While there may be only one graded stakes race for three-year-old colts scheduled to be run this weekend -- that being the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct -- there are a number of good allowance and maiden races carded across the country. And the Gotham itself is going to be a highly exciting event, for juvenile champion Hansen is going to make his second start of the year in this major Kentucky Derby prep.
As I am a bit behind this weekend, I havn't written out my analysis of the Gotham just yet. I shall post that later this afternoon. In the meantime, here are my quick thoughts on all of the other major three-year-old racing action scheduled to be run this afternoon. Enjoy!
At Santa Anita on Saturday . . .
Race 2: This 1 1/16th miles main track maiden special weight has drawn a highly promising field of seven, with Holy Candy being the morning line favorite at 6-5. I've had my eye on this colt for months, and remain confident that he has the talent to join the Triple Crown trail should he win here this afternoon. The colt has made two starts thus far, finishing second in both. However, the colts that have beaten him are Castaway, who since returned to win a division of the Southwest Stakes (gr. III), and Empire Way, second in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) last time out. I'm pretty confident that this colt is going to break his maiden impressively and stamp himself as one of the better three-year-old colts in the country.
Race 4: Another maiden special weight for three-year-olds, this one is carded at 6-1/2 furlongs on the main track. There are a number of colts here that bear watching, but the two I will be keeping my eyes on are the Bob Baffert-trained duo of Mile High Magic and Eaton Hall. The pair were seperated by just a length back on February 4th in a six-furlong maiden special weight here at Santa Anita, in which they finished second and fourth, respectively. Mile High Magic showed a good late kick that day, despite racing somewhat greenly, so I expect him to have every chance at securing victory today.
Race 9: The first grade I race of the year for three-year-olds, the Las Virgenes Stakes (gr. I) -- a major prep for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) -- has drawn a highly talented field of eight runners, led by Reneesgotzip. The speedy filly won the Santa Ynez Stakes (gr. II) in highly impressive fashion last time out, and while there are some questions as to how far she can stretch out her speed, I'm pretty confident that this filly can go as far as the one-mile distance of today's race, and if that is indeed the case, she should prove tough to beat. Eden's Moon, from the Bob Baffert barn, broke her maiden by 11 1/2 lengths back in January, and while she is coming off of a two-month layoff, she is proven at this distance and should have every chance at victory in the stretch. Killer Graces, Willa B Awesome, and Charm the Maker should all be in contention as well.
At Gulfstream on Saturday . . .
Race 3: A nine-furlong allowance optional claiming event for three-year-olds, there are a couple of runners in this six-horse field that merit close watching. The first colt is Heavy Breathing, a son of Giant's Causeway that broke his maiden first-time out for trainer Todd Pletcher by 7 3/4 lengths. Now making his second start, he will likely be favored to bring his record to a perfect 2-for-2. Big Screen, who broke his maiden over subsequent Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) winner Battle Hardened before finishing fourth in an allowance race behind El Padrino, should also be a major contender.
Race 4: Tiz Yankee, Went the Day Well, and Fort Boonesborough look like the major contenders in this one-mile and a sixteenth maiden special weight. Tiz Yankee, from the barn of Nick Zito, has finished second or third in all three of his starts. Went the Day Well is a Team Valor-owned colt that finished fourth last time out in a maiden special weight, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths after closing strongly. Fort Boonesborough is also coming off of a good effort, finishing second to the promising Majestic Number in his only start to date. I'm pretty confident that the winner will be one of these three.
At Oaklawn on Saturday . . .
Race 9: The six-furlong Gazebo Stakes has drawn a number of promising sprinters, including the very talented Exfactor. The colt looked like a potential Derby horse after winning three straight races, including the Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) and the Sugar Bowl Stakes, but failed the stretch-out test when tried at a mile and seventy yards in the LeComte Stakes (gr. III). He's returning to a sprint distance today, which should be all he needs to get him back on track. Lake Victor, winner of a recent allowance race, and Brown Eyed Jozi, sixth in the Sugar Bowl in an abnormally dull effort, are other logical contenders.
-Keelerman
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