Express Yourself!
France- The $80,000 Sir Steel Challenge will feature five horses on the main dirt track. The mile and three-eighths event looks to be wide open with odds ranging from 1/1 to 8/1. The weather should hold and the track should be fast.
The even money favorite is Starlight Express The Sec. The Great One, J. Stivers, is aboard. The son of Trempolino has 13 wins, eight seconds and 10 thirds in 51 career tries. He is ranked 17th in the long distance division and has recorded seven straight speed figures over the century mark. Is no stranger to this distance as he has won four times and finished second and third once in his six attempts going 11 furlongs. Likes to stay back about 10 lengths before making his move and Stivers suits that style. Tough.
Wyld Stallyon is 2/1 under D. Owens. Kingmambo horse is 28: 6-7-7 with most of his work being across the main dirt track. Raced only three times in 2004 and was sharp for the final two before 2005. Lightly raced this season, as this will be only his 7th attempt so far. Has been lucky enough to run in some rather slow races and has benefited from that company. Will face much tougher in “Starlight” and will need to bring his “A” game down the stretch.
At 4/1 are Red Butterfly and R. Truitt. The obscurely bred 4yo is by Guarani. Showed no interest in routing early on in his career until he won a $50k claimer at 9.5 furlongs. His only major accomplishment was to upset a nine horse stakes field at 20/1 going 9.5F to close out 2004. 2005 campaign had him chasing horses every time he tried to go beyond a mile and a sixteenth. Should probably try to get the lead against these proven long distance horses. Will need to set a snail’s pace to hold them off.
Franchise is 5/1. R. Grider gets the call. Love the breeding for this 4yo. Bahri x Doyoun (IRE) x Fairy King (inbred to Never Bend) should get him a ton of distance. Would expect him to favor the weeds over the dirt, but he has been extremely versatile on both. Will undoubtedly go for the lead and try to out duel “Butterfly” for command early. With the exception of getting knocked around in his last four visits to Japan, this horse has been very consistent traveling 9.5-11 panels. I expect him to wear “Butterfly” down and try and hold off the favorite late.
Brocco’s Wild Cat rounds out the field at 8/1. B. Tatum is in the irons. Tactical Cat progeny has done most of his work across the lawn and has never won on the main dirt track (5:0-1-1). Has not seen the dirt in his last 17 races, but draws a short field to try and make his first dirt route a winning one. Pedigree suggests he can handle this distance. Pace should set up for his late run. Your call.
