Whopping twenty set for DPCD Mile
Pennsylvania– No shortage of turf milers at DelPenn National, that’s for sure. A whopping field of 20 head to the post for the $500,000 DPCD Mile over the lawn. Plenty of contenders, pretenders, and inevitable auction fodder to go around……..
–> #1 – Godchild’s old boy, Cockette, has a fair enough chance. Palace Music ALWer joins pay fray and can still deliver the BP. 46th outing testifies to this guy’s staying power. Factor for the board if he can handle class leap. 10/1
–> #2 – Sdmf sends out a decent sophomore in Hail The Leaf. Carson City son wound up a pretty good third in a Malaysia stakes a few back and I remember that race too — very fast finish loaded with rising talent. The colt’s since recovered from choking at the graded level. Live sleeper for an off pace rally. 16/1
#3 – Bonechewer’s got one here for the post parade. Edict Of Nantes won’t endorse a winner’s cheque and would be hard-pressed to do the same for minor money. Summer Squall 5YO in over his head. 62/1
#4 – Speedy sophomore in vindy’s Carl Hotty(IRE). Specializes over this distance and did wire one at ALW level in hand several back. Theatrical(IRE) son plain stopped though LTO at stakes level. Eek. Stil, if he can recover and mandhandle a pace duel….. outside chance for minor dough at best. 32/1
–> #5 – If he can overcome speed battle, morgan’s Grimnosh merits serious chance. 4YO by Gold Legend held on for a swift 3rd in the Walnut(G2) a few back and experimented with mixed results afterwards. Back in his element over the grassy mile. Genuine contender for the prize. 12/1
–> #6 – Another decent sophomore worth a hill of beans and thensome. Keryn’s Seeking Sal has been a stakes performer all season and finally found his real mojo over these short routes by late summer. G2-placed three back versus his age group with very nice SP#s. Stalker as well figures behind pace stampede. Should be there at the wire. Threat. 11/1
–> #7 – Here we go, Super stable, here we go! Late-bloomer sophomore by High Chapparal(IRE) recently blossomed, winning two straight ALW miles in fine times. Danger, danger! Desert Star(IRE) has a great shot at a sweet price. 18/1
#8 – Oooo, sallygee send sout a pretty Arch colt (one of my favorite sires). Arced earns the points in ALW ranks, but doesn’t really boast either the SP#s or class to make much of a dent with this group. Stalker could be in hunt for a spell, but doubtful at the wire. Useful sophomore, but pass. 17/1
#9 – Yick, yick, yicky. Malekfarms has a good pedigree with this Giant’s Causeway(IRE) 4YO, but not much consistent talent to work with. Goliath(IRE) all over the board and indeed hasn’t raced much this season. He even enters here off of 11 weeks rest. Yoicks! No chance. 39/1
#10 – Ha! Tony’s gonna breed this royal bred AP Indy next year of course and that’s about it. Sumo Right did hit the board (albeit in slow time!) when returned to lawn finally LTO. Well, la-dee-dah, Ha! Not very pretty on paper, is he? 🙂 Doubtful he’ll be able to outwrestle the giants here. Should be at higher odds. 29/1
–> #11 – Bred by catahoula, so I assume this is you, Wayne? Ha! Wayne sends out another talented late-blooming sophomore: Merry Mex. Royal bred Deputy Minister was a yawner over the main track before finally tackling the green stuff. He proceeded to rack up 3 wins from 4 outings at ALW level. Midpacker live threat. One to watch. 15/1
–> #12 – Eastecho99 has the legitimate favorite here. Last Groom T is a clone of champion Western Groom (Gone West). 4YO’s been hot-n-cold of late. G3 winner this season, threatening in other grades, then finally hit a beautiful stride when finishing 2nd in the Kingab Mile(G1). Head and tails the best of this group — though some of these talented sophomores might spoil him if he bounces off of last. 4/1
#13 – Malekfarms’ second entry has awesome bloodlines… but little talent. Speedster Secede can’t even bring home the bacon in a NW2y. Finished 3rd in this race last year. Tougher time this go around. Slim to none chance. 25/1
#14 – Triple yicky again for Tony’s other entry: Harvester Of Eyes. Not only does this 5YO have a gruesome name, he also runs plain awful. Miswaki vet on his way to the breeding shed. One last parade to the post. 25/1
#15 – Kentucky Who sure lives up to his name. Recent claimer pickup for tippleh stable was pretty much an anonymous no show in ALW class leap LTO. Midpacker in for major trouble. Pretty much a snooze for traffic. No chance. 24/1
–> #16 – Last year’s BB Juvy Turf hero Like A Porcupine might enjoy this bunch. Sophomore hasn’t been his sassy ol’ self for trifecta this year, but did notably pick up the beat in graded 9f company a couple starts back. Then proceeded to spit out bit in the Coxless(G1) over 10f. Blah! Never know if he’ll show up or not, but if he does… could snare a piece of purse. I like the up-and-coming lightly raced sophomores better though. 15/1
–> #17 – Speedster Blue Eyed Irish appears the class of the pace scramblers. Heffbarn’s Carson City 4YO boasts near $600k in the bank and near always gives his all in these short routes has a shot at pulling off the upset, but will have to avoid longshots pressuring him on the lead. That might compromise his chances, so odds are look elsewhere. Still, threat. 8/1
#18 – Bonechewer revived this old vet for a DelPenn Day post parade. Trick Into Cities was pretty effective in turf sprints back in his day. Recently returned to races a few weeks ago and of course finished also-ran. Not likely he’ll fire here though in his 50th start. Pass. Overlay at 10/1.
#19 – Morrissey won the $35k shake for Not For Nature and the 4YO rewarded him with a pair of Starter ALW victories. Not For Love son accustomed to middle distance turf routes. Misplaced in stakes company LTO and pretty much again here. Severe longshot for minor piece of purse at best. Pass. 28/1
#20 – Third starter for Malekfarms hasn’t raced in eons (welcome back to the Sim, Malek!). Tyrant II(IRE) finished 6th in last year’s DPCD Mile rendition. Only 3 starts since then and he’s in it for the post parade. Talented Street Cry(IRE) colt though if you can get him back into racing fitness. 🙂
Snowchief’s Picks:
So, we got the speedster Blue Eyed Irish fending off a rabble of longshots for the pace. Among them, Grimnosh and Cockette figure to be the best at applying pressure. Both Grimnosh and Blue Eyed could hold on for a piece of the purse too.
I think Super’s Desert Star is the best true longshot coming from off pace. Like A Porcupine has to show up, so you can flip a coin with him. Hail The Leaf could provide some fireworks and Seeking Sal is one of those classy runners that can catch a sleeping ‘capper.
But I think it all boils down to the superb favorite Last Groom T and this upstart ALWer, Merry Mex. The former could bounce… or dust the field in magnificent glory. The latter has that on paper “look” to him, rising through the ranks after finding his best surface and groove. Fatattack has him ready for this level. Whether or not he can spoil the more experienced stakes runners, remains to be seen.
Hate to play chicken and go with the chalk, but I think this one’s a good lock: Last Groom T by a length or two at the wire over Merry Mex.
Win: Last Groom T
Place: Merry Mex
Show: Desert Star
Good luck to all, Merry Christmas, and have a happy day of racing, DelPenners!