Queen's Plate Handicapping | Retama Ruffian

Queen's Plate

1 1/4 mile, 3YO M, July 5th

This is an extremely late post but I think I have a pretty good reason. Everybody remember Danzig Moon? He was my Derby, Preakness and Belmont pick, until his connections decided to point him towards the Queen's Plate. He never made it to the post postition draw and he never will again. In his prep race for the Queen's Plate, Danzig Moon broke his right hind leg and was euthanized. So I dedicate this post to his memory and hope that he will never be forgotten. 

Post Position

1. Shaman Ghost

2. Oakton

3. Ault

4. Academic

5. Billy's Star

6. Sweet Grass Creek

7. Danish Dynaformer

8. Conquest Boogaloo

9. Breaking Lucky

10. Easy Indygo

11. Portree

12. Milwaukee Mist

13. Bear At Last

14. Ami's Flatter

Shaman Ghost

Ghostzapper-Getback Time, by Gilded Time

A recent maiden winner, Shaman Ghost has only started in two non-maiden special weights; an allowance at Keeneland (1st, 1 1/16 mile) and the grade three Marine Stakes (1 1/16 mile) at Woodbine, which he won over fellow starters Danish Dynaformer (3), Ami's Flatter (7) and Conquest Boogaloo (8). He posted a six furlong work in 1:28.00 at Woodbine on June 27th.

Oakton

Macho Uno-Woods Bay, by Mr. Greeley

Oakton has started six times and only finished ahead of the pack in his maiden race at Keenland going 1 1/16 mile on the dirt. His most recent races are nothing to be proud of, two fourths and a seventh in allowance races at Woodbine. Oakton worked four furlongs in 50.20 on June 29th.

Ault

English Channel-Montefiore, by Rahy

Still a maiden, Ault has finished second three times, twice in maiden special weights at Woodbine back in winter of 2014 and most recently at Woodbine in June going 1 1/16 mile. Ault went five furlongs in 1:00.40 on June 28th. 

Academic

Henny Hughes-Awesome Lass, by Awesome Again

A filly, Academic is one of the more accomplished horses thus far in the field. She broke her maiden in May at Woodbine going 1 1/16 mile before finishing 1 3/4 lengths in front of the field in the Woodbine Oaks (1 1/8 mile). She also worked on the 28th of June going five furlongs in 1:00.80. 

Billy's Star

Perfect Soul (IRE)-Tapatina, by Seeking the Gold

Billy's Star is another recent maiden winner. His only other start since his maiden was the Plate Trial Stakes (1 1/8 mile), in which he lost came sixth and lost to fellow starters Danish Dynaformer (1) and Conquest Boogaloo (3). He posted a two furlong breeze yesterday in 24.80 at Woodbine. 

Sweet Grass Creek

Wando-Sweet Bama Breeze, by City Zip

Yet again, you guessed it, a recent maiden winner. Sweet Grass Creek won his maiden at Woodbine and then finished second in a 1 1/6 mile allowance at Woodbine. He posted a four furlong work in 48.60 on July 1st.

Danish Dynaformer

Dynaformer-Danish Wildcat, by Danehill

Danish Dynaformer is easily the talk of the field. He broke his maiden on his third attempt at Gulfstream Park on February 21st. He then went on to finish third in the grade three Marine Stakes (1 1/16 mile) and first in the Plate Trial Stakes (1 1/8 mile). Danish Dynaformer posted a five furlong work in 1:00.40 at Woodbine on June 27th.

Conquest Boogaloo

Scat Daddy-Jules Best, by Jules

Conquest Boogalo broke his maiden on his second attempt and then went on to finish first in the Swynford Stakes at Woodbine last October. Since then he has finished third in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, fourth in the Queenston Stakes and third in the Plate Trial Stakes. He breezed five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Woodbine. 

Breaking Lucky

Lookin At Lucky-Shooting Party, by Sky Classic

Another maiden winner, Breaking Lucky's best race since then was a second in an allowance optional claiming at Woodbine on May 10th. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00 at Woodbine. 

Easy Indygo

Marchfield-Real Scoop, by Catienus

Yet again, a maiden winner. Easy Indygo finished second and third in allowances at Woodbine. He handily worked five furlongs in 1:01.00 at Woodbine on June 24th.

Portree

Niigon-Eclipse Bay, by Hennessy

Portree won a maiden and an allowance at Woodbine in April and May, respectively. He finished fourth in the Plate Trial Stakes (1 1/8 mile). He breezed five furlongs in 1:02.00. 

Milwaukee Mist

Milwaukee Brew-Moonlit Mistress, by Deputy Minister

Milwaukee Mist is another maiden winner. He finished third in the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in February 2015. He worked four furlongs in 51.00 at The Thoroughbred Center on June 20th. 

Bear At Last

Marchfield-Clayton's Lass, by Forest Camp

Probably the most raced in the field, Bear At Last is 11: 1-3-2. He broke his maiden in November of 2014 and then went on to finish third in the Kangarvie Stakes and in the Wando Stakes. He can second in an allowance at Woodbine. He worked five furlongs in 1:02.00 at Woodbine on the 28th. 

Ami's Flatter

Flatter-Galloping Ami, by Victor Gallop

Ami's Flatter finished second in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, fourth in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (1 1/16 mile), second in the Tampa Bay Derby (1 1/16 mile) and third in the Florida Derby (1 1/8 mile). He worked four furlongs in 48.40 at Woodbine on the 29th of June. 

Contenders:

-Ami's Flatter

-Bear At Last

-Conquest Boogaloo

-Danish Dynaformer

-Academic

-Shaman Ghost

Pretenders:

-Milwaukee Mist

-Portree

-Easy Indygo

-Breaking Lucky

-Sweet Grass Creek

-Billy's Star

-Ault

-Oakton

Until next time,
Madison

Sales Analysis | Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age: Hip 401

Hip 401- Harlan's Honor

2012 Filly, Harlan's Holiday/Indian Rush, Paramount Sales Agent II

SIRE: Harlan’s Holiday is a 1999 Thoroughbred stallion. He was euthanized in Argentina in 2013. Before his death he sired Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby, Arlington Classic and American Derby winner Willcox Inn, Cashcall Futurity winner Into Mischief, Natalma Stakes (CAN) winner Conquest Harlanate.

Harlan’s Holiday won the Hoover Stakes (6 furlongs), Cradle Stakes (1 1/16 mile), Iroquois Stakes (1 mile), Florida Derby (1 ⅛ mile) and Blue Grass Stakes (1 ⅛ mile) before finishing seventh in the 2002 Kentucky Derby. He went on to win the Pennsylvania Derby (1 ⅛ mile) and the Donn Handicap (1 ⅛ mile). Other notable performances include:

2nd- Breeders Futurity (1 1/16 mile)

2nd- Holy Bull (1 1/16 mile)

2nd- Fountain of Youth (1 1/16 mile)

4th- Preakness Stakes (1 3/16 mile)

4th- Cigar Mile (1 mile)

2nd- Dubai World Cup (1 ¼ mile)

2nd- Hollywood Gold Cup

Harlan’s Holiday’s foals tend to be early maturers and have some of their best seasons as two- and three-year olds. His foals aren’t huge monsters but are well built and solid. They have high withers. They have thick, large hips and a large stride.
DAM: Indian Rush is a stakes placed mare by Indian Charlie. She came second in the Finger Lakes Juvenile Fillies (6 furlongs). She has twenty-four starts with five first, six seconds and one thirds. She’s made $98,208 in her four year career.

WATCHMAKER ANYLSIS:

This 3-year-old stakes filly is by the deceased Harlan’s Holiday, from the stakes performing Indian Charlie mare Indian Rush, who herself is a full sister to a multiple stakes performer. What distinguishes this filly is she is a registered New York bred who really hasn’t yet taken advantage of that lucrative program, but she is already an open stakes winner. She won her debut last summer on the main track at Monmouth Park over straight maidens in decisive fashion, and then after showing good early speed in the Lynbrook Stakes at Belmont Park in what remains her only start to date against fellow New York breds, she returned to Monmouth, moved to turf and wired eight opponents in a four length romp in the Colleen Stakes. She also showed high early speed in the Selima Stakes in her penultimate 2-year-old start. In two starts this year, she competed in turf sprint stakes, and finished third in both. But she still has her second-level allowance condition available to her, as well as the option to return to dirt if so desired.