Laurie Ross
Tracksideview.com

IRON MAIDENS
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008– Belmont

RATINGS:
*          Not optimal for this horse
**        Below average talent
***      Average talent
****    Superior talent
*****  Graded stakes winning talent
***      For sprint and distance both – falls into miler category

Ratings are assigned according to how a horse compares to the rest of the field in a given race. They are based upon pedigree strength, precociousness, surface preferences, speed and stamina influences, and the horse’s works or previous races.

The Grade 3 Pilgrim is the first U.S. race on the Breeder’s Cup schedule for turf males. Named for the winner of the 1919 Remsen stakes, the race was first run in 1979. The 1990 Pilgrim winner, Fourstars Allstar, became the first American trained horse to win a European classic. His victory in the Airlie Coolmore Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) came just a week after a win at Belmont Park.  Other notable winners include turf champion Awad, now happily retired at Old Friends in Kentucky, Volponi, one of the longest priced winners of the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Miesque’s Approval.

The Argentinean runner Miss Grillo was a marathon specialist who won the 2½ mile Pimlico Cup in two consecutive years. In 1947 she won the race by 40 lengths and held the stake and track record for many years. The Miss Grillo stakes was inaugurated in 1980 in honor of this fabulous mare. Some of the more recent winners include Riskaverse, Fircroft and Wait A While.

Miss Grillo Stakes – Grade 3
Race 7 | 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Fillies | 2 Year Olds Stakes | Purse: $150,000

CONSEQUENCE (El Prado (IRE) — Educated Risk by Mr. Prospector) Sire, by the great Saddler’s Wells, was a group stakes winner in Ireland. He was North American Leading Sire in 2002 and is a versatile sire. Dam sire is a brilliant/classic influence whose attributes will be passed on for generations. Consequence is a half sister to stakes winner Strategy.  Phipps family bred multiple Grade 1 winning dam is a full sister to stakes winners Diamond, Hidden Reserve (dam of Defer), and half sister to champion Inside Information (dam of Smuggler). Second, third and fourth dams (Pure Profit, Clear Ceiling, Grey Flight) are Blue Hens. Consequence has tons of speed and stamina. She won her debut in an impressive style by three lengths going five-and-a-half furlongs (turf) at Saratoga and has steady works since then.
Precocity: ***   Turf: ****       Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***       Route:  ****  Mud:  ***

MY MAGIC MOMENT (Forest Wildcat — Sari by Cozzene) Forest Wildcat is a Grade 3 winning son of Storm Cat. This versatile sire gets winners up to 8 to 8½ furlongs.  Dam sire was a Grade 1 turf winner from 6 furlongs to 1 3/8 miles and 1985 Eclipse Champion Turf Horse. He sired mainly route winners on dirt and turf (Alphabet Soup, Star Over the Bay, Gaviola, Mizzen Mast, etc.) and is a superior mud sire. Dam was a stakes placed winner in Puerto Rico.  Others in this family include Grade 2 winner Eltish and Grade 3 winner Forest Gazelle, who set a new track record at Hollywood Park, six furlongs in 1:07 4/5 at Hollywood Park (on dirt). My Magic Moment has precocious speed on top and stamina on the bottom. She won her third start going six furlongs when switched to turf on Sept. 12 and has two slow works to her credit.
Precocity: ****   Turf: ****     Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  ***         Route:  ***  Mud:  ***

PUMPKIN SHELL (Lion Heart — Changing Ways by Time For A Change) By leading First Crop freshman sire who gets winners on all surfaces.  Dam sire was a classy Phipps family Grade 1 winner at three and a good mud sire. Pumpkin Shell is a half sister to Grade 2 winners Pays To Dream and Hot Attraction. Precocious dam won the Grade 2 Schuylerville and was second in the Grade 2 Adirondack Stakes.  Others in this family include multiple graded stakes runner Tejano Run and English Group winner Palace Episode.  Pumpkin Shell has turf pedigree through her second dam sire, Green Dancer, a son of Nijinsky.  She will enjoy going longer and may prefer a switch to the turf. This filly finished second in her debut going 6F on the dirt at Saratoga on July 27, but came back with a dull sixth place finish on Aug. 24.   She’s had four slow works and none on turf.
Precocity:  ** Turf: ***        Dirt:  ***   
Sprint: ***     Route: ****  Mud: **

FREEDOM RINGS (Proud Citizen — Danas Wedding by Compliance) Sire is the leading Second Crop Sire. His offspring win early and he gets winners at all distances and on all surfaces. He is represented by this year’s Kentucky Oaks winner, Proud Spell, and River Proud, who was third in the French Two Thousand Guineas.  Dam sire was a stakes placed son of Northern Dancer and best known as the sire of Saratoga favorite, Fourstars Allstar and perennial maiden, Zippy Chippy. Freedom Rings is a half to stakes winner, Peg’s Prayer. Dam earned $120,708 in 36 starts, winning on both dirt and turf.
Freedom Rings should have plenty of speed and be effective on turf or dirt. She finished third by three-quarters of a length after being blocked in her first race going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Turf and a well beaten second going the same distance on a wet-fast track in the Fairway Stakes at Delaware. She has a live workout pattern and shortens up to a mile.
Precocity: ****   Turf: ***       Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***         Route:  ***  Mud:  **

COUNTESS SEAGRAPE (Arch — Hunting Valley by Valley Crossing) Sire won the Grade 1 Super Derby. His offspring, which include Canadian champion filly, Arravale, Grade 1 winner Pine Island and Grade 3 winner Lattice, gets winners on all surfaces at longer distances. Dam sire was a Grade 1 winning handicap horse. Dam is a half sister to Ohio Derby winner Stellar Brush and four other minor stakes winners. Second dam, Dynamic Star, was second in the Mother Goose and earned over $200,000 in her career.  The longer this filly goes, the better she’ll like it. She’s bred for routes and should be good on turf or dirt.  Although still a maiden, Countess Seagrape has progressed in each of her three starts, finishing second in an off the turf Junior Champion Stakes at Monmouth and has two quick works since that race.
Precocity: **   Turf: ***         Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  **       Route:  ****  Mud:  ***

OUR GOLDEN DREAM (Medaglia D’oro – Adorahy by Rahy) Sire is currently third on the First Crop Sire He’s a versatile sire, getting winners on all surfaces. Dam sire gets graded winners on all surfaces (Serena’s Song, Dancing Forever and Dreaming of Anna) Our Golden Dream is a half sister to grade 1 placed Ichabad Crane and all four of her siblings are winners.  Dam earned $46,890 in 10 starts and is a half sister to stakes winners AdCat, Adorydar, and Adoryphar, grand dam of Rutherienne.  Our Golden Dream has a precocious pedigree and should enjoy going longer on any surface. She won her debut impressively by 4½ lengths going 1 1/6 miles on turf in a state bred maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 27.  Since that race, she has had three live works, including a bullet last out.
Precocity: ****    Turf: ***          Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***          Route:  ****   Mud: ***

MARAM (Sahm — American Dreamer by Quest for Fame) Sire won the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Handicap and finished second by a head in the Grade 2 Kelso in 1998.  He produced mainly turf milers. Dam sire is a multiple Group/Grade 1 stakes winner (Epsom Derby, Hollywood Derby, etc.). He is the sire of a number of Australian black type, including champion Viscount.  Maram’s female family has no black type and very few runners in three generations.  Maram won her debut, a $75,000 maiden claimer at Saratoga, going 1 1/6 miles on the turf. She has a live work pattern coming up to this race.
Precocity: ****    Turf: ****        Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  **            Route:  ****   Mud: **

MISS BODINE (Vindication — Guilded Times by Crafty Prospector) Recently deceased sire was the winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile at age two and Champion Two Year Old Colt of 2002.  His runners are precocious and versatile winning on all surfaces and he stands seventh on the second-crop sire list. Dam sire is a known sprint producer and mud sire. This filly is a half sister to Grade 2 winner Icecoldbeeratreds and stakes winners Controlled and Inexcessive Speed. Miss Bodine receives turf breeding through her sire’s dam, Strawberry Reason (by Strawberry Road) and her second dam sire Olden Times, winner of the San Juan Capistrano. Miss Bodine won her second outing by 1½ lengths going six-and-a-half furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 3. She shows steady works, but none on turf.
Precocity: ****   Turf: ***        Dirt:  **** 
Sprint:  ***         Route:  ***   Mud:  ***

CASANOVA MOVE (Langfuhr — Casanova Junction, by Pleasant Colony) Sire’s progeny prefer going long on all surfaces. Champion dam sire was precocious enough to win the Grade 1 Remsen, but flourished at three, winning the Wood Memorial, Kentucky Derby and Preakness stakes. His offspring can win early, but generally need time and distance.  He is considered to be a superior mud sire.  This dam’s offspring produced Grade 3 turf winner Duveen. Dam is a half sister to Grade 1 winner, Dance Teacher and graded stakes winner Gold Mover. Others in this family include stakes winner Fiesty Countess and her daughter, talented juvenile Grade three winner, Rated Fiesty.  This filly has speed to win early, but should improve with age and distance over any surface. After breaking her maiden in her second start, Casanova Move was fourth in the Grade 1 Spinaway after bobbling at the break. She had a good turf work on Sept. 20.
Precocity: ***  Turf: ***         Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***      Route:  ****  Mud:  ***

ANCIENT FUTURE (Cat Dreams — Ma Guerre by Lord At War) Sire was a $475,000 yearling. He won his maiden by 8 lengths, but was injured thereafter.  Being a son of Storm Cat assured his place in the breeding shed. He gets precocious, very fast offspring that will have distance limitations (dam is multiple stakes winner JJ’s Dream by Glitterman). His progeny have won on dirt and synthetic.  Dam sire was a Grade 1 winner known as sire of precocious Mighty, venerable classy winner John’s Call, good producer La Gueriere and Honor in War.  Ancient Future’s half sister produced Grade 1 placed Carrillero.  Grade 3 stakes placed dam is a full sister to Grade 2 Louisiana Derby winner Mighty, Grade 3 winner Lord Joe and is a half sister to Grade 3 winner Mr. Doubledown.  After winning her debut going four-and-a-half furlongs at Delaware, Ancient Future has shown little in three subsequent starts. She shows two current stamina works, but none on turf.  Given her strong turf pedigree, she may enjoy the switch.
Precocity: ***  Turf: ***     Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ****    Route:  **  Mud:  ***

LARAGH (Tapit — Rose of Summer by El Prado) One of the contenders for the 2004 Kentucky Derby, Tapit was injured and retired after winning the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.  His runners will be better as they go longer and are starting to make an impact as late two year olds and will mature nicely at three.  His progeny shouldn’t be discounted on turf, as his sire, Pulpit gets excellent grass horses and Tapit’s dam has Nijinsky up close in her pedigree. He is currently second on the First Crop Sire List.  Dam sire was North American Leading Sire in 2002 and is a versatile sire. Dam is an unraced half sister to Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity winner, Siphonic, and both of her foals are winners. Second dam, Cherokee Crossing, is a stakes winner and a half sister to multiple graded stakes winning sire, Dixie Dot Com. Laragh broke her maiden in her second start, going seven furlongs on Polytrack at Woodbine and came back to finish fifth after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Natalma at a mile on turf. She’s had a recent bullet work.
Precocity: ***  Turf: ***        Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***      Route:  ***   Mud:  **

MEGACHURCH (Pulpit — Minimalist, by Dynaformer) World class sire gets winners on all surfaces and distances as does the brilliant Dynaformer. Dam won a minor stakes race and earned over $40,000 in eight starts. Second dam, Gdansk’s Honour, is a Group 3 placed full sister to Group 1 placed Honoria, dam of Grade 2 Jim Dandy winner, Composer. Others produced from this female family include Breeder’s Cup Turf champion Manila and Grade 1 champ, Stately Don. Megachurch easily won her debut by 4½ lengths going a mile on turf at Delaware and has three very good works under her girth coming into this race.
Precocity: ****  Turf: ****  Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  **  Route:  ****  Mud:  **

MTO – SAARLANDISOURLAND (Saarland — Crypto Kate by Tabasco Cat) Well-bred freshman sire is off to quick start and is fifteenth on the Freshman Sire List. Dam Sire was third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and at three won the Preakness and Belmont stakes.  This filly has an RF (Rasmussen Factor – inbred to a superior mare within five generations) to Natalma through her son Northern Dancer on top and his half brother, Nostrum, on bottom. Second dam is a stakes winner.  This is dam’s second foal. Her first has earned $43,714 in 16 starts. This filly has a precocious sire; however she will most likely improve with distance and time.
Precocity: **   Turf: ***         Dirt:  **** 
Sprint:  ***     Route:  ****  Mud:  ***

WHO DO I LIKE?

With a 70 percent chance of rain in the forecast, the turf will be at best, good and at worst, a bog. I suspect a longshot could win this race, so I’ll overlook the probably favorite, MEGACHURCH. CONSEQUENCE is one of the best bred fillies in this race and her conservative trainer, Shug McGaughey, must think she is something special by sending her to a graded stakes race in her second start. She won her only start over good ground. FREEDOM RINGS had excuses in her first start on turf and could be overlooked.  COUNTESS SEAGRAPE is a live longshot. She’s bred to be a turf router, but has been running on the dirt.
The Pilgrim Stakes -  Grade 3
Race 8 | 1 1/16 Miles Inner turf) | Open | 2 YO Stakes | Purse: $150,000

GIANT TALENT (Giant’s Causeway — Lady of Talent  by Siphon) Premier international sire is third on the 2008 Leading Sire list. Dam sire is ranked second on the PA Sire List. He’s versatile, getting winners from turf sprints to dirt handicappers. Dam is a half sister to Impertinent Lady, who is the dam of Grade 2 placed Cockney and grand dam of Grade 2 Saratoga Special and Amsterdam Stakes winner, Zavata.  She is also a half sister to Grade 3 winner, She’s Tops, dam of Grade 2 Norfolk Stakes winning sire, Dixie Union.   Giant Talent won his second race when stretching out to 1 1/6 on turf at Laurel Park and has three fitness works since that race.
Precocity: ***   Turf: ****      Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  ***       Route:  ***   Mud:  ***

SCIENTIST (Intidab — The Demon Chaser by Boundary) Sire was a versatile stakes winning sprinter/miler on dirt and turf. His offspring are mainly dirt sprinters/milers. Dam sire was a Grade 2 miler and the majority of his offspring won on dirt or turf up to a mile (except, of course, for his son, Big Brown). The first two dams were unraced. Fourth dam is Blue Hen, Resolver. Others from this family include Grade 2 turf winner Remarkable News, Grade 1 juvenile winner Adjudicating and Kentucky Oaks winner, Dispute. Scientist should have good speed up to around a mile, but today’s distance may test him. He won his second race when switched to turf, but finished a distant fourth going 1 1/6 miles over a wet-fast surface in the Go Stakes at Delaware. He had strong work coming into this race.  
Precocity: ***   Turf: ***       Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  ***       Route:  ***  Mud:  **

ELUSIVE BLUFF (Elusive Quality — Megans Bluff by Pine Bluff) Sire, a Grade 2 and Grade 3, winner, set a world record at one mile on the turf. His runners are effective on all surfaces. Dam sire won the Remsen and Nashua stakes at two and the Preakness at three. He sired precocious Lil’s Lad and Rgirldoesntbluff, dirt/turf router Middlesex Drive.  Dam won the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks, is a two-time winner of the Grade 3 Early Times Mint Julep at 1 1/6 miles on turf.  Grade 1 Stephen Foster winner Flashy Bull and Grade 1 winning Perfect Soul were produced from this female family.  Elusive Bluff won his debut in a sharp 1:35 going a mile on turf, despite racing greenly.  He’s had two very sharp works since that win.
Precocity: ****   Turf: ****     Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  ***         Route:  ***  Mud:  **

PYNAFORMER (Dynaformer — Oh Pine by Pine Bluff) World class sire produced Perfect Drift, Film Maker, Barbaro, steeplechase legend, McDynamo, and my personal favorite, Riskaverse. Dam sire won the Remsen and Nashua stakes at two and the Preakness at three. He sired precocious Lil’s Lad and Rgirldoesntbluff, dirt/turf router Middlesex Drive, and multiple graded turf mare and producer, Megans Bluff.  Dam is a half sister to Riskaverse and Grade 3 placed Cozzy Corner.  Second dam is a stakes winner and fourth dam is Blue Hen, Toll Booth. Pynaformer has class top and bottom. He finished a good third in his debut going 1 1/6 miles on the turf, but stumbled at the start of his last race two weeks ago going the same distance on the same surface.  His last work was a bullet three weeks ago.
Precocity: **  Turf: ****       Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  **      Route:  ****  Mud: ****

DUKE OF HOMBERG (Dynaformer — Wood Lass  by Woodman) Sire is currently ranked nineteenth on the National Sire list.  Dam sire was a Group 3 winner in Ireland and a versatile sire, getting such winners as 1993 Eclipse Three Year Old Hansel, champion European mare Bosra Sham, handicapper Chiseling, and miler sire Hawk Wing.  Dam is a stakes placed turf miler who has earned over $100,000 in 19 starts. This is her first foal. Second dam was Grade 2 placed and this female family has produced several Group and listed stakes European winners.  Duke of Homberg is making his first start in the US after breaking his maiden going seven furlongs in France in July. He is the mystery horse in the race, as he has no recorded workouts.
Precocity: **  Turf: ****       Dirt:  ** 
Sprint:  **      Route:  ****  Mud: **

HERR MOZART (Mr. Greeley — Clincher by Metfield) Speedy sire is an anomaly.  Despite wining as a sprinter/miler on dirt, he has sired two Europeans and one Australian champion. He is considered to be a good broodmare stallion. Whitney family-bred dam sire, a son of Seattle Slew, won a Grade 3 race at a mile. His progeny are mainly sprinting claimers, although he is also the sire of Grade 1 Ashland winner Rings a Chime and Oak Leaf stakes winner Typically Irish. Dam is a half sister to Grade 3 winner, Scoop, who is the dam of stakes winning miler, Coolwind.  Second dam, Til Forbid, won the Grade 3 Arlington Oaks, was second in the Grade 1 Alabama and third in the Kentucky Oaks.  Herr Mozart looks to have good early speed that will last past a mile. He was third, by 1½ lengths to Bittel Road in his debut, the With Anticipation Stakes for NY breds on the turf going today’s distance. He had an excellent five-furlong turf work leading into this race.
Precocity: ***   Turf: ***        Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ***       Route:  ***   Mud:  **

SHOW ME THE CASH (Artax — Unbridled Cyclone by Judge T C) Sire was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Futurity at two. He went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint and was the Eclipse Champion Sprinter of 1999.  He sired Grade 1 winning sprinter Friendly Michelle, precocious sprinter/milers Diabolical and Gimme Credit.  Dam sire was a former N.Y. sire (now standing in Arabia) and was a stakes winner at two. He sired durable routers. His best offspring were multiple stakes warrior, Request For Parole, who was a distance specialist on turf and dirt, graded stakes winners Truly a Judge and The Judge Sez Who.  Dam is a half sister to two Puerto Rican stakes winners. Third dam, North Sider, was a multiple Grade 1 winner at age five. Show Me the Cash gets brilliant speed from his sire and stamina to carry it from his dam sire. He won his last race going six furlongs on turf and had a four-furlong move on Sept. 24.
Precocity: ***   Turf: ***        Dirt:  *** 
Sprint:  ****     Route:  ***    Mud:  **

RELATIVELY READY (More Than Ready — Relativa, by Parade Marshal) Sire was a precocious winner of the Grade 2 Sanford, Grade 3 Tremont, Flash, WHAS and third in the Grade 1 Futurity. Dam sire was exported to Argentina and his daughter, Star Parade, won practically every graded filly stakes race in CA. Dam, as one might expect, is Argentinean, and two of her three foals have won. Relatively Ready should have the talent to win early and carry his speed. This colt won in his second start going 1 1/6 miles on turf, after steadying repeatedly.  Pynaformer was third in that race. Relatively Ready shows three good works coming into this race.
Precocity:  ***  Turf: ****    Dirt:  ***   
Sprint:  **         Route: ***  Mud:  ***

WHO DO I LIKE?

With Bittel Road out of the race, the likely favorite could be the mystery horse, DUKE OF HOMBERG, who has won over soft turf. He gets first time Lasix and Edgar Prado. RELATIVELY READY has experience over good going and HERR MOZART showed his class by loosing to Bittel Road while giving that one experience. ELUSIVE BLUFF is very fast and could be a dangerous contender.
PYNAFORMER could be a live longshot.