dunn preview – erc auld lang syne

Arizona (AZ)
Saturday, December 31, 2022 – 1:10 PM EST  I 2858509
Stakes – Purse $100,000
Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older
16 furlongs on Dirt

Today we are at Arizona Downs in Prescott Valley Arizona for the ERC AULD LANG SYNE, a sixteen furlong race on the dirt for four year olds and older. It is the final race of the year, in a season that featured 18 races in eight countries around the world. As usual we are racing for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse, with the victorious owner/trainer also collecting club stakes bonus points which will determine the 2022 club champion. As we enter the final race, amir has a two point lead on harrylan for first place and jbcri has a two point lead on dontbetonme for third place. Jockey tactics and racing luck will probably play an important role in determining the winner and with this distance, it is truly anyone’s race to win.

Here is a closer look at the field in order of their current club points totals:

#6
onryo                                   
amir1663 barn                 
n gardner                            9/5
club championship points – 95

Out of the amir1663 barn is this four year old scratch bred BLAME ( x EL PRADO x AWESOME AGAIN) colt. He makes his fourth straight Stakes start here with the others resulting in two runner-up finishes and a 116 speed win at the ten and a half furlong “Distorted Humour”. His big speed and proven stamina will be tough to beat and he will likely go off as the deserving favorite.

#5
desert mastery                                
harrylana12 barn                             
p wright                               16/1
club championship points – 93

Out of the harrylana12 barn is this four year old MASTERY colt out of the Sim Mare BEENINTHEDESERT. He comes in off an impressive gate to wire win at this distance at an Allowance race in California that featured seven stable mates and one other horse from another stable. He outdueled the other harrylan horses and ran 105 speed in his first start at greater than thirteen furlongs and will represent the stable in what could be the club champion deciding race. He should be in the mix as they head for home and should garner lots of interest at the betting windows.

#7
dazzling captain                                              
jbcri35 barn                       
w kewmwa                         6/1
club championship points – 75

Out of the jbcri35 barn is this four year old PALACE MALICE colt out of the Sim Mare LACK LONG AFTER. Winner of the 2021 ERC Belmont Derby has finished in the money in eight of his past ten starts including six wins. He comes in off a third place finish at the G2 “Rocky Top Derby” where he ran 105 speed and three back he went gate to wire with both races coming at this distance. He will go out to the front early and try to outrun the competition.  

#1
le ode to keg                                    
dontbetonme2 barn                      
s parker                                7/2
club championship points – 73

Out of the dontbetonme2 barn is this four year old scratch bred LE HAVRE ( x NUREYEV x DUBAWI) colt. Recent pick up by the ownership group, had a win in his only start where he went ten furlongs on the turf and topped 105 speed. He is making just his fourth career start on the dirt here and only his second start at more than ten furlongs. He has lots of speed but I am not sure how he will react to a short rest and to the surface.

#4
naga jaymz                                        
newnewfydowns barn                                 
e young                               6/1
club championship points – 60

Out of the newnewfydowns barn is this six year old RUNHAPPY stallion out of the Sim Mare NAGA QUEEN. He comes in off a runner-up finish at this same distance at a Claiming Race in Wyoming where he ran 93 speed. Three back he won at this distance when he went gate to wire and ran 101 speed. He will face better competition here but he has proven that he can get the distance and could find a spot on the board and continue Newfy’s stretch of late season successes.

#2
drop the music                                
inmatedowns barn                        
pj mitz                                  2/1
club championship points – 54

Out of the inmatedowns barn (dunn) is this five year old MACLEAN’S MUSIC stallion out of the Sim Mare LADY ELIZABETH. He finished third at the ERC “Distorted Humour” and followed that up with a 112 speed win at a Claimer and a 92 speed win at this distance at an Allowance Race in Washington. He will face stiff competition here and ownership is hoping that he will show 105+ speed and if he does they feel he should have a chance to find a spot on the board.   

#3
travel channel                                  
roots barn                          
l willis                                   69/1
club championship points – 2

Out of the roots barn is this four year old MR. SPEAKER colt out of the Sim Mare A PART OF WAR. He has finished in the money in just four of his fifteen career starts. He comes in well rested with his last start coming in mid September when he finished third at a fifteen furlong Allowance Race in British Columbia. He has never ran 100+ speed and will need that here to compete with this group.


***This race will return again in 2023 but will be a race for two-year olds that are bred using the sire NEW YEAR’S DAY. Breeding can be scratch bred or using a mare. Keep this in mind as you start your crop of two year olds for 2023.