Riding the Wave In Minnesota
Cahill Harbor, hailing from the Cobleskill barn of silverny99, will go to post as the 7/2 favorite from the extreme outside. The flashy chestnut son of current Japanese sire
At 6/1, sjc stable’s Red Sky Night is the second choice in the race. The war horse, with fourteen career wins in forty eight starts, looks very relaxed in preparing for the race, as he has seen it all. The well-bred son of Red Ransom loves the distance and has the class to compete with anyone in here. Bangsy, who moonlights as a top jockey in
The 8/1 third choice is, unshaded99’s Indy Design, a four year old with very interesting breeding. He is by top international sire Sadler’s Wells, out of Dundey’s stakes placed mare Superior Design, who is by dirt sprinter Stormin Fever. The combination has led to this very sharp looking brown colt, which excels in middle distance races on the lawn. He comes off a solid performance winning an allowance last time out and a horse could not look any better in the shed row.
Three horses are listed at 9/1, including the rail horse, Jungleland, who is trained by estreet stables and is a stablemate of Indy Design. Jungeland is by
A SPUDDIE is 9/1 also, in Aussie Hurricane (Aus), trained and bred by rsb. The son of Johnno’s favorite sire, Flying Spur(AUS), has done well for himself in turf sprints and usually enjoys going for the early lead. The brown colt has been a bit nervous on the backstretch this week, dumping his exercise rider several times. When the gate springs open, jockey O Stinson better hold on, because the Hurricane is likely to make a bee line for the lead. Somehow, trainer Richgins was talked into breeding this Spuddie.
The third horse at 9/1 is a well known sim superstar. Supertoy7’s Gallo Blue Chip is a career winner of over $1.8 million and the Storm Cat son is as imposing as them come. A Grade 1 winner at two and three, the brown colt, named after the richest Standardbred of all time, has shown a fondest for the turf in the twilight of his career. If class will determine the winner, it will be hard to defeat this one. The veteran is likely to let the youngsters battle it out early, but should unleash a strong stretch kick.
Those are the main contenders according to the odds maker, but in a large field, there is certain to be value. Here is the rest of the field, in post position order.
At post two, is rbaze3’s Coupon Dive (FR), listed at 58/1. He was recently picked out of the auction for more than a million dollars by his trainer, but is making his first start on the turf. He is a speedster and has excelled in his short career, with only seven starts, despite being six years old. Rbaze3 purchased this one to run in this race and now it is up to Coupon Dive(FR) to prove rbaze3 correct.
Leaving from post three at 30/1 odds, is the filly Lightning Star, trained by beckla. The daughter of
Huge Thunderstorm, trained by alba1, is by Gulch out of a Storm Bird mare, like Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch, and has recently made the step up from the claiming ranks. He has not fared well in two career turf tries, but trainer alba1 has him primed for this race. The six year old stands regally in the paddock, but his trainer, Pict, is hoping he stands even better in the Winner’s Circle.
Everyone’s favorite Aussie, Johnno, brings the second Flying Spur(Aus) aka Spuddie into the race, with #6, Be The One(Aus). This three year old Spuddie, is another who will be flying out of the gate. That was his approach in his last race, a Grade 2 effort. How hard he is pressed early, may determine the fate of this particular Spud.
Speaking of folks from the Southern Hemisphere, the Kiwi sensation rharfo8, brings in #7, Anabaa In Pursuit, a homebred. He has done his best running on the lawn, but this is a significant step up in class. His running style does suit the race and rharfo is on fire right now, after his Breeders Bowl triumph.
The British bred Surely Within Fool (GB), leaves from post eight at 19/1 odds for trainer unionave. The son of Gunner B (GB) represents a great value, as he has never missed the board in eight career starts, for his trainer, the handicapper extraordinaire, Trot. At seven years old, he took several years off, but has sported some solid figures in his return to the races. The only test for him may be the quick early pace.
From post eleven is Touch Of Jericho (FR), from the larkfarms barn of Bigrick. The French sired colt is only three but has shown some good efforts in turf sprints. He will be tested for class today however. His veteran trainer has him looking good, with a nice shiny coat. He will attempt to set off the pace and explode late.
Another three year old, Modern Physics, leave from post twelve at 22/1 odds. The son of Elusive Quality, the sire of dual classic winning Smarty Jones, hails from the cvd3 stables of chuckrock and is stakes placed at this distance on the main track. He ran a solid 2nd last out against older company, and seems poised to make another move forward here. He is certainly a handy sort to have around, with his versatility of both the main track and the lawn.
Jkj2 trains Rock River Island (GB), a nice three year old colt who earned close to $140,000 in his career. The colt is maddeningly inconsistent, but the backstretch rumor mill says that Jkj2 has been working him in the early morning hours, before the rest of
The second entry by super sire
Canadian Theodore8 brings The Milkman into the race from post sixteen. With 61 career starts, the son of General Meeting has seen better days, but his twelve career wins are a testament to his durability and heart. Theodore8 routinely gets the best out of his horses, and maybe this old guy has one big run left.
The brilliant Miswaki is the sire of Nohilltohigh, an optimistically named colt trained by reminder. He is another who enjoys going to the early lead and while he does not win many races, he does show the ability to hit the board, finishing in the money ten of sixteen career starts. Rcdlogan is a top notch trainer and racing form writer who will most assuredly has his horse in great form.
With such an evenly matched field, a pick is tough, but we must attempt.
Picks:
- Red Sky At Night
- Surely With Fool (GB)
- Cavy Ruler
- Jungeland