The Jefferson Davis
The second graded race on the card this Saturday in Kentucky is The Jefferson Davis (G2) at a mile and one-eighth on the turf. The race is open to three-year-olds only, and after rain earlier on in the week, will be run over a track listed as good at the 2:50 PM EST post time. The race, offering a purse of $375,000, has drawn a total of nine horses to the field. Let’s take a look through the contenders.
- Dubawi Austral (GB) – amir1691 – G. Wolfe – 13/1
Going into the pot on the rail, the British-bred colt will be making his graded stakes debut this weekend in this race after seeing recent success at the listed level. This came in the colt’s most recent start during a mile and one-eighth listed stakes in Brazil. The bay colt took the stakes in wire-to-wire fashion on a yielding turf course by two and a half lengths. The colt set a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-five. He had also previously won a HOT allowance race over a good track at a mile and one-sixteenths. The connections are hoping that the off going that the colt seems to favor will give them an edge when facing graded company.
2. Mannion’s Dancer – smokeglackmetal – W. Cahill – 16/1
Lightly raced and making his sixth lifetime start this weekend, the bay colt was winless until tried over the turf in February where he broke his maiden by one and a quarter lengths over seven furlongs in Oklahoma. By Lexitonian, the colt was then sent to the allowance level in his most recent start, where he won again over the good turf here in Kentucky. This start earned the colt his lifetime best speed figure, which was a ninety-four. The colt is taking a big step up in class this weekend. This will be his first start against company above the allowance level. He will be the longshot in Saturday’s race.
3. Zoumini (GB) – theatrical – C. Morten – 7/2
The second colt to go into the starting gate this weekend sired by Zoustar, this three-year-old bay gelding is taking a small step down in class after his most recent start. Primarily a sprinter, the colt most recently started in Germany in the mile long German 2000 Guineas (G2). The gelding was out of the gate late and was trailing the field early on, making his move midway through the race. He would cross the wire in sixth, five lengths off the pace, and putting a speed figure up of ninety-nine. Prior to this start, the gelding had run second in The Far Lap (G3) at seven and a half furlongs in Australia. The race before this was his most recent win, this over seven furlongs in a listed stakes race in Turkey, where the gelding put up his first triple digit speed figure.
4. Cheese Wagstaff (GB) – skipshot – D. Givins – 7/1
The first of the field to be graded placed in a prior start, this British-bred colt will be making his third attempt with Grade II company. The most recent start for the bay colt came in France during The Hogwarts (G2) at a mile and three-eighths. Breaking towards the back of the pack at the start, the colt never fired in the race and crossed the wire twelfth, setting a speed figure of eighty-eight for the race. The colt will be cut back in distance for this race after not faring as well as hoped. Prior to his start in France, the colt ran in The Palms (G3) in Florida at a mile and one eighth. Still well off the pace at the start, the colt made his move midway through the race and came home to finish third, setting his lifetime best speed figure of one hundred one. August of last year saw the colt’s most recent win during a starter allowance race in Japan over seven furlongs.
5. Nirvanic Notions (JPN) – urban1 – B. Ball – 6/1
Making his second graded start in eight lifetime starts, the Japanese-bred brown colt most recently started in Oklahoma during a nine and a half furlong listed stakes. Out of the gate sharply at the break, the colt settled just off the pace in second, holding onto that position until the wire, two lengths back off the winner and setting a speed figure of one hundred, which was a lifetime best for the colt. Prior to this start, the colt started in his first graded start in The Palms (G3) at a mile and one eighth in Florida. The colt faded in the stretch and crossed the wire ninth.
6. Eleven Choices (IRE) – 90thstreet – A. Rolling – 7/2
Making his first start in graded company this Saturday, the Irish-bred colt most recently started in Australia during a listed stakes race over a mile and one eighth. The colt was last out of the gate in the seven horse field, but began picking off other horses early on in the race. He would cross the wire first by two and a quarter lengths and set a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred nine. The colt also placed in one other listed stakes, this in Maryland overeight and a half furlongs.
7. I Am The Ex (AUS) – threeletterword – F. Gossett – 5/1
Making his eighth career start this weekend, the bay colt is out of the listed stakes winning broodmare Miss The Ex, and by Snitzel. The colt, with most of the field this weekend, will be making his first graded with graded company. The most recent start for the colt came in Maryland in a listed stakes race over nine and a half furlongs. Going straight to the lead as the gates flew open, the colt faded in the finial furlongs as he crossed the wire fifth with a speed figure of ninety-one. In his prior start, over a yielding track in Indiana at eight and a half furlongs, the colt was held just off the pace in second at the start, taking control of the lead at the midway point of the race and going on to win by three.
8. Street Snitch – despracing – B. Renfroe – 9/2
Starting his racing career over the dirt, this colt by Street Sense may have found his forte in his most recent start, which was his debut over the turf. The nine-furlong allowance race in West Virginia saw the colt break out of the gate and settle into fourth. The colt was held back off the pace in this position until midway through the race where he was urged forward and went on to an impressive win by three lengths, setting a lifetime speed figure of one hundred two. His other starts were all over the dirt. To date the colt has never finished off the board, though he will be facing a big step up in class this weekend as he makes his first start against stakes company, graded or listed, this weekend.
9. Smokeglack’s Twin (GER) – invasorstc – B. Scott – 10/1
Out of the graded stakes placed broodmare Dencora’s Prayer, this colt will be making his eighth career start and will be facing stakes company for the first time in his career this weekend. Bred in Germany, the colt most recently started in Australia during an allowance race over nine and a half furlongs. The colt took this race in wire-to-wire fashion, winning by one and a half lengths and setting a lifetime best speed figure of ninety-nine. The colt has finished off the board just twice in his career, all of which have been allowance caliber races.
Flrancho’s Picks:
Win: Zoumini (GB)
Place: Eleven Choices (IRE)
Show: I Am The Ex (AUS)