Six Equal Combatants Aim at the Lordship

Stakes
Five and half furlongs
Firm Turf             $75,000
All horses 2 years old

With the separation of the odds among the six entries ranging only from 5/2 to 5/1, I could take the sheet that I used last night to protect some plants from frost, and cover this entire field.  The tightly bunched odds, and the typical close finishes that occur in turf events, and the winning margin may be determined by the visible breath of the horses at the wire.  As for the Field for the LORD LOUIS SPECIAL:

Cozzene x Sunday Silence

Winner of two of five, he led gate to wire in his last outing.  Did not fare well in his first test of stakes competition, but the distance and surface is to his liking.

Officer x Gone West

Stepped on the turf for the first time and responded with a blistering performance.  The step up to face stakes competitors should not be a problem, but a question may exist on the distance.  He looked so strong at seven furlongs, one has to wonder if this shorter distance will be long enough for him to unwind and get going. 

Swain(IRE) x Seattle Dancer

One win in seven starts, but, he has been in the money five times.  Broke his maiden at this distance, but times indicate that he may end up a bit short of the lead.

Forestry x Mt. Livermore

This will be his first try at a sprint distance, but after witnessing him tire in each of his last three starts, the move seems logical.  A co-favorite, but does not stand out in this field.

Stravinsky x Lear Fan

He ran third in his debut at a mile on the turf.  That race was against a decent field of stakes horses.  The tiring that occurred in his debut has resulted in an attempt at a shorter distance.  If he breaks as well as he did in his debut, he may be the one leading the way.

Sky Mesa x Storm Cat

Co-favorite with two wins in five starts.  The surface on Saturday is expected to be firm, so his obvious liking for soft conditions will not play a part in this race.  He runs on firmer surfaces has been nice, but much less stellar. 

Good field that should stay tighter bunched from the gate to the wire.  As the odds indicate, the horse that emerges from this field as the “Lord of the Special” should do so with his head held high.

-deajai