Spring Venture is a live long shot in Forward Gal

Kauai Katie looks tough on paper. My Happy Face has done nothing wrong in four starts. Fusaichiswonderful has been a sensation in Puerto Rico. With all this talent in today’s Grade 2 Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park, it may be hard to imagine room for a long shot to crash the party, but in the talented Spring Venture, I believe there is a real chance for big payoffs. Listed at 8-1 on the morning line, I don’t suspect the two-time stakes winning Mark Casse trained filly will go off any lower than that, considering the money the top three are sure to take. 
A good looking, chestnut daughter of hot new sire, Spring At Last, Spring Venture did nothing but impress north of the border last year. Her maiden score came at the same seven panel distance of today’s Forward Gal, although it was over Woodbine’s turf course. A 4 ¼-length romp in the August debut tipped her talent, but came as no surprise to those who had been so impressed with her as a two-year-old in training in Ocala, where she became a $320,000 purchase for owners Gary Barber and Stoneway Farm.
She came back four weeks later to confirm the impressive debut, with a rather easy 1 ¾-length victory in the Grade 2 Natalma, also on turf. In that race, she defeated stablemate Spring in the Air, who came right out of that to score in the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland next out. Continuing the theme of beating good horses, Spring Venture brought her game over to Polytrack for another impressive win. This time accounting for the Grade 3 Mazarine Stakes over Seaneen Girl, who you’ll remember ventured south to score in the Grade 2 Goldenrod Stakes at Churchill Downs in her next start.
With three big wins at Woodbine, it was time for Spring Venture to for the big score. The Breeders’ Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita turned out to be a big disappointment, but it is a race that needs a line drawn through it. 
Breaking a tad slow, she was squeezed at the start in the large field and was forced wide the entire trip. Still in with a chance at the top of the lane, the filly did not take kindly to a right hand whip from regular rider, Patrick Husbands. Spring Venture lunged inward, almost losing Husbands, forcing herself behind more traffic. The final result of a 13th place finish is in no way indicative of her true talent, but should only serve to improve her odds today.
Spring Venture has been training very well at nearby Palm Meadows for her dirt debut today, and while it’s true, against this field, she might run really well only to finish third or fourth, but the odds will most assuredly be right to take the shot on a very good filly.
 
 
                Photo Courtesy of Michael Burns / WEG Entertainment   
 
 
 
 
        

Read More

Zipse: Retiring Post Time leads the age brigade on Saturday
Forget the youth, at my rapidly advancing age I can’t help but to root for the old guys....
Santa Anita postpones opening day to Sunday because of rain
Blame it on the rain that is forecast to fall all week in Southern California. The forecast led...
Turfway: Encino much the best in Sunday's Prairie Bayou
Encino seized control from the break and never looked back, powering to a gate-to-wire victory in Sunday's 30th...
Turfway: Caitlinhergrtness wins 1st of 3 undercard stakes
Caitlinhergrtness rallied late to win Sunday's 37th running of the $219,000 My Charmer at Turfway Park. The 4-year-old...
Saturday's speed figures: Wolfie's Dynaghost leads top 10
Wolfie's Dynaghost led all performers with a 141 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Gulfstream Park in the...