Pair Making Stakes Debuts Set to Spice Up French Classic

While Adelaide Derby (G1) winner Field Quest, South African Derby (G2) runner-up Horn of Bone and Jefferson Davis (G2) runner-up Pirate Dancer are obvious players in Saturday’s $750,000 French Grand Prix (G1), a compelling pair of sophomores making their first starts in a black-type event look primed to impact the outcome of the French classic. A full field of 14 is set to contest the 12-furlong race for 3-year-olds on good turf in Paris.

As a miler Field Quest was slightly better than average but since owner Lightng stretched the son of Deep Field out to 12 furlongs starting with April’s South African Derby, he’s really come into his own. He finished third in that South African race but he popped a nine point top for his speed figure, earning a 101. Next time out in May’s Adelaide Derby he closed from fifth-place to edge Capaneus by three parts of a length while garnering a 103 speed figure. His running style should have him behind the myriad of frontrunning types entered here before making his move. His Cape Cross dam earned one win in nine career races and has produced a grade three winner by Hussonet who also finished third in the Sydney Derby (G1). Morning-line odds of 10/1 are generous here and he starts from post nine with jockey B. Wu.

Ksparrow2’s Horn of Bone has been dancing around the edges of success in a spate of recent Derbies, finishing second in South Africa, third in the Italian (G1) and most recently fifth in the Derby de English (G1). The son of Golden Horn enters here with three wins in 13 career starts, with his latest victory coming last September in a listed seven-furlong stakes race. Horn of Bone likes to race in a prominent position in the early going of his races and, despite having no wins at a mile or longer, has earned his top two speed figures (105 and 104) and two of this field’s three best in his 12-furlong races. His nondescript dam (by New Approach) also never won a race in six attempts at a mile or longer but his grand dam, Frankenbones (by Frankel and out of a  Sadler’s Wells mare), won an allowance race at 12 furlongs. The morning-line favorite at odds of 5/1 drew post two and will have B. Cooper in the irons.

Pirate Dancer has been the lone speed in his last two races and while that tactic worked wonderfully in the Enough Knock Turf Route two starts back (and that was just the way Enough Knock went about his racing in the early days of the Sim), he was caught late last time out in the Jefferson Davis, missing by 3/4-lenghts. He did earn a career best speed figure of 108 (best in this field) in that nine-furlong race and now will stretch out to the longest race of his career thus far. Jubalrutledge’s gray colt is a scratchbred son of Teofilo, out of a Nureyev mare and with Caro completing the pedigree, which certainly gives him a chance to last the distance. Unfortunately, he won’t be unpestered on the front end here with so many early speed horses running. Jockey E. Seifert will guide Pirate Dancer from post 10 as the paire depart at odds of 8/1.

Tete Idolum made his stakes debut in his most recent race, finishing second in the 10-furlong The Force Stakes (G3). He earned his top speed figure of 101 in that race, an explosive seven-point move from his previous race. The loss marked the first defeat for the son of Le Havre, whose October debut began a nice habit of winning. Like Horn of Bone, Tete Idolum races toward the front of the field from the bell. The Force Stakes was run nearly three months ago and Tete Idolum has raced in Paris every start so he should be primed for a big race if he can handle the distance. His dam, Tete Biggorre (by Siyouni) won four of seven races at 12 furlongs while grand dam Flattering (by Flatter and out of a Peintre Celebre mare) once won seven races in a row, the last six of them coming in races between 11 and 16 furlongs. Tete Idolum (post six) is 9/1 on the board and gets the services of J. Ledwith.

Sea the Globe has finished on the board in both his stakes appearances, including a stretch-searing second in the Japanese Derby (G1) last time out. The race shape may be in the favor of this late-running son of Caravaggio and he has already proven his ability to handle 12 panels in the Japanese Derby. So there’s quite a bit to like here, including the fact that he has finished on the board in six straight races beginning with his maiden win in December. His dam (Observe the Galaxy, by Sea the Stars) was useful if not spectacular but he does descend from the same female family as two-time grade one winner and Breeders’ Bowl F&M Turf third-place finisher Imtalkinjungledeep. Sea the Globe has been assigned post 12 and odds of 13/1. Jockey K. Damo will ride.

Know My Underwear dropped farther back than usual in the early stages of a 10-furlong n3l allowance race last time out and he closed well enough to finish second. That lesson may come in handy Saturday. Sire Kitten’s Joy says yes to 12 furlongs while broodmare sire Oasis Dream says I’m not so sure, but maybe. Kingmambo in the third spot backs up the verdict of Kitten’s Joy, and Know My Underwear’s past performances give indications the added ground may be to his liking. Know My Underwear (post position three) is the first foal from a dam who won once in 23 career races, that coming in her debut and at 5.5 furlongs. He’s the linesmaker’s second choice at odds of 7/1. Jockey I. Thomas will get a leg up from owner Tfon21.

Wintry Storm declared himself a promising sort with his win in January’s St. Jason Turf Mile, then following two disappointing starts in graded company he again flashed that promise in a third-place finish in the Brooks Sir Turf Route last time out. In that 1 3/16-mile race the son of Connect again gave up ground in the stretch but popped a new top speed figure of 103. The additional ground may not be to his liking and the race shape also seems against him here. His dam, These Emotions (by Giant’s Causeway), wasn’t much on the track but did produce another stakes winner by Temple City who was at her best in races right around a mile. Despite an outside draw in post 14, the oddsmaker likes his chances, giving him odds of 8/1. Z. Ayya has the mount.

Adeeprock5’s Major Split is a stablemate of Field Quest but unlike that one, Major Split has trailed off when stretched out to 12 furlongs. The son of Gustav Klimt finished 15th in the Derby de English last time out after winning the 10-furlong Griffen (G2). Major Split does come from off the pace when he fires, but only lost more ground through the running of the English classic. He’s the only stakes winner from his Daiwa Major mare who also produced a Ruler of the World filly who was graded-placed at 1 1/16-miles. Major Split (11/1) splits the field from post seven of 14 and has jockey D. Evans aboard.

Jack’s Duck earned his first stakes win for owner Jgaudet three starts back in a 1 3/16-mile listed stakes and since then has both stretched out in distance and stepped up in class, a combination which thus far has proved unsuccessful and an experiment that will be continued Saturday. The son of Just A Way made up ground well enough late in the Griffen but only finished fifth in that 10-furlong race, then had a bit less of a closing kick while finishing eighth in the 12-furlong Adelaide Derby (G1). His dam, Ruth’s Duck (by Special Week), needed 17 races to break her maiden then won twice at 11 furlongs and once at 12. Jack’s Duck is also 11/1 on the board and has M. Perez in the irons. The pair will leave from post four.

Corzak’s The Little Stock finished 3/4 lengths in front of Jack’s Duck in May’s Adelaide Derby straight out of a four-length win in a 10-furlong maiden race earlier that month, earning a 101 speed figure that would be very competitive in this field if it translates to The Little Stock’s ability at 12 furlongs. Despite having just won a maiden race in May, the son of Tavistock has ample stakes experience, including a second-place finish in a listed stakes and an eighth-place finish in the African Classic (G2) in which Horn of Bone finished fourth. The bay colt has led the field through the first two calls in each of his last five races. His dam (by Cape Cross) earned her initial win in a $25,000 claiming race in her 13th start then earned multiple wins at 10 furlongs while never winning at a longer distance in six attempts. The Little Stock (13/1) will be ridden by K. Ledwith from post five.

Stormboot’s Chaton and Catahoula’s No Suprises are both making their stakes debuts Saturday and both have outsized chances to impact the outcome of the race. Chaton stretched out to 11 furlongs last time out after a three-race series of races at 1 3/16 miles. The son of Kitten’s Joy seemed to enjoy the added ground, winning a n3l allowance race by an easy 3 1/4 lengths while earning his top speed figure of 99. That augurs well for his chances here should he not mind the additional furlong. His dam, End of Year award winner Mon Coup (by Montjeu) was an iron horse with class and stamina, winning stakes races from 11 to 16 furlongs, including the Breeders’ Bowl Turf Distaff (G1). A veterean of 54 races, she won stakes races in four separate seasons. Granddam Seattle Hit (Kingmambo x Seattle Slew x Nijinsky II) was also an End of Year award winner whose career goes back so far into Sim history the race chart links for her first 16 races have a non-working link marked “???? ??”. She raced 68 times in her career (those were different times) and earned her initial stakes win with a 25-length triumph in a 14-furlong listed stakes in open company. The five time grade one winner earned four of those against male horses in races from 10 to 16 furlongs while winning over $6.4-million in purses. So it’s a classy, stamina-laden family from which Chaton descends. Chaton (post eight) possesses tactical speed and enters here having won three of his last four races and is well respected by the linemaker at odds of 8/1. W. Cahill will be in the irons.

No Suprises won’t be earning a best speller’s badge any time soon but he has a solid chance for a victory here as he races for his new connections for the first time. The recent auction purchase won two of seven races for breeder mschweitzer57, including a 4 1/4-length romp when stretched out to 12 furlongs in late May. Now under the tutelage of Catahoula, No Suprises enters the French Grand Prix freshly gelded. A bay son of New Approach, No Suprises is out of a modest Spinning World mare. He generally comes from just off the pace, but made all the running in his 12-furlong triumph while setting an honest pace for the distance. No Suprises (18/1) will be ridden by T. Ace from post 11.

Jaggers and Cloth Needed are two more without prior stakes experience who could race into a good result Saturday. Laramie’s Jaggers proved his affinity for 12 furlongs when earning his maiden win last time out. He earned a 100 speed figure in the win, but the French Grand Prix comes just 12 days after that race so it will be interesting to see if this son of Connect is on his best form Saturday. Jaggers is out of the Heart’s Cry mare Miss Gimme Shelter and has won one of six career starts. However, if you are breeding a horse to Connect with a dam called Miss Gimme Shelter and a granddam called Miss Brown Sugar, how can you possibly not name the horse Miss Connection as a tip to the fabulous Stones’ song from side two of Between the Buttons? (Miss Cool, Calm and Collected from the same album would be too long a name.) Another alternative, the Jagger theme could have easily blended with the Miss Brown Sugar granddam to produce a horse named Jaggery, after the brown sugar of Indian cuisine. That aside, Jaggers, who will be ridden by C. Wyatt, drew the rail and is 20/1 on the morning line.

Cork3’s Cloth Needed earned his initial win two starts back when racing at 10.5 furlongs. The son of Cloth of Stars then topped his winning speed figure from the win by one point when earning a 96 in a second-place finish in a 10-furlong n3l allowance race. His High Chaparral dam’s only win came in a $7,500 claimer on dirt. Cloth Needed, the highest price on the board at 22/1,  is another one who makes his presence felt early on in a race and drew post 13. P. Bangs rides.

So slight losses last weekend brought the bankroll down to 2,087.95, still more than double its beginning level as we reach mid-year. This week I’ll start the wagering with a $2-exacta box utilizing Tete Idolum (6), Chaton (8), Field Quest (9) and No Suprises (11). I’ll also use those four over and under Horn of Bone (2), Pirate Dancer (10) and Sea the Globe (13) in $1 exactas. Based on price and running style, I’m going to make Field Quest my top pick here and put $20 across the board on his nose and key him on top in $.50 trifecta bets over the 2, 6, 8,10,11 and 12 and over Jaggers (1), 2, Know My Underwear (3), 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12. Also the same ticket with Field Quest pegged in second place and the second-place horses on top. So $174 in wagers bringing the bankroll down to $1,913.95.

The Rolling Stones, “Connection”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPTwQXT4CSk

Sweet and Sour Eggplant with Jaggery: http://www.dvo.com/recipe_pages/india/Sweet_and_Sour_Eggplant_with_Jaggery.php