Dumplings is one of the top 3 year old turf fillies in the country right now on the TGs so something would have to go very wrong (i.e. very wide) for her not to win which doesn\'t seem likely with Roasario in the irons but Oscar is training great and there\'s no reason on the figures she can\'t be second or third which would lock in a little value for her as a broodmare.

I know JB doesn\'t like when we talk about class handicapping on the board but it\'s hard not to look at her running lines and like the company she has kept.

All of her races have become key races, even the ones that people criticized as being weak races at the time including the stake she won and the Jessamine.

[ColonelShillito]

I don\'t know you feel about how your filly ran, but if I were you, I would be ecstatic. While watching the race, I noted to a friend that your filly appeared to be laying way too close to what seemed to be a hot pace. You rarely see horses attend 23, 46 and change splits in 9 furlong turf races at Churchill and hang around at the end.  Oscar Party did just that while the two pace setting fillies in front of her wilted and brought up the rear.

She was beaten by likely the best 3 year old turf filly in the country(Kitten\'s Dumplings) and an emerging Praia, who is bred to be solid and is slowly starting to prove her worth.

My guess is with the ground saved on the 2nd turn, her figure might be ordinary, but her performance was anything but.  Tons of places to take her now...American Oaks, Virginia Oaks, Arlington...

[covelj70]

Colonel,

thanks so much for the thoughts.

I was indeed thrilled for the exact reasons you said and in addition, she galloped out like a monster way past all of them. She really seems like she wants to go even further. The horses that were on that pace with her finished last and next to last and 2 that beat her were last and next to last at the first call.

I am anxious to order the figure from JB but I agree with you that in this case, there is alot to like regardless of the number

You mentioned the two spots we are considering.  The most logical route would the Virigina Oaks where she would get weight from any graded stakes winner that showed up.  The more agressive spot would be the American Oaks where she would likely get a favorable pace scenario going a distance that she seems like she really wants.  

Either way, exciting stuff and thanks so much for the thoughts.

 

There is one filly who is running big TGs\' out on the west coast, Scarlet Strike, otherwise, the rest of their sheets look like hers

[FrankD.]

A very generous and logical $119 triple as well.
Good luck Jim, she is a very nice filly.

Frank D.

[covelj70]

thanks a million Frank, really appreciate that.

[Silver Charm]

Jim its been a really good year. And I would guess from an owners perspective it has involved a lot of action on a lot of big days. Productive action at that.

I know my friends were not disappointed with their results on Saturday even though there were not any wins. War Dancer had to play the Amoss front runners game, tried to win and still saved 2nd. They may stretch him out. Bellarmine got hot in the paddock on hot humid night and this was a horse who had had some breathing issues as a 2YO. Remember Palace Malice backed up badly in the La Derby (I bet him then and couldnt again after seeing that) and it worked out ok for him. He wasnt ready for Code West on that evening but will be around and fight another day as his career grows. They were happy with the runnerup in the Regret and Golden Ticket is always useful if not spectacular.

But enough on them and that. Congrats to you and your Team!!