A Tale of Two Places, More Then a Two Horse Race?
The Tale of Two Places Sprint is part of the Bargain Bred Racing Series this week in New Jersey. This innovative idea pits horses who were bred from scratch for less the 100 bps or credits. Looking at this field you would think many of these horses were bluebloods! The morning line shows 2 horses, both at 2-1, and they do look hard to beat. But there are a few others that could surprise at longer odds. Here’s the field.
BABYBLEW (CLOUD COVER X OBLIGATO)
The sire is one of my favorite bargain sires. This 4 year old horse has been great in only 10 lifetime starts. He has 4 wins and has been in the money in 6 of 9 lifetime dirt sprints. He has a high SP# of 100, which interestingly was posted in his first lifetime start, a MSW win at 5 ½ furlongs. He should love today’s distance and is one of the main contenders. Very lightly raced horse has been off for 15 weeks.
BUZZARD BAY (MARCO BAY X SENECA JONES)
Trained by saltire1, this 3 Year old filly has looked good recently. She took a NW1X 3 races back, and posted a lifetime best SP# of 92, the race before last. Consistent sort, usually places in the top 5, and looks to be improving. Could land a major share of the purse at 14-1, but I am concerned about last weeks effort, and the fact that she is now racing 2 weeks in a row.
KUCINICH (SWING LORD X DEVILISH NINJA)
This is another making a second start in consecutive weeks. The db trained 3 year old colt has been a nice addition to the barn, winning 6 races in 18 lifetime starts. All of those wins have come against claiming and low level starter competition, and this colt looks to be just a notch below some of the best ones in here. At 30-1, could be worth a bet.
OBLIVIOUS (SEMORAN X TOUR D’OR)
Welshwitch sends this long shot out, but with only 2 lifetime starts its hard to say how competitive the 3 year old colt will be. I love his last effort, where he looked like a winner until deep stretch in an MSW over today’s distance. He missed by just over a length and the race was a huge improvement over his debut. His speed number of 88 was solid and if he can improve again today could hit the board at a huge price.
TODAH ROBAH (FAST PLAY X NATIVE UPROAR)
Great breeding on this 3 year old son of Fast Play, bargain horses yes, but excellent bloodlines. This colt has 1 win from 11 starts, but has been racing against pretty tough competition. He recorded a SP# of 94 in only his second lifetime start, but has not been able to duplicate that since. He’s been running in mostly sprints, but I think his best distance may be closer to a mile. The shalom2000 trained entry was 7th in the Bargain Derby.
JUDGMENT DAY (RICH MAN’S GOLD X PRINCE FAPPIANO)
Kallaloo brings his homebred into this after a very nice try against allowance foes. The 3 year old was a front running 4th, beaten by just over 3 lengths, in a sharp 95 SP#. He’s raced in allowance company, running consistently in the mid to high 90’s, with a career best of 98. He was 8th in the Bargain Derby, but should prefer today’s distance. One to watch.
AHK SHALOM (FAST PLAY X PROSPECTOR’S BID)
This 3 year old has 1 win in 15 lifetime tries, but has been running well. He was a solid 4th in the Bargain Derby, and should the track come up off would be a major factor. He’s been 2nd and 4th in 2 starts on the wet stuff. He seems to like this distance, running his career mark of 94 over 6 panels.
CHEAP TO HANDLE (TEXAS CITY X ROI DANZIG)
Another horse with only 2 lifetime starts, but looks to have some real talent. This 3 year old colt broke his maiden easily in his debut, for a 5K tag. He followed that effort up with a strong 5th, beaten only 2 lengths in a 75K claimer. The elagou trained homebred improved his speed # by 10 points in that race, with a 90. If he improves again, will be right in the thick of things.
PEPE’S RATS (SINGINGINTHERAIN X IRON)
Dundey looks to get in on the action with this 3 year old. The lightly raced colt only has one win, but has been in the money in 4 of 6 lifetime, and never worse then 4th on dirt. Ran the best race of his career last out, with a front running 2nd place allowance finish, in a SP# of 91. He won his only sprint try, is improving but has looked best in dirt routes so far.
STANDING AROUND (FLIGHT FORTY NINE X FIRST ALBERT)
The co-favorite in the race, and rightly so. This 3 year old filly has done just about everything right in her 13 race career. She has 8 wins, and has been in the money 10 times (9 of 11 in sprints). With a lifetime best SP# of 102, and two triple digit figures in a row, this smartjones conditioned girl looks to be the one to catch here. She was very impressive at 2, winning both her starts. As a 3YO, she won 5 of her first 8 starts, with 2 seconds and a 5th against stake company. She was a disappointing 6th in the Bargain Oaks, but bounced back with an impressive allowance win next out. Could be sitting on a very big run on Saturday.
RUDI’S IN LOVE (RUDIMENTARY X NORTHERN FASHION)
Gael1 brings in the grey bread of the bunch, with 57 lifetime trips to the starting gate! This classy 7 year old has 7 wins, and earnings in excess of $152,000. He is a 6 furlong specialist, and has a win and a 3rd in his last 2 outs. He’s been racing in claiming events recently, but has the back class to run a big one at any time. In his prime, this horse ran triple digits on many occasions, and posted a lifetime best of 104 only last year. Could be a factor off of his best effort.
ANALYSIS: This is an extremely competitive race, especially after the 2 top choices. I would not be surprised if any one of these were to hit the board. The way the race shapes up may just determine the outcome. I love Rudi’s In Love’s class, but he’ll need to recapture that old flame to win. Babyblew may need a race after the long 15 week layoff. I think he’ll press the pace, and could hang on for 2nd or 3rd. Judgment Day, Standing Around and Pepe’s Rats should also be out strong. With all the speed in this race, a late running longshot could pick up the pieces. If that happens look for the youngster Cheap To Handle to make a strong bid. My pick however will be Standing Around. Even though there may be a few pushing her early, she seems to have the class to potentially lay just off the lead, get to the front in deep stretch and hold on.
1st – Standing Around #10
2nd – Babyblew #1
3rd – Pepe’s Rats #9
4th – Cheap To Handle #8