Saint Cloud – Grade I Preview
Previewing Paris’ Saint Cloud for 2-year-olds
Ten furlongs is a stern test for the juvenile, but we have a full field of young men eager to make an impression ahead of next spring’s European classics. None contested the Breeders Bowl, but many have tested graded company over a route of ground already in their young careers. Here’s the fourteen:
# Horse Bred A/S Owner Jockey Odds
1
SNOW STORMING KY 2M ccbruno M Zeus 17/1
Fairly experienced, with a six-race career to date, and keeps plugging forward with some improvement each time out. Since last time was a solid but unspectacular 85 speed in an allowance route, it looks like another, longer stride forward is needed today to wear the crown in Paris. Has some tactical speed to stay with the leaders early, but needs to capitalize on that.
2
GANGLES JPN 2M woodsmen R Whisper 11/1
Son of the Japanese stalwart sire KING KAMEHAMEHA (JPN), he came up short of the win in the Founders last time at nine furlongs. He may have moved a little too soon in that contest, so maybe trainer Woodsmen has tinkered a little with the jockey instructions. His dam Surf the Turf loved to run all day on that stuff, and won young in the Grade 1 Oaks de English over twelve furlongs. So if he’s like mom, he’s got a chance today too.
3
HAUNTING GROUND KY 2M squash Z Ayya 8/1
His dam, Cemetary Winter, is an AP Indy/Mill Reef gal who did nothing on the track, but has thrown a Grade 3 winner and three graded-placed types. She’s also the namesake of the upcoming Bargain Bowl filly and mare championship race; I don’t recall the story behind that, I guess Knightmare does. Anyhow, this juvenile has just the maiden win to his credit, but did beat at least one of today’s opponents home last out when third in the Bedford. The 91 speed in that, his first route, is quite solid in this company, leading to the moderate odds he runs at today. Possible.
4
NEWBRIDGE ENG 2M bezza1975 C Roser 15/1
Broke his maiden at nine furlongs and has already won at 9.5 panels. That win was just at the allowance level, but it’s food for thought, isn’t it? He’s held a good midpack position in both wins, charging hard in the stretch. Very, very interesting longshot.
5
VICAMAM JPN 2M vertain2 N Lawton 16/1
Swept into Florida last month after a career in the Koreas and New Zealand, and enjoyed a ten-point bump up in speed number in his first route. As he did finish only third in the listed stakes that day, it is not a given that there is further rapid improvement to be had, unless the yet additional distance today provides that opportunity.
6
HUNGRY HIPPOS CA 2M adschus08 O Osbourne 16/1
Simmers of a certain age probably played the game of this name as kids… trainer thought enough of him to enter a Grade 3 this summer while still a maiden. While that experiment didn’t work out, he is enjoying greater success at longer distances. He and HARD WORKING will likely contest the early pace, but neither has shown a strong preference for staying on to the end. He didn’t have much say in the outcome last month in the Grade 2 Bedford, and a repeat of that effort won’t do much here either.
7
EL GRITO NZ 2M jayjay08 J Jubel 13/1
Freshman sire SHOCKING (AUS) has three stakeswinners already, but not yet for this runner. It seems like it might be a matter of time though, as he’s been running in stakes since June, with two seconds and a third to show for it. And his last race (Making the Cat in the Emirates) was a revelation, being his first over a route, resulting in a big step forward in speed number. Overlay at these odds?
8
DAVILLE IRE 2M masterm04 K Hellestrae 4/1
As a Galileo/Monsun/Deputy Minister scratchbred, he has a right to be at the very top of this game. After registering a graded win at Deauville this summer, he was sent to Australia to contest yet more sprints, with mixed results. There’s quality here, but it’s hard to tell if he really belongs at this level and what effect the extra furlongs will be. At 4-1, I’m thinking a lean-against candidate.
9
SNAKE RIVER VALLEY ENG 2M super11 J Stivers 9/2
His sire, OASIS DREAM (GB), doesn’t seem to get supported in the sim as a top-level sire, but this guy sure is good. He was thrown into it last time at this very track on October 27 in the nine-furlong Condo for Rent; he responded with a clear victory and a 97 speed. Very solid, but will the quick turnaround hurt?
10
BOBOAWAY JPN 2M 2somebozo B Child 15/1
Slow-footed mom BLA DE NORM was a big disappointment on the track, being a Sadler’s Wells/Forty Niner product, so we’ll see if the magic is in the foals. She did show some route ability in her most recent allowance engagement, but it will likely take an 8-minute pep talk to bump her up the 10 points or so she needs to win.
11
HARD WORKING JPN 2M adschus05 L Slater 19/1
Just a maiden winner, and another that may be pushing too hard early. His speed numbers hadn’t been that impressive until a jump forward with an 85 last out in an ALW N3x in Thailand. Needs to steal it on the front to win at long odds, and I won’t be emptying my sim phonebet account on that proposition.
12
SAXON KING JPN 2M kingswood A Rolling 3 2 67% $115,900 32.00 7/1
The other KING KAMEHAMEHA (JPN) horse, and the victor over his half-brother last out in the Founders in New York. That was his third continent in as many races, and he changes continents again this time, so handicappers are forgiven if they downgrade on the assumption that the travel took something out of him. But his deep-closer tactics are a plus.
13
MOUTIAN FIVE IRE 2M deeprock23 P Harzheim 21/1
Striking a blow for the lesser-known sires [MOUNTAIN HIGH (IRE)], this one won at first asking on dirt back in March, but has yet to exceed that tally. He’s been banging around in all-stakes company ever since that win, all in sprints. His last was his best both in caliber of competition and speed, running an 83 in Surrey’s Boones Farm. His closing style hints he may like further distance, but his long odds seem to accurately depict his chances of sudden improvement. Still, not the worst number to throw into the exotics positions.
14
HAVANA FILO IRE 2M judesheen M Day 9/1
Irish-bred from mostly European parts, but raced to date in the U.S., now testing the cross-Atlantic waters. Went into last month’s Wooden Reserve as just a last-out maiden winner, but gave an excellent account of himself in placing second in that graded heat. Now asked to go another furlong and a half and another step up to the highest level, but the speed numbers and good running style are there to compete.