Preseason Older Filly and Mare Rankings for Emerald Downs - Sponsored by Barn 3 at Emerald Downs

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The older filly and mare division was the most difficult list to determine with the exception of who should be #1. There has been some attrition in the ranks of this division. First, the Northwest Farms trio are now back in Kentucky as broodmares. They dominated the older filly and mare division last year with the exception of the Pegasus Training Stakes, which was restricted to Washington-breds. Second, there are several older filly and mares from last year who are no longer on the work tab: Spot on Babe, Ms. Sutherland, Find Your Spot, Seventypercentcocoa, and Papa's Flashy Girl. In addition, it appears that the consistent Stephanie Plum is taking a break. Finally, it appears that Chu and You is not working and may be back in Kentucky.

Also, there are several that are currently at Golden Gate that I could see coming up here but they currently are still in training and racing down there so they are not on the list: Tabled with Gold, Beautranda, and Alert in Class. All three have connections to Emerald Downs, so I could see them shipping up here at some point.

Again, this is the hardest division to figure. I am not sure how this whole division will shake out but here goes:

(1) Madame Pele - (Salt Lake - Striking Scholar) The obvious #1 pick. She won the Pegasus Training Stakes last year and with the Northwest Farms trio out of the way, the division is hers for the taking. She is a half to Stryker PhD (both being out of Washington Broodmare of the Year Striking Scholar).  Should be a horse to contend with in the Hastings Handicap with a little pace to run at. The works, from Equibase, have been solid:

Emerald Downs	4/3/2015	Dirt	5F	1:00.40	Breezing	4/31
Emerald Downs	3/28/2015	Dirt	4F	48.60	Breezing	5/19
Emerald Downs	3/22/2015	Dirt	4F	49.80	Breezing	14/23
Emerald Downs	3/17/2015	Dirt	3F	36.60	Breezing	3/42
Emerald Downs	3/11/2015	Dirt	3F	41.40	Breezing	9/9
Emerald Downs	2/24/2015	Dirt	3F	38.40	Breezing	8/15

(2) Mylast Sweet Pea (Grindstone - Secret Game) - Making the transition from three to four can be tough but this filly is very capable of pulling it off. She is Stakes Placed four times, but is still eligible for the N1X condition. She is capable of sprinting, but I thought she was better going long last year.

(3) Guinevere's Finale (Tale of the Cat - Guinevere)  - Took on some serious competition down south in her last three races. Before that she won a MSW as a 2-year-old at Emerald Downs against Sanibel Harbor and then won a 75k claiming racing at Santa Anita; not an easy thing to do. Back on the work tab and the last breeze looks pretty good. Giving this horse a serious chance to become a contender in this division:

Emerald Downs	4/8/2015	Dirt	4F	47.80	Breezing	1/8
Emerald Downs	4/1/2015	Dirt	3F	37.20	Breezing	5/10
Emerald Downs	3/25/2015	Dirt	3F	38.80	Breezing	3/6
Emerald Downs	3/16/2015	Dirt	3F	38.60	Breezing	2/3

(4) Kikisoblu (Kodiak Kowboy - Horse B With U) - Three-time starter has won a Maiden Optional Claimer and a N1X race in her last two races at Turf Paradise. Equibase figures compare favorably to the three horses listed above. Good breeding for Emerald Downs. Expect her to keep moving forward.

(5) Decatur Princess (Broken Vow - Manda Island) - Stakes-placed daughter of Broken Vow who also finished 4th in the Gottstein as a 2-year-old against the boys. Works are up to 5 Furlongs now. In pretty decent condition because she was running at Turf Paradise in January. She blew the doors off a Maiden Optional Claiming race last September at Emerald. Time to step up.

(6) Lady of the Nile (Pioneerof the Nile - A.P. Cindy) - A recent claim from Golden Gate comes up to Emerald Downs and has worked 4 Furlongs over the track. A three-time winner who has some good speed. The big question for her is the dirt as she finished last in the only time she started on the surface. From hot sire Pioneerof the Nile:

Emerald Downs

4/13/2015

Dirt

4F

49.20

Breezing

16/31

(7) Sunpenny  (Good Reward - Cascade Corona) - Like this horse. She always seems to knocking on the door. Just waiting for the breakout. She is Multiple Stakes Place and finished third in a Stakes race on the turf at Turf Paradise over the winter. Back to working 3 Furlongs at Emerald Downs. Sunpenny picture from Terra Lee:



(8) Bee Dees Bid (Tapit - Seeking Simplicity) - Ran off in a $30,000 MOC last year. Came back in an N1X and faltered after pressing the pace 4 wide. Think this horse has something to offer going forward but it is time to prove it. Tapit seems to be barely holding his own as a sire but maybe someday he will get it together.

(9) Finding More (Tricky Trevor - Green Mountain Girl) - Not sure what to do with this horse. Last year she found the competition early too difficult to handle, but even in claiming races she was getting fourth and fifth. She needs to find more (get it). She is back on the work tab and has some very good back class as she was the Washington-bred two-year-old champion. She stays on the list but needs to show some of that old class.

(10) Red Ran Back (Closing Argument - Rerunnedaway) - Not sure what to do with this last spot. I decided to go with Red Ran Back. The horse is working well and won a good MSW here last year. Expect some improvement from three to four.

Honorable Mentions: Hetty (like this horse personally), River of Aces, Belladiva, Tinkerbelle Tops, Classy and Sassy and Sanibel Harbor.

*It should be noted that Preachinmerit and Preachinattheforum in a previous post. Both are worthy of a top ten placing. Preachinmerit is a 3-year-old colt worth watching.

Always Love Your Animals,

Will