The $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) was originally supposed to feature Point of Entry, the very talented five-time grade I winner that won the Man o' War in 2012. Unfortunately, an injury suffered last month kept the turf star from defending his title, and so it was up to stablemate Boisterous to step in and save the day, which he did so decisively this afternoon at Belmont Park.
Ridden to victory John Velazquez, Boisterous was content to settle back in fifth place during the early stages of the eleven-furlong race, about seven or eight lengths behind runaway leader Folk Singer. Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse were racing together in second, followed on the outside by Optimizer. Finnegans Wake was back in sixth, while Al Khali and Exclusive Strike were the trailers.
Folk Singer, at odds of 88-1, was running well to lead through fractions of :23.44, :48.07, and 1:13.06, but was caught shortly thereafter by Speaking of Which and Twilight Eclipse, who continued to race as a pair down the backstretch and into the final turn. Optimizer was looming a threat on the outside, but the real challenge was coming from Boisterous, who split horses with a powerful rally to reach contention at the top of the homestretch. Twilight Eclipse tried his best, but couldn't stay with Boisterous in the late stages, as the latter drew off to win by about two lengths while stopping the clock in 2:14.11 over a course labeled good.
Twilight Eclipse narrowly held off the late-closing Exclusive Strike for second, while Finnegans Wake, Optimizer, Al Khali, Speaking of Which, and Folk Singer completed the order of finish.
Boisterous is trained by Shug McGaughey and owned by Phipps Stable. The Man o' War marked his seventh graded stakes victory, but his first in a grade I race.
-Keelerman
Showing posts with label Finnegans Wake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finnegans Wake. Show all posts
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Point of Entry wins 5th straight in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
It may not have been quite as easy as some were expecting, but Point of Entry got the job done in the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. I) this afternoon at Belmont Park,
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, who was winning his third consecutive grade I race of the day, Point of Entry got away to a clean start and soon settled into the third position, tucked in along the rail as Little Mike and Treasure Beach led the way through slow fractions of :25.70, :51.99, and 1:18.16 seconds. Kindergarden Kid, Hailstone, and Finnegans Wake were the early trailers.
Just past the halfway point of the race, Treasure Beach and Point of Entry made bold runs to move ahead of Little Mike, who was gradually dropping out of contention.
Moving round the final turn, Point of Entry moved up to challenge Treasure Beach for the lead, while Kindergarden Kid loomed a contender along the inside. Turning for home, Treasure Beach drifted outward several paths, taking Point of Entry with him and allowing Kindergarden Kid to make a bold run along the rail. However, Treasure Beach soon straightened out, and Point of Entry put him away and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 2:33.73 seconds.
Kindergarden Kid 2 1/2 lengths further back in third, followed by Finnegans Wake, Little Mike, and Hailstone. The winner, a son of Dynaformer, is owned by Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey. He has now won five consecutive races, including three straight grade Is.
-Keelerman
Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, who was winning his third consecutive grade I race of the day, Point of Entry got away to a clean start and soon settled into the third position, tucked in along the rail as Little Mike and Treasure Beach led the way through slow fractions of :25.70, :51.99, and 1:18.16 seconds. Kindergarden Kid, Hailstone, and Finnegans Wake were the early trailers.
Just past the halfway point of the race, Treasure Beach and Point of Entry made bold runs to move ahead of Little Mike, who was gradually dropping out of contention.
Moving round the final turn, Point of Entry moved up to challenge Treasure Beach for the lead, while Kindergarden Kid loomed a contender along the inside. Turning for home, Treasure Beach drifted outward several paths, taking Point of Entry with him and allowing Kindergarden Kid to make a bold run along the rail. However, Treasure Beach soon straightened out, and Point of Entry put him away and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths in 2:33.73 seconds.
Kindergarden Kid 2 1/2 lengths further back in third, followed by Finnegans Wake, Little Mike, and Hailstone. The winner, a son of Dynaformer, is owned by Phipps Stable and trained by Shug McGaughey. He has now won five consecutive races, including three straight grade Is.
-Keelerman
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Entries: Point of Entry goes for 5th straight victory
Two-time grade I winner Point of Entry will attempt to bring his winning streak to five when he heads to post for the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
The son of Dynaformer will face only five rivals in the twelve-furlong turf race, which is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I). His primary opposition is expected to come from Little Mike, winner of the Arlington Million (gr. I) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I) this year. Finnegans Wake, a three-year-old colt that most recently finished second in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. I), could also contend in his first start at twelve furlongs.
European shipper Treasure Beach, from the barn of Aidan O'Brien, won a number of prestigious races in 2011, but has not found the winner's circle in five starts this year, which includes a pair of disappointing losses behind both Point of Entry and Little Mike.
Post Positions:
-Keelerman
The son of Dynaformer will face only five rivals in the twelve-furlong turf race, which is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. I). His primary opposition is expected to come from Little Mike, winner of the Arlington Million (gr. I) and Woodford Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (gr. I) this year. Finnegans Wake, a three-year-old colt that most recently finished second in the Secretariat Stakes (gr. I), could also contend in his first start at twelve furlongs.
European shipper Treasure Beach, from the barn of Aidan O'Brien, won a number of prestigious races in 2011, but has not found the winner's circle in five starts this year, which includes a pair of disappointing losses behind both Point of Entry and Little Mike.
Post Positions:
| PP | Horse | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Hailstone | 126 | Julien Leparoux | Robert Ribaudo |
| 2 | Point of Entry | 126 | John Velazquez | Claude McGaughey III |
| 3 | Treasure Beach | 126 | Jamie Spencer | Aidan O'Brien |
| 4 | Little Mike | 126 | Ramon Dominguez | Dale Romans |
| 5 | Kindergarden Kid | 126 | Javier Castellano | Mike Maker |
| 6 | Finnegans Wake | 121 | Joel Rosario | Dale Romans |
-Keelerman
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Contender Profile: FINNEGANS WAKE
Owner: Donegal Racing
Trainer: Dale Romans
Breeder: Jerry Crawford
Expected Jockey: Unknown
RACE RECORD
Age 3
2nd Secretariat Stakes (gr. I)
3rd Virginia Derby (gr. II)
1st Allowance
4th American Turf Stakes (gr. II)
10th Louisiana Derby (gr. II)
3rd Gotham Stakes (gr. III)
4th Allowance Optional Claiming
1st Maiden Special Weight
Age 2
8th Maiden Special Weight
PEDIGREE
To read what I have written about Finnegans Wake in the past, click here.
Trainer: Dale Romans
Breeder: Jerry Crawford
Expected Jockey: Unknown
RACE RECORD
Age 3
2nd Secretariat Stakes (gr. I)
3rd Virginia Derby (gr. II)
1st Allowance
4th American Turf Stakes (gr. II)
10th Louisiana Derby (gr. II)
3rd Gotham Stakes (gr. III)
4th Allowance Optional Claiming
1st Maiden Special Weight
Age 2
8th Maiden Special Weight
PEDIGREE
| Sadler's Wells | ||
| Powerscourt | ||
| Rainbow Lake | ||
| Finnegans Wake | ||
| Silver Ghost | ||
| Boat's Ghost | ||
| Rocktheboat |
To read what I have written about Finnegans Wake in the past, click here.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
BAYRIR WINS THE SECRETARIAT STAKES!
French invader Bayrir showcased a determined turn-of-foot to wear down a game Summer Front to win the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. I) at Arlington Park on Saturday afternoon.
Under a skillful ride from Christophe Lemaire, Bayrir was a bit slow from the starting gate and found himself racing in seventh position early on, about ten lengths behind favored Silver Max, who carved out moderate fractions of :24.65 and :48.94 while being tracked by Summer Front, Handsome Mike, and Daddy Long Legs. Cozzetti and All Stormy were racing toward the rear of the field, while Finnegans Wake was the trailer.
Following the opening half-mile, Daddy Long Legs made a bold and sustained run on the far outside, a rally which put him ahead of Silver Max with a quarter mile to run. But his efforts left him with nothing in the tank for the stretch drive, and the colt soon retreated to last place. However, this did not leave Silver Max with the lead, as Summer Front was rallying strongly and quickly surpassed the front-runner. He appeared to be on his way to victory, but Bayrir was putting in a terrific run in between horses and burst clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock for ten furlongs on turf in 2:02.92 seconds.
Finnegans Wake rallied well to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Summer Front. Handsome Mike, Silver Max, Cozzetti, All Stormy, and Daddy Long Legs completed the order of finish.
The winner is owned by H. H. Aga Khan and is trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre.
-Keelerman
Under a skillful ride from Christophe Lemaire, Bayrir was a bit slow from the starting gate and found himself racing in seventh position early on, about ten lengths behind favored Silver Max, who carved out moderate fractions of :24.65 and :48.94 while being tracked by Summer Front, Handsome Mike, and Daddy Long Legs. Cozzetti and All Stormy were racing toward the rear of the field, while Finnegans Wake was the trailer.
Following the opening half-mile, Daddy Long Legs made a bold and sustained run on the far outside, a rally which put him ahead of Silver Max with a quarter mile to run. But his efforts left him with nothing in the tank for the stretch drive, and the colt soon retreated to last place. However, this did not leave Silver Max with the lead, as Summer Front was rallying strongly and quickly surpassed the front-runner. He appeared to be on his way to victory, but Bayrir was putting in a terrific run in between horses and burst clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths, stopping the clock for ten furlongs on turf in 2:02.92 seconds.
Finnegans Wake rallied well to finish second, 1 1/4 lengths clear of Summer Front. Handsome Mike, Silver Max, Cozzetti, All Stormy, and Daddy Long Legs completed the order of finish.
The winner is owned by H. H. Aga Khan and is trained by Alain De Royer-Dupre.
-Keelerman
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Secretariat Stakes Entries and Post Positions
Here are the entries and post positions for the $500,000 Secretariat Stakes (gr. I), to be run on Saturday at Arlington Park. The ten-furlong turf race has drawn an exceptional field of three-year-old colts, led by Virginia Derby (gr. II) winner Silver Max, UAE Derby (UAE-II) winner Daddy Long Legs, and American Derby (gr. III) winner Cozzetti.
1 Handsome Mike
2 Summer Front
3 Cozzetti
4 Finnegans Wake
5 All Stormy
6 Daddy Long Legs
7 Bayrir
8 Silver Max
-Keelerman
1 Handsome Mike
2 Summer Front
3 Cozzetti
4 Finnegans Wake
5 All Stormy
6 Daddy Long Legs
7 Bayrir
8 Silver Max
-Keelerman
Saturday, July 21, 2012
BREEDERS' CUP COUNTDOWN -- July 21st, 2012
With Saratoga and Del Mar having finally begun their much-anticipated summer meets, the yearly "lull period" in horse racing -- that 1 1/2 months between the Belmont Stakes and the Saratoga/Del Mar season -- is finally over. As a result, the quality of horse racing across the country will rise dramatically during the ensuing weeks, beginning this weekend. All told, there are two grade Is, two grade IIs, and two grade IIIs to be run this Saturday, including the prestigious Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I), Eddie Read Stakes (gr. I), and Delaware Handicap (gr. II). We'll begin our analysis of this incredible racing day by looking over the $300,000 Eddie Read at Del Mar, where last year's Eclipse champion older male Acclamation is scheduled to make his second start of the season.
Eddie Read Stakes (gr. I)
9 furlongs on the Del Mar turf course
Entries:
The heavy favorite on the morning line is, of course, Acclamation, who brings a six-race winning streak into the Eddie Read. Trained by Donald Warren, the terrific six-year-old son of Unusual Heat began his streak last May when he won the Jim Murray Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park. He then proceeded to rattle off victories in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. I), Eddie Read Stakes (gr. I), TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I), and Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (gr. II) before going to the sidelines with a minor injury. He returned on June 9th to win the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap for a third consecutive year, and appears to be on track to win his second straight Eddie Read. Being the lone front-runner in this race, he should be able to get to the front without difficulty, set a slow pace, and hold off the closers with a brilliant burst of acceleration.
Slim Shadey, runner-up to Acclamation in the 2012 Charles Whittingham, will likely be the second choice despite the fact that he is entering the Eddie Read off of a fifth-place finish in the United Nations Stakes (gr. I) just two weeks ago. In that race, he found himself too far off of a slow pace, and when the leader closed his final eighth in a practically unheard of :11.27 seconds to win the race, there was no way that Slim Shadey could have made up any great amount of ground. So given the circumstances, I would expect Slim Shadey to perform much better today, although the distance of this race probably favors Acclamation slightly more than this colt.
Interaction will probably receive some wagering support as well, for the Ronald McAnally-trainee was a three-time group I winner in his native Argentina. He has only made three starts in the United States thus far, disappointing in a pair of graded stakes events last summer before returning from a long layoff to win a nine-furlong turf allowance race at Hollywood Park last month. He clearly possesses a remarkable turn of foot, but his late-running style may be compromised by the expected pace scenario of today's race. Nevertheless, he looks like a promising runner, and he could be a good one further down the road, regardless of how he performs today.
The longshots are Casino Host and Hog's Hollow. The latter colt required fifteen starts to break his maiden, but has been a decent competitor since then. However, he has been beaten by both Interaction and Slim Shadey this year, and may not be quite as good as some of the other runners in this race. As for Casino Host, he won the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. II) back in April at Fair Grounds -- defeating several quality horses in the process -- but was soundly beaten in his last two starts and may not be in his best form right now.
My selections are:
1 Acclamation
2 Interaction
3 Slim Shadey
4 Casino Host
5 Hog's Hollow
Other Races of Note
At Delaware Park . . .
Race 10: The $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) has drawn an impressive field of runners, and the race is shaping up to be almost as good as last year's epic Blind Luck/Havre de Grace battle. Royal Delta is the morning line favorite this year off of a dominating victory in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II), and last year's Eclipse champion three-year-old filly should relish the distance of today's race. Her main competition is likely to come from Awesome Maria, a super-talented Todd Pletcher-trainee that won six straight graded stakes races before finishing third last time out in the Odgen Phipps Handicap (gr. I). Seeing that she defeated Royal Delta by eight lengths in the Sabin Stakes (gr. II) this February -- their mutual 2012 debut -- it's clear that Awesome Maria has at least a decent chance at upsetting the favorite, although the distance is almost certainly in Royal Delta's favor. Other contenders are Pachattack, third in last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I); Cash for Clunkers, who finished second in the above-mentioned Odgen Phipps Handicap; and Love and Pride, the impressive winner of the Obeah Stakes (gr. III), a local prep for this race.
At Colonial Downs . . .
Race 8: The $150,000 Virginia Oaks (gr. III) may not have drawn a field of proven stakes winners -- actually, none of the seven entrants have won so much as a restricted stakes -- but it should nevertheless be an interesting race to watch, and the possibility exists that a nice filly or two could emerge from this spot. The favorite will likely be Zultanite, who is coming off of a second-place effort in the Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III) and a third in the Sands Point Stakes (gr. II), to very good fillies on both occasions. Although she has only won a single race from eight starts, she strikes me as a talented runner that should pick up a fair number of stakes races during the coming months. Volcat, gate-to-wire winner of a nine-furlong turf allowance race last month at Churchill Downs, probably has the best chance at pulling off an upset.
Race 9: Will Silver Max bring his winning streak to six? That is the biggest question regarding the $600,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II), which has drawn a simply terrific field of three-year-old turf stars. Silver Max is 4-5 on the morning line thanks to his impressive winning streak, and his terrific natural speed gives him a large tactical edge over his rivals. Perhaps the only thing that can get him beat today is the ten-furlong distance, which is a substantial three-sixteenths of a mile farther than he has ever run before. If he does find the distance a bit too long, then there are plenty of other talented horses that could pick up the pieces, including the talented Team Valor-owned colt Lucky Chappy, the consistent Easy Crossing, the tough-as-nails Optimizer, and Silver Max's own stablemate, Finnegans Wake.
At Saratoga . . .
Race 10: Three-year-old fillies are the stars of the Saturday card, with six of them scheduled to head to post for the 96th running of the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). My detailed analysis of the race can be read here: http://triplecrowncountdown.blogspot.com/2012/07/saratoga-stakes-analysis-july-21st-2012.html
-Keelerman
Eddie Read Stakes (gr. I)
9 furlongs on the Del Mar turf course
Entries:
| PP | Horse | Jockey |
| 1 | Hog's Hollow | Rafael Bejarano |
| 2 | Interaction | Brice Blanc |
| 3 | Acclamation | Patrick Valenzuela |
| 4 | Casino Host | Joseph Talamo |
| 5 | Slim Shadey | Garrett Gomez |
The heavy favorite on the morning line is, of course, Acclamation, who brings a six-race winning streak into the Eddie Read. Trained by Donald Warren, the terrific six-year-old son of Unusual Heat began his streak last May when he won the Jim Murray Handicap (gr. II) at Hollywood Park. He then proceeded to rattle off victories in the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (gr. I), Eddie Read Stakes (gr. I), TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I), and Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes (gr. II) before going to the sidelines with a minor injury. He returned on June 9th to win the Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap for a third consecutive year, and appears to be on track to win his second straight Eddie Read. Being the lone front-runner in this race, he should be able to get to the front without difficulty, set a slow pace, and hold off the closers with a brilliant burst of acceleration.
Slim Shadey, runner-up to Acclamation in the 2012 Charles Whittingham, will likely be the second choice despite the fact that he is entering the Eddie Read off of a fifth-place finish in the United Nations Stakes (gr. I) just two weeks ago. In that race, he found himself too far off of a slow pace, and when the leader closed his final eighth in a practically unheard of :11.27 seconds to win the race, there was no way that Slim Shadey could have made up any great amount of ground. So given the circumstances, I would expect Slim Shadey to perform much better today, although the distance of this race probably favors Acclamation slightly more than this colt.
Interaction will probably receive some wagering support as well, for the Ronald McAnally-trainee was a three-time group I winner in his native Argentina. He has only made three starts in the United States thus far, disappointing in a pair of graded stakes events last summer before returning from a long layoff to win a nine-furlong turf allowance race at Hollywood Park last month. He clearly possesses a remarkable turn of foot, but his late-running style may be compromised by the expected pace scenario of today's race. Nevertheless, he looks like a promising runner, and he could be a good one further down the road, regardless of how he performs today.
The longshots are Casino Host and Hog's Hollow. The latter colt required fifteen starts to break his maiden, but has been a decent competitor since then. However, he has been beaten by both Interaction and Slim Shadey this year, and may not be quite as good as some of the other runners in this race. As for Casino Host, he won the Mervin H. Muniz Jr. Handicap (gr. II) back in April at Fair Grounds -- defeating several quality horses in the process -- but was soundly beaten in his last two starts and may not be in his best form right now.
My selections are:
1 Acclamation
2 Interaction
3 Slim Shadey
4 Casino Host
5 Hog's Hollow
Other Races of Note
At Delaware Park . . .
Race 10: The $750,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II) has drawn an impressive field of runners, and the race is shaping up to be almost as good as last year's epic Blind Luck/Havre de Grace battle. Royal Delta is the morning line favorite this year off of a dominating victory in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr. II), and last year's Eclipse champion three-year-old filly should relish the distance of today's race. Her main competition is likely to come from Awesome Maria, a super-talented Todd Pletcher-trainee that won six straight graded stakes races before finishing third last time out in the Odgen Phipps Handicap (gr. I). Seeing that she defeated Royal Delta by eight lengths in the Sabin Stakes (gr. II) this February -- their mutual 2012 debut -- it's clear that Awesome Maria has at least a decent chance at upsetting the favorite, although the distance is almost certainly in Royal Delta's favor. Other contenders are Pachattack, third in last year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I); Cash for Clunkers, who finished second in the above-mentioned Odgen Phipps Handicap; and Love and Pride, the impressive winner of the Obeah Stakes (gr. III), a local prep for this race.
At Colonial Downs . . .
Race 8: The $150,000 Virginia Oaks (gr. III) may not have drawn a field of proven stakes winners -- actually, none of the seven entrants have won so much as a restricted stakes -- but it should nevertheless be an interesting race to watch, and the possibility exists that a nice filly or two could emerge from this spot. The favorite will likely be Zultanite, who is coming off of a second-place effort in the Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. III) and a third in the Sands Point Stakes (gr. II), to very good fillies on both occasions. Although she has only won a single race from eight starts, she strikes me as a talented runner that should pick up a fair number of stakes races during the coming months. Volcat, gate-to-wire winner of a nine-furlong turf allowance race last month at Churchill Downs, probably has the best chance at pulling off an upset.
Race 9: Will Silver Max bring his winning streak to six? That is the biggest question regarding the $600,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II), which has drawn a simply terrific field of three-year-old turf stars. Silver Max is 4-5 on the morning line thanks to his impressive winning streak, and his terrific natural speed gives him a large tactical edge over his rivals. Perhaps the only thing that can get him beat today is the ten-furlong distance, which is a substantial three-sixteenths of a mile farther than he has ever run before. If he does find the distance a bit too long, then there are plenty of other talented horses that could pick up the pieces, including the talented Team Valor-owned colt Lucky Chappy, the consistent Easy Crossing, the tough-as-nails Optimizer, and Silver Max's own stablemate, Finnegans Wake.
At Saratoga . . .
Race 10: Three-year-old fillies are the stars of the Saturday card, with six of them scheduled to head to post for the 96th running of the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I). My detailed analysis of the race can be read here: http://triplecrowncountdown.blogspot.com/2012/07/saratoga-stakes-analysis-july-21st-2012.html
-Keelerman
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Virginia Derby Entries and Post Positions
Here are the entries and post positions for the $600,000 Virginia Derby (gr. II), to be run on Saturday at Colonial Downs. The ten-furlong turf race for three-year-old colts has drawn a spectacular field of nine, including Silver Max, who has won five straight races; Summer Front, who is unbeaten on turf; Optimizer, a tough-as-nails son of turf star English Channel; and Lucky Chappy, a very talented Irish-bred making his first start since finishing seventh in the UAE Derby (UAE-II).
1 Optimizer
2 Finnegans Wake
3 Two Months Rent
4 Coach Royal
5 Summer Front
6 Easy Crossing
7 Silver Max
8 Lucky Chappy
9 Mr. Handsome
-Keelerman
1 Optimizer
2 Finnegans Wake
3 Two Months Rent
4 Coach Royal
5 Summer Front
6 Easy Crossing
7 Silver Max
8 Lucky Chappy
9 Mr. Handsome
-Keelerman
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
American Turf Stakes Entries and Post Positions
Here are the entries and post positions for the $200,000 American Turf Stakes (gr. II), to be held on Friday at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/16th miles turf race for three-year-olds has drawn a large field of fourteen, of which fourteen will be allowed to start. Among the notable contenders are Palm Beach Stakes (gr. III) winner Howe Great, Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) third-place finish Blueskiesnrainbows, and the undefeated two-time stakes winner Flashy Dresser.
1 Coalport
2 Gung Ho
3 Star Channel
4 Silver Menace
5 Blueskiesnrainbows
6 Look At the Time
7 Scatman
8 Finnegan's Wake
9 Tones
10 Travel Advisory
11 Flashy Dresser
12 Skyring
13 Silver Max
14 Howe Great
Also eligible: Scorcher
(Note: Be sure to check out our Kentucky Derby Handicapping Contest, in which one lucky handicapper will win a free copy of "The 10 Best Kentucky Derbies," published by Eclipse Press. Read the details here!)
-Keelerman
1 Coalport
2 Gung Ho
3 Star Channel
4 Silver Menace
5 Blueskiesnrainbows
6 Look At the Time
7 Scatman
8 Finnegan's Wake
9 Tones
10 Travel Advisory
11 Flashy Dresser
12 Skyring
13 Silver Max
14 Howe Great
Also eligible: Scorcher
(Note: Be sure to check out our Kentucky Derby Handicapping Contest, in which one lucky handicapper will win a free copy of "The 10 Best Kentucky Derbies," published by Eclipse Press. Read the details here!)
-Keelerman
Sunday, April 01, 2012
TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN -- April 1st, 2012
The results of yesterday's Florida Derby (gr. I) certainly blurred the Derby picture quite a bit. Not only did the well-regarded pair of Union Rags and El Padrino disappoint, but a pair of new contenders emerged in Take Charge Indy and Reveron, who ran 1-2 in a surprising upset.
But the Florida Derby was not the only major Derby prep race scheduled for this weekend. Later this afternoon, a field of thirteen will head to post for the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), where they will attempt to secure the necessary graded earnings to make the Derby field. Let's take a look at who's running!
Louisiana Derby (gr. II)
Nine furlongs on the Fair Grounds dirt track
Entries:
The favorite will most likely be Mark Valeski, a son of Proud Citizen from the barn of Larry Jones. The highly promising colt finished second last time out in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) here at Fair Grounds, beaten just a nose by El Padrino in a very game performance. He's got the early speed to be a contender from the start, which should prove useful here at Fair Grounds, where the track has been speed-favoring. He turned in a bullet five-furlong breeze in :59 2/5 on March 20th, which further signals his readiness to turn in another top performance. He looks tough to beat.
The only other colt that I can see being favored is Cigar Street, who broke his maiden by 13 3/4 lengths last time out. He's only raced twice, and this is a tough spot to face winners for the first time, but the colt is already proven around two turns and may just have the natural talent to win a race like this. He should have no trouble getting a good trip from gate five, and like Mark Valeski, he's got the speed to be a contender from the start, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the stretch run comes down to Mark Valeski and Cigar Street, with the others far behind.
A quartet of off-the-pace runners should also be in the mix if the early pace is sufficient enough to set up their late runs. First off, there is Rousing Sermon, who was one of the best juveniles in California last year following his narrowly-beaten defeats in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and Real Quiet Stakes. In both of those performances, he displayed a tremendous turn of foot that left one eager to see how he would perform in the spring, but he has been disappointing thus far this year. In both the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) and San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), he late run was completely absent. Perhaps that was due to the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main track. If that was indeed the case, then he should turn in a sharper performance today, especially with the longer Fair Grounds homestretch helping his chances.
Z Dager is another late-closing type that could be in the mix, although to be perfectly honest, he does have enough speed to sit within two or three lengths of the early pace. He has proven to be a very consistent sort, having finished second in the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) and third in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) -- two major preps for this event -- and while he was no match for Mark Valeski and El Padrino in the Risen Star, he should nevertheless be right there at the top of the stretch. His bullet six-furlong work on March 19th was also encouraging.
Shared Property and Finnegans Wake should also be major off-the-pace threats. Shared Property has really gotten some awful trips in both the LeComte and the Risen Star, getting hung very wide on both occasions after drawing gates 13 and 10. Not surprisingly, he was beaten in both, but seeing that he will be starting from gate 6 today and wearing blinkers for the first time, it's very possible that he will work out a much better trip this time around -- perhaps even enough to get him a victory. Plus, he's been training very well, including a sharp half-mile in :47 1/5 on March 26th and five-eighths in :59 3/5 on March 19th.
As for Finnegans Wake, he is coming off of a third-place finish in the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, in which he rallied from last in a field of thirteen to finish third, although far behind the victorious Hansen. He's been keeping good company throughout his career, and with the long Fair Grounds homestretch to take advantage of, he too could charge off the pace late to secure a piece of the purse.
Windsurfer and Mr. Bowling could also be contenders. Windsurfer, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, lost his first two starts before taking a 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in a highly impressive performance -- he was hung wide around both turns, but still finished up strongly to win by 2 1/2 lengths. This is a huge step up in class, but from gate two, he shouldn't get caught wide on the turns and he has the speed to work out a good trip. Having John Velazquez in the saddle should help, too.
Mr. Bowling, stablemate to Mark Valeski, won the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) back in January, but finished a dismal last of eleven in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II), beaten 14 1/2 lengths. Perhaps he isn't quite as talented as Mark Valeski, but I'm certain he's better than he showed in the Risen Star. He'll probably be a few lengths off the pace early on, but he has the ability to be in the mix when they turn for home.
As for the rest, Fire Alarm is coming off of a narrow victory in an allowance optional claiming event here at Fair Grounds, but is stepping way up in class. Flashy Sunrise has shown talent, but has never won a race in eight starts and is coming off of a second-place finish to the above-mentioned Cigar Street, in which he was beaten 13 3/4 lengths. Comisky's Humor has won two straight races by a combined 18 lengths, but those wins came in maiden claiming and starter allowance company, and he'll be racing beyond six furlongs for the first time today. Hero of Order has actually been running pretty well lately, and I like him as a longshot to crack the superfecta -- which is exactly what he did in both the LeComte and the Risen Star, finishing third and fourth, respectively, at odds of 57-1 and 79-1. Most recently, he finished second in the Black Gold Stakes going 7-1/2 furlongs on the Fair Grounds turf course, beaten just three-quarters of a length. He was disqualified and placed fourth that day, but it was still a strong effort and I think it could set him up well for this race. Last but not least, Afford is coming off of a distant sixth-place finish in the Risen Star, but had previously run well enough to suggest that he can do better today.
My selections are:
1 Mark Valeski
2 Cigar Street
3 Shared Property
4 Hero of Order
J.R.'s picks are:
1 Finnegans Wake
2 Mark Valeski
3 Z Dager
4 Rousing Sermon
I hate to go with the two favorites, but I think Mark Valeski is going to be even sharper today than he was in the Risen Star, and I do believe that Cigar Street has the talent to be a major contender here. J.R. feels that trainer Dale Romans would not have shipped Finnegans Wake here if he did not think his colt had a chance, so he's putting him on top in hopes that the long Fair Grounds homestretch -- coupled with a projected fast pace -- enables him to catch Mark Valeski in the final furlong.
-Keelerman
But the Florida Derby was not the only major Derby prep race scheduled for this weekend. Later this afternoon, a field of thirteen will head to post for the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), where they will attempt to secure the necessary graded earnings to make the Derby field. Let's take a look at who's running!
Louisiana Derby (gr. II)
Nine furlongs on the Fair Grounds dirt track
Entries:
| PP | Horse | Jockey |
| 1 | Fire Alarm | Miguel Mena |
| 2 | Windsurfer | John Velazquez |
| 3 | Finnegans Wake | Corey Lanerie |
| 4 | Flashy Sunrise | Rajiv Maragh |
| 5 | Cigar Street | Shaun Bridgmohan |
| 6 | Shared Property | Leandro Goncalves |
| 7 | Mr. Bowling | Robby Albarado |
| 8 | Mark Valeski | Rosie Napravnik |
| 9 | Scratched | |
| 10 | Comisky's Humor | Richard Eramia |
| 11 | Z Dager | Shane Sellers |
| 12 | Rousing Sermon | Mike Smith |
| 13 | Hero of Order | E. M. Martin, Jr. |
| 14 | Afford | James Graham |
The favorite will most likely be Mark Valeski, a son of Proud Citizen from the barn of Larry Jones. The highly promising colt finished second last time out in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) here at Fair Grounds, beaten just a nose by El Padrino in a very game performance. He's got the early speed to be a contender from the start, which should prove useful here at Fair Grounds, where the track has been speed-favoring. He turned in a bullet five-furlong breeze in :59 2/5 on March 20th, which further signals his readiness to turn in another top performance. He looks tough to beat.
The only other colt that I can see being favored is Cigar Street, who broke his maiden by 13 3/4 lengths last time out. He's only raced twice, and this is a tough spot to face winners for the first time, but the colt is already proven around two turns and may just have the natural talent to win a race like this. He should have no trouble getting a good trip from gate five, and like Mark Valeski, he's got the speed to be a contender from the start, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if the stretch run comes down to Mark Valeski and Cigar Street, with the others far behind.
A quartet of off-the-pace runners should also be in the mix if the early pace is sufficient enough to set up their late runs. First off, there is Rousing Sermon, who was one of the best juveniles in California last year following his narrowly-beaten defeats in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) and Real Quiet Stakes. In both of those performances, he displayed a tremendous turn of foot that left one eager to see how he would perform in the spring, but he has been disappointing thus far this year. In both the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) and San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), he late run was completely absent. Perhaps that was due to the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main track. If that was indeed the case, then he should turn in a sharper performance today, especially with the longer Fair Grounds homestretch helping his chances.
Z Dager is another late-closing type that could be in the mix, although to be perfectly honest, he does have enough speed to sit within two or three lengths of the early pace. He has proven to be a very consistent sort, having finished second in the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) and third in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) -- two major preps for this event -- and while he was no match for Mark Valeski and El Padrino in the Risen Star, he should nevertheless be right there at the top of the stretch. His bullet six-furlong work on March 19th was also encouraging.
Shared Property and Finnegans Wake should also be major off-the-pace threats. Shared Property has really gotten some awful trips in both the LeComte and the Risen Star, getting hung very wide on both occasions after drawing gates 13 and 10. Not surprisingly, he was beaten in both, but seeing that he will be starting from gate 6 today and wearing blinkers for the first time, it's very possible that he will work out a much better trip this time around -- perhaps even enough to get him a victory. Plus, he's been training very well, including a sharp half-mile in :47 1/5 on March 26th and five-eighths in :59 3/5 on March 19th.
As for Finnegans Wake, he is coming off of a third-place finish in the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct, in which he rallied from last in a field of thirteen to finish third, although far behind the victorious Hansen. He's been keeping good company throughout his career, and with the long Fair Grounds homestretch to take advantage of, he too could charge off the pace late to secure a piece of the purse.
Windsurfer and Mr. Bowling could also be contenders. Windsurfer, from the barn of Todd Pletcher, lost his first two starts before taking a 1 1/16th miles maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in a highly impressive performance -- he was hung wide around both turns, but still finished up strongly to win by 2 1/2 lengths. This is a huge step up in class, but from gate two, he shouldn't get caught wide on the turns and he has the speed to work out a good trip. Having John Velazquez in the saddle should help, too.
Mr. Bowling, stablemate to Mark Valeski, won the LeComte Stakes (gr. III) back in January, but finished a dismal last of eleven in the Risen Star Stakes (gr. II), beaten 14 1/2 lengths. Perhaps he isn't quite as talented as Mark Valeski, but I'm certain he's better than he showed in the Risen Star. He'll probably be a few lengths off the pace early on, but he has the ability to be in the mix when they turn for home.
As for the rest, Fire Alarm is coming off of a narrow victory in an allowance optional claiming event here at Fair Grounds, but is stepping way up in class. Flashy Sunrise has shown talent, but has never won a race in eight starts and is coming off of a second-place finish to the above-mentioned Cigar Street, in which he was beaten 13 3/4 lengths. Comisky's Humor has won two straight races by a combined 18 lengths, but those wins came in maiden claiming and starter allowance company, and he'll be racing beyond six furlongs for the first time today. Hero of Order has actually been running pretty well lately, and I like him as a longshot to crack the superfecta -- which is exactly what he did in both the LeComte and the Risen Star, finishing third and fourth, respectively, at odds of 57-1 and 79-1. Most recently, he finished second in the Black Gold Stakes going 7-1/2 furlongs on the Fair Grounds turf course, beaten just three-quarters of a length. He was disqualified and placed fourth that day, but it was still a strong effort and I think it could set him up well for this race. Last but not least, Afford is coming off of a distant sixth-place finish in the Risen Star, but had previously run well enough to suggest that he can do better today.
My selections are:
1 Mark Valeski
2 Cigar Street
3 Shared Property
4 Hero of Order
J.R.'s picks are:
1 Finnegans Wake
2 Mark Valeski
3 Z Dager
4 Rousing Sermon
I hate to go with the two favorites, but I think Mark Valeski is going to be even sharper today than he was in the Risen Star, and I do believe that Cigar Street has the talent to be a major contender here. J.R. feels that trainer Dale Romans would not have shipped Finnegans Wake here if he did not think his colt had a chance, so he's putting him on top in hopes that the long Fair Grounds homestretch -- coupled with a projected fast pace -- enables him to catch Mark Valeski in the final furlong.
-Keelerman
Monday, March 26, 2012
Louisiana Derby Entries and Post Positions
Here are the entries for the $1,000,000 Louisiana Derby (gr. II), to be run on Sunday, April 1st, at Fair Grounds. The prestigious Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prep race had a major influence on the Derby last year, producing the second- and third-place finishers Nehro and Mucho Macho Man. This year's edition has drawn a full field of fourteen, led by Risen Star Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Mark Valeski, CashCall Futurity (gr. I) runner-up Rousing Sermon, and the highly promising maiden winner Cigar Street.
1 Fire Alarm
2 Windsurfer
3 Finnegans Wake
1 Fire Alarm
2 Windsurfer
3 Finnegans Wake
Saturday, March 03, 2012
HANSEN WINS THE GOTHAM STAKES!
Hansen re-affirmed his position as one of the leading three-year-old colts in the country with a dominating victory in the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) this afternoon at Aqueduct.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Hansen got off to a quick start and settled into the second position early on in the one-mile and a sixteenth race, although he was hung a bit wide around the first turn. As expected, King and Crusader was the early pacesetter, with Maan also showing good speed toward the rail.
Sent off as the 4-5 favorite, Hansen got off to a quick start and settled into the second position early on in the one-mile and a sixteenth race, although he was hung a bit wide around the first turn. As expected, King and Crusader was the early pacesetter, with Maan also showing good speed toward the rail.
TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN -- March 3rd, 2012, Part II
As promised, here are my quick thoughts on the $400,000 Gotham Stakes (gr. III), to be run later this afternoon at Aqueduct.
Gotham Stakes (gr. III)
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Aqueduct inner dirt track
Entries:
1 My Adonis
2 Stealcase
3 Finnegans Wake
Gotham Stakes (gr. III)
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Aqueduct inner dirt track
Entries:
1 My Adonis
2 Stealcase
3 Finnegans Wake
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