Out of the Woods and Back in Action - Tabby Goes at CBY

Out of touch all week on the west coast has been a bit odd for an admitted computer/iPhone junkie.  I spent part of the week camping for the first time…yes, that’s right.  It took forty five and a half years, but my wife got me sleeping in a tent.  I had a blast but there was no Twitter, no Facebook, no Equidaily, Paulick Report or DRF.  Even when we were just visiting family and friends there was no internet connection to tap into.  I didn’t know that people lived like that!  I was able to get quite a bit of creative writing done, but nothing horse related until we hit the hotel with the kids over this weekend.

As luck would have it, Tabby Lane has her first race in Minnesota this afternoon and I’ll be, once again, out of internet range.  I’m hoping desperately that I can get somewhere to tap into a wireless connection, but I know that the partners will be texting me through it.

Here is a preview of the $10,000 claiming race.  The field will be traveling 7.5 furlongs over the turf course.  Our choices were this race with the right distance but wrong surface or a six furlong over the dirt – right surface, wrong distance.  She’s raced five times over the turf and her only races worse than fourth were at five furlongs, a distance that she just can’t handle.  She’s a big mare and needs some time to unwind and five furlongs just doesn’t give it to her.  Ultimately we felt that the right distance was more important given these conditions.

Here is the rundown:

Lady Countdown (Smith/Keith): Six starts on turf, half in the money.  Last out was a distant fifth in a Fonner Park Stake.  Will try to get a quick start on the group but will need to last the seven and a half.

TABBY LANE (Rhone/Butler)

Hole in One (Sherbenske/Eikleberry): Nine of fourteen in the money on the turf and the distance should be to her liking.  Seemed to hit her level when racing against this type but this is a closely matched field.

Satin Creation (Silva/Stevens): 1^st off the claim where Silva is running at 50% (4 of 8).  Morning Line favorite closed the 2010 season with a win at this level and was very competitive at higher last summer here.  Most definitely the one to beat.

Minnesota Mafia (Scherer/Rivera): Classy MN-bred has been running against better and is dropping in here.  Best effort puts her in here.

Satin Edition (Robertson/Bell): MN-bred started her career on fire winning a MSW and then a state bred allowance before disappointing at Arlington.  Came back home at 7500 and picked up a win after two tries.  This’ll be her first try on the turf.

There is a really good shot that Lady Countdown will get to the lead with a lack of early speed in the field.  Satin Edition may have enough to get into the pocket, but may need a race after the long winter layoff.  Tabs has a shot in here, but it is going to be very, very tough to be Satin Creation.  Her Beyers are consistently ten points better than the rest of the field, she can get the distance and is rarely out of any race so she has that competitive desire.  My guess is that she’ll be under even money and will probably run like it, but if she should falter and Lady Countdown can get some pressure up front, Tabs may be able to close to the front – but it’s not going to be easy.