IHM Memorial Sprint

IHM Memorial Sprint
Minnesota Festival Day, Race 5 – 3 Year old 6 furlong Sprint

Welcome race fans, to a sunny cool Minnesota Saturday of racing!!! The dirt track is listed as good, and we should have the biggest crowd of the year on hand to witness some very special racing this week. A fantastic card at Minnesota has been put together for the Annual Minnesota Racing Festival!!
All 16 races will be contested solely by MN residents, who have come together to support this day with increasing gusto. All of the MN trainers are pumped, and are looking to get a score on this big day; imagine the bragging rights up for grabs here with this rowdy bunch! And let me tell you, there has been a fair amount of trash talking coming from all directions of the backstretch!
The 5th race of the day is the IHM Memorial Sprint. It has attracted an overflow field of 18 classy, well bred 3 year old colts who will battle for top honors in the $50,000 open allowance race. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the horses:

ERREVON BACKWARDS(IRE) (NOVERRE (IRE) x POLISH PRECEDENT) PP 1
This horse is somewhat of an unknown quantity since he has never run at today’s distance. He’s only sprinted twice in his short 7 race career, and so far looks to be more of a miler. Unraced at 2, this green colt has not hit the board since his MSW win in his 2nd career start. Couple that with a high speed number of 84, and it looks like trainer Rharfo will have to be something of a magician to get this colt home on top today.

AL PRADO (ALDEBARAN x EL PRADO(IRE)) PP 2
Trained by Max, this colt only has 1 non M/C/O/S win in his career, but it was in a stake race earlier this year. He has raced in all 3 Triple Crown events and was 3rd in the Breeders Bowl as a 2 year old. Interestingly, the colt has run almost exclusively at classic distances and already has 5 graded race placings to his credit. He takes a major step back in distance today, running in a sprint for the first time as a 3 year old. But he has been no worse then 4th in his 4 lifetime sprints, which also include 2 second place finishes in graded races. If the colt were mine, he’d be going in the derby today, but it should be very interesting to see how he handles the distance. He is the class of the field and could be the horse to beat.

NOT GUILTY (PHONE TRICK x VALID APPEAL) PP 3
Johnno owns, trains and rides this one and looks to have a great chance at a festival win with his colt. The horse came back to the barn slightly injured after a poor performance 3 starts back. He laid off for 11 weeks, and then prepped on the grass recently. His next start was an excellent effort, getting a gate to wire allowance win with a 100 SPF. This colt likes the distance, is multiple stakes placed and it looks like Johnno has done a masterful job of preparing him for this test. Don’t really see any negatives here; he should be on or close to the lead and I’m not sure if he’ll be caught.

WONDERBOY DIABLO (POLISH NAVY X LOST CODE) PP 4
Theodore sends his consistent colt out for a try against some of the best young horses at the track. He’s been a steady money earner, racing almost exclusively in claiming events as a 3 year old. The colt was a very solid performer racing in allowance events as a 2 year old and placed forth just missing by a length in a 1 mile stake race. He was claimed last out by Theo, and should be a good pick up for him. Seems in a bit over his head here however.

MIGHT BE GIANTS(IRE) (GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) X SEEKING THE GOLD) PP 5
This well bred colt is making only his 6th lifetime start for the Dundey Acres. He won his MSW first time out, with an impressive 96 speed number. It was a fairly easy win, and is the colt’s only start at today’s distance. He was stretched out a bit after that race, with mixed results, but did pop a solid 101, running 2nd last time out at 7 ½ furlongs. Drops back to 6 panels, and could be a contender; but does lack experience and has not raced at this level before.

ISLAND OF FREEDOM (STRAVINSKY GENERAL MEETING) PP 6
The essondon trained entry has only 1 win in 19 career starts but has been in the money in 13 of 19. He has been very consistent recently, running 2nd 4 times in his last 5 starts. All of those races were against allowance competition, with a high SPF of 99. A repeat of that effort should put this colt in the thick of things, and he has shown a liking for the sprints.

RATS TO RICHES (A.P. INDY x AFFIRMED) PP 7
Dundey’s second entry in this race has only 7 lifetime starts, but has sprinted well early in his career. Unraced at 2, and bred to be more of a classic type distance runner, the colt has run his best races so far at 5 ½ – 7 ½ furlongs. He has consistent speed figures in the mid to high 90’s range, and looks to be improving. I don’t think he can run with some of the best ones in here, but he should be flying late and could pick up a check.

ASSOR ATSET(AUS) (TESTA ROSSA (AUS) X GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE)) PP 8
This horse has been off form since winning his NW2 start 5 races back. Supertoy’s horse showed very good speed before that though, and has raced well on both dirt and turf. He was winless in 6 starts as a 2 year old, but picked up a check in every start. He’s versatile, but his best distance may be around a mile. I’m sure Dennis has him ready to go, so he could play a role in the exotic wagering.

GRIGLEE (AFLEET X RELAUNCH) PP 9
Scoobi looks to get a leg up on his fellow trainers by sending out this talented colt. He was 8th, just missing by 4 lengths in the MN / KY challenge and has 4 sprint wins to his credit. I love first time winners, and this colt scored at 6 ½ furlongs in his debut. He was 11th in his next start, but that was a G1 Equinics race so he is battle tested. This colt has not raced in 10 weeks, and may need a tightener before running his best; still if he runs back to his form of 3 or 4 starts back, he could be right in the middle of the win photo in this very competitive race.

SONG OF THE SOUTH (UNBRIDLED’S SONG X DIXIELAND BAND) PP 10
Another very well bred colt, hailing from the Desperado barn. Song has been very good on grass, with 7 firsts and seconds from 11 lifetime starts on the green. However, he only has placed once in 3 runs on the main track, and that was in his first out as a 2 year old. After his second start, he ran 11 straight times on the lawn, before Des gave him a dirt prep last out. That was a pretty solid effort, posting a 95 speed number at 6 ½ furlongs. One of the many horses in this race that could jump up for a major piece of the prize.

TABASCO MARK (TABASCO CAT x MINER’S MARK) PP 11
Chuck brings Tabasco Mark into this event with 3 wins and 2 seconds from 11 lifetime starts. He comes off a 4th place allowance finish, where the colt pushed the pace. He was up the track in 2 prior stake races, but was a solid front running winner in an allowance 4 starts back in a big 102. Seems to be at his best when he can grab an early lead, but I’m not sure if he can get that here. We’ll see if the jock tries to rate him or if he will try to outrun Not Guilty to the front and try to hold on. He has raced against some extremely strong, multiple stake winning fields in his last few races, and I think this horse may be better then what the average person would see on first inspection. Solid chance in here, but either way he has plenty of talent, and should continue to improve.

TWICE VICTORIOUS (VICTORY SPEECH X TWO PUNCH) PP 12
With 5 wins already and ITM 11 out of 20 lifetime, this colt looks to be the real deal. He is a stakes winning 3 year old, with a lifetime high SPF of 102. He runs best at less then a mile and is battle tested, running 6th against graded company. Also just missed by a ¼ of a length in finishing 4th in the MN / KY challenge. He posted an excellent 99 speed that day over this track and trainer Silverny99 has enlisted the services of K Friar today, which can only help this colts chances. He’s been a little off form in his last 3 starts, but has been freshened and should be ready to run. Only question mark is the 9 week layoff.

DANEGOLDY (SEEKING THE GOLD x DANEHILL) PP 13
Young colt has only had 2 starts to prepare for this major test. He has however done everything right so far, winning easily at first asking and following that race up with a 3rd place allowance finish. He ran a very impressive 98 SPF in that 2nd start, closing to miss by 2 lengths in the 7 furlong race. If he runs back to that race, he could be a real threat here. However, this exquisitely bred colt may want more then today’s 6 panel distance, and this will be his 3rd start in 5 weeks. I think JKJ has a future star here, but I’m not sure if it will be sprinting.

MYGIFTHORSE (GENERAL MEETING X IN REALITY) PP 14
RcdLogan brings his claimer into this event off a winning effort in a low level claim race. It was the colt’s third win, but all have come in the claiming ranks. He likes to sprint, and has been improving throughout his 3 year old campaign. May have been a pretty good claim for someone last out, when you could have picked him up for a mere $2K tag. Ran a solid 87, over a good dirt track and Randy may have a pretty good starter allowance horse here going forward. Looks to be slightly overmatched in this race though.

CHERRY POINT (STEPHEN GOT EVEN x HONOR GRADES) PP 15
This nice colt is well rested and has 5 wins already in his short career. He has been a bit off form in his recent starts, but was a solid 2nd 4 starts back in a 6 furlong stake race, with a 95 speed number. Moleh trains this one, and hopes to get to festival day glory. A win may be asking a bit too much today, but this horse can certainly be competitive in this extremely talented group.

BROKEN HOME (CAME HOME X SAINT BALLADO) PP 16
Desperado’s second entry could be even more dangerous then his shorter priced entry mate! The lightly race colt has only had 3 lifetime starts, with a win and 2 seconds. He scored easily at first asking, running an 89 over the 6 furlong course. BH then followed that up with a strong second at 7 furlongs. He lead all the way in that one, but was caught in the stretch, posting a 101 speed number. Same scenario last out at 7 ½ f, with a 94 SPF. It looks like he’ll try for the lead, and with the reduced distance could hang on for a piece of the purse.

ANCIENT WARRIOR (ANCIENT TIMES x MEADOWLAKE) PP 17
Over $125,000 earned and first or second in 6 of 8 lifetime sprint races tells me this is a colt to be respected. Richgins has this horse in the right spot, and he is in the best form of his life running 3 triple digit speed figures in his last 4 races. One of several in here to compete in the MN vs. KY challenge, where he was a solid 5th. The colt just loves today’s distance winning 3 times with 1 second in 4 lifetime 6 panel starts. Has not faced stake caliber competition yet, but has been brought along slowly and looks like he should be up to the task. A key contender.

RANSOMONTHETABLE (RED RANSOM X EL GRAN SENOR) PP 18
Bigrick brings in a very steady colt that has run well in dirt sprints. He was a good 2nd last out, just missing by ½ length. He has posted very consistent speed numbers in the mid to high 90’s lately and looks to be improving. Bigrick has done a nice job with this colt, picking him up in a 30K claimer from iant. He’s developed into a tough allowance animal, winning twice already at that level and could make some noise in the biggest start of his young career.

ANALYSIS: This is an extremely competitive race, and I would not be surprised if any one of 10 or 11 different horses were to win it. I think the race is wide open, and the top 5 finishers will be pretty close together. The way the race shapes up may just determine the outcome. I love Al Prado’s class, but I’m not sure if he will handle the drastically shorter distance of this race. I think Not Guilty has a great chance today; I like the fact that he’s won both on the lead and coming from off the pace. That flexibility could be the difference in this event. If Tabasco Mark can get away a bit on the front end, he could be very hard to catch. On the other hand if he’s pressured the advantage may go to a horse like Griglee. If a speed dual develops, look for Might Be Giants and possibly Rats To Riches to move up and come home fast. My pick however will be Ancient Warrior. I think this horse can lay just off the lead, get to the front in deep stretch and has enough class to hold off the closers.

1st – Ancient Warrior #17
2nd – Not Guilty #3
3rd – Tabasco Mark #11
4th – Rats To Riches #7
5th – Broken Home #16