Full Field of 20 Sprint for the Cup
A wide and varied field ranging from 3 yr old fillies to 9 yr old horses will tangle in the Cavalcade Cup Sprint on Saturday. The horses by post position:
PP 1 – Road To The
Squirrel’s entry in the sprint looks like he may be a little bit overmatched here, though he is a solid sprinter. His speed figs are consistently a bit slower than many of the competitors in this race, but stranger things have happened. Not helping is this is Road’s first foray into Stakes competition. But two of his lifetime best speeds were in his last two races, so we’ve probably not yet seen the best this guy will give.
PP 2 – Roaring Apex (Roar x Topsider) 40/1
Similar prognosis for this purfectpal trainee, in that the speeds he’s shown so far probably won’t hold up in this company. One difference though, is that Roaring Apex has raced in higher class races, having racked up a nice 3rd in an ungraded stakes race 4 back. He seems to like his distances a bit closer to a mile though. If he’s on his game, he may go out with the leaders for as long as he can. Probably not a check for this guy this week though.
PP 3 – Western Wonder (Three Wonders x Gone West) 10/1
Another one who seems to prefer just a bit further than 6 furlongs, this murray1 charge has the ability to run with these on his best day. His form’s been off a bit of late, his last two races, at this exact distance, generating a 2nd in an allowance, and a 10th in an ungraded stakes race, but the 10th was just 4 ½ back of the winner. Those races put up a 94 and 95 speed figs respectively. This guy’s a stalker, and with his best race can definitely be a factor.
PP 4 – Ohtobeastar (Gone West x Unbridled) 6/1
N2racing brings the favorite in, and may have him primed for the lion’s share of the purse in this one. He’s consistent in hitting the board (5 of his last 7 ITM), consistent on his speed figs (last 4 in triple digits), and a hard-hitting closer to boot. The questions are in current class (only 3 of his 12 races this year have been above allowance class, and all three of those were in ungraded stakes, where he’s got a 3rd, an 8th, and a 4th), and the distance. This closer seems to prefer about a furlong farther. If he can make that move on time, he might just run past everyone here.
PP 5 – Zysoviet (Soviet Star x Palatable) 17/1
An intriguing horse in this one, if for no other reason than the odds. This 3 yr old seems to be improving each time out, and is picking a great time to peak his form. The big question here again is the class, as he’s run almost exclusively in allowance company. But his improving speeds are a nice sign pointing towards a lot of value, especially in exotics.He’s a nice tight stalker that shouldn’t let anyone in this race get the lead too far out. With a good pace, this zyro trainee has a good shot.
PP 6 – Cheesy Wrangler (Proper Reality x Caveat) 19/1
This 9 yr old is still throwing some heat, running consistently in the 90s. Problem is, that probably won’t be enough to win here, but he’ll still give his trainer at the kobras stable an honest effort every time. He may not be John Henry, but he sure is a tough old bird.
PP 7 – Archie (Arch x
A veteran from the dawgpound stables (40 lifetime starts), Archie is another one who will give solid efforts virtually every time, but while he hovers close to 100 speed figs, it probably won’t be enough here. He’s been doing most of his damage recently in allowance class, and a handful in this race will be tougher than he’s raced against in a long time. On the upside, he loves this distance, and he likes the lead.
PP 8 – Deposit Jose (Two Punch x Academy Award) 16/1
Coming back to his preferred distance of 6 furlongs will definitely help, but this 7 year old from the good stables will still have his work cut out for him. If he can run back to where he was at this time last year (110+ speeds), he’ll leave the competition in the dust. But the glory days might be gone for this guy. Only time will tell.
PP 9 – Gilded General (Gilded Time x General Assembly) 8/1
Here’s a nicely priced consistent campaigner that has a very real shot at this race. He’s raced at the 101-108 level his last 7 times out, in both allowance and stakes races. He likes this distance (although he’d probably prefer a half furlong more). If this stalker from the tbird stables can fire on time, he’s a huge contender here. The pace will be a big factor for this guy.
PP 10 – Cookie Man (Twilight Agenda x Criminal Type) 23/1
Cgk stables brings another who’s been dancing mostly with allowance types recently, and one who seems to like it better out to a mile or so. Probably a bit outclassed here, but will be interesting to see if he presses the pace. Being a solid miler, he may be able to hold that pace.
PP 11 – Slammin’ Sammy (Spinning World x Mr. Prospector) 10/1
Depends on which Slammin Sammy shows up Saturday, the one who wired an allowance field with a 103 speed fig LTO, or the one who didn’t beat a horse in the Grade III field the time out before that. But that said, even the best from this dadepark colt might not be good enough for a win here. His best may well be good enough to cash a check though. Will be another who will probably challenge for the early lead.
PP 12 – Pursuer T (King Cugat x Not For Love) 9/1
Form is the only real issue for this 4 yr old. If he runs back to his form 6 and 7 races ago, he has the ability to win here. Lately though, he’s been anywhere from 94 – 102, with 7th and 11th place finishes his last two times out. A stalker who can press the pace, he’ll need his best here.
PP 13 – Le Zagaletta (Gone West x Green Desert) 8/1
This phantom2 horse looks a lot like an older-horse version of Zysoviet. Nicely improving in form and speed, with the same liabilities: Doing it mostly against allowance company. Le Zagaletta is a speed first, last, and middle, as opposed to the stalking/closing of Zysoviet. If he can get away from this group early enough (not likely, but possible), he has a very real shot at wiring this field.
PP 14 – Serpentine Jay (Mia’s Boy x Triocala) 17/1
Another purfectpal horse, this 7 year old runs best at or near the lead, and he also prefers closer to a mile in distance. Will he be a rabbit for his stablemate? Either way, he looks a bit overmatched with several of these horses.
PP 15 – The Storyteller (
This 3 yr old from the wistful3 barn has an impressive 9 of 12 ITM, but the speed figs, the classes of races, and his age suggest he will need a big improvement to cash a check here, but he’s a relative youngster, and certainly eligible for improvement.
PP 16 – Appealing (Louis Quatorze x Valid Appeal) 15/1
One of two fillies in this race, this gal from the jumpinjack barn doesn’t figure to have the raw speed to run with some of these boys. She’s a good solid filly, but she seems to top out at about 100, except for a 108 7 races back. She won’t finish last, but probably won’t cash a check either.
PP 17 – Storming Tate (Crowning Storm x Barkerville) 46/1
She’s 3, she’s never raced against the boys, and her lifetime best speed is 98. This bigtate02 girl also seems outmatched here, but this is why they run the races.
PP 18 – Numerous Hunt (Numerous x Baby Slewy) 16/1
This 4 yr old from the woodhead barn probably would have liked to have seen a little rain, as his best speed in the last 8 was on a good dirt course. The speeds shown so far don’t suggest he’ll be there at the end, and he seems to prefer something between 7 and 8 furlongs. Probably destined for the back half of the field.
Pp 19 – Exertion (Kafwain x Vigors) 56/1
Goody5 brings in the longest odds horse in the field, but I’m not sure he deserves to be 56/1. While he probably won’t be in the front half either, I don’t see him finishing at the bottom either. But the speeds this horse has shown and the competition run against doesn’t lead me to believe it’ll beat too many of these here.
PP 20 – Daily Western (Dayjur x Gone West) 13/1
Has the potential to be a factor at a pretty big price if he can run back to his race 3 back (a 108 in an allowance test that only netted him a 2nd). Still another who likes to race without anyone in front of him, this unreal stable horse will probably need to have his best race in a long time to have a realistic chance of taking home the first prize here.