THE DPCD JUVENILE TURF
DelPenn Champions Day
The DPCD Juvenile Turf
8F – 2YO Colts
$500,000
PP1 – BALD METAPHOR – 14/1
Grand Slam x Taiki Sherlock x Dancing
Owner/Trainer – Olebaldy
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 86 (8.5F)
High SF at Distance – 76 (Turf)
Bald Metaphor enters this race never having finished worse than second in four lifetime starts. This guy has gotten better with every effort, and his most recent run was a nice second place finish in an open stakes race seven weeks ago where he posted a career best 86 speed figure. Word on the backstretch is that his owner has him Revved up and raring to go, and with another step forward this son of Grand Slam should have something to say about the outcome on Saturday.
PP2 – KAREM’S BAIT SHOP (IRE) – 4/1
Owner/Trainer – Super22
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 80 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 88 (Dirt GIII)
The first of three from the mighty Super Empire, Karem’s Bait Shop is no stranger to stakes competition and is your post time favorite. After winning his debut, this colt has run in five straight stakes races highlighted by a nice 3rd place in GIII dirt competition three back. The Shop’s first attempt at turf came last time out in a stakes race at 8.5 furlongs, where he finished 3rd and put forth a decent effort. I think the drop in distance will favor this one, but a further drop might be needed to get his best effort.
PP3 – TO DIE FOR (IRE) – 9/1
Theatrical x Seeking The Gold x
Owner/Trainer – Zewango2
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 83 (6F)
High SF at Distance – 76 (Turf)
Representing the SDMF clan is To Die For, a nice son of Theatrical who has won 2 of 5 lifetime. The good news is that he’s improved his speed figure in each race he’s run, and his last was good enough (83) to put him in the hunt. The bad news is that this race doesn’t stop after six furlongs. Both career wins for To Die For have coming while sprinting, and he might run out of gas by the time this one is decided. Just be leery of dismissing anything from this trainer as his chemistry skills would make Jeff Mullins jealous.
PP4 – DIGGINGANDDANZING – 8/1
Mineshaft x Rahy x
Owner/Trainer – Madamson
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 82 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 82 (Turf)
DiggingandDanzing enters this race with 2 wins from 7 starts, and boasts a 5 of 6 in-the-money record while competing on the lawn. After winning b2b turf routes three and four back, this son of Mineshaft ran a little disappointing in his first open stakes attempt two back. His most recent race was a nice turf sprint that may prove to be a great prep for this mile endeavor. There will be plenty of pace to run at, and if the sprint prep worked, you might see this guy causing trouble near the wire.
PP5 – STRETCH MILLION – 8/1
A.P. Million x Hansel x Kingmambo
Owner/Trainer – The6thSign
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 83 (7.5F)
High SF at Distance – N/A
Stretch Million comes into this one with a lot of positives under his belt. Even though he’s raced eight times already, he’s coming in fresh off a eight week layoff. Of his eight career races, the six on turf have gotten better in the speed department as the races have gotten longer. His last three races were against stakes company and they produced finishes of second, third, and fourth. The only trouble I see is that as the races have gotten longer, so has the distance between Stretch and the eventual winner. He likes to come from off the pace, and since this is his first attempt at a route, Stretch Million might finally have enough ground to get home before the race is over.
PP6 – DROP THE BOMB (GB) – 5/1
Beat Hollow x Lear Fan x Ribot
Owner/Trainer – MikeHusker
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 89 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 89 (Turf)
Drop The Bomb, running for the only active member of the Bo Pelini fan club, is coming into this race razor sharp. Winner of four of eight lifetime, he has won b2b turf route stakes in smashing fashion and is now the 23rd ranked 2YO in the division. I suspect his wire-to-wire effort last time out was due to the small field, and I anticipate trainer MikeHusker has instructed the jock to sit about three or four lengths off the leaders before Dropping The Bomb on the field in the stretch. The Pick.
PP7 – THE GOOD DIE YOUNG – 20/1
Good Journey x Diesis x Ribot
Owner/Trainer – Peeps8
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 76 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 76 (Turf)
Just getting invited to enter a DelPenn owner restricted race while being a very active member of the enemy GRSimsters is worthy of taking notice. Is Peeps going to join another recent unmentionable and use this race to announce his treason, or are his banners just that good? Those ARE some snappy banners. The Good Die Young is a son of Good Journey and enters this race after breaking his maiden at the distance last time out. His performances have improved as the distances have gotten longer, but it’ll take a Great Journey to get paid this weekend. One to watch in the future.
PP8 – MITER SAW – 17/1
Not For Love x
Owner/Trainer – Bobthehat
2YO Brown Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 88 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 88 (Turf)
Every race seems to have one horse that causes you to scratch your head. This is your guy on Saturday. After three dirt races under his belt, with a high SF of 57, Miter Saw started resembling bargain claimer material. Good thing Bobthehat decided to switch surfaces and see how Miter Saw would take to the lawn. That first turf attempt produced a monster maiden winning effort by more than 4 and earned Miter Saw a huge 88 SF. This is his second turf attempt, and it is a big step up from a class standpoint. Unless his last was a complete fluke, this nice colt might be worth a play on top and underneath as he provides huge value for the bettors.
PP9 – LIBERTINE (IRE) – 9/1
El Prado x A.P. Indy x Storm Cat
Owner/Trainer – Super14
2YO Dark Grey Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 82 (7F)
High SF at Distance – N/A
The second entry from team Super, Libertine is coming into this race off his best career effort. Of his six career races, three have been on the lawn. His first turf attempt brought a nice stakes placing while sprinting. After a poor effort at 9F, last time out Libertine captured his first win on turf and his third win overall. Although this one has proven his preferred surface is grass, I think this is another who is better sprinting and probably doesn’t want this distance. Longshot at best.
PP10 – BARB’S DOUBLE ALLIE – 6/1
Distorted Humor x
Owner/Trainer – Jakematt
2YO Chestnut Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 84 (7, 8.5F)
High SF at Distance – N/A
Barb’s Double Allie is the first of two entries named after the infamous Barb. Who is this Barb? I didn’t get any memo with this secret information. In any event, this particular Barb is more than capable of taking the trophy home on Saturday. In her career, she’s never missed the board and is 2-for-2 when routing on the turf. Those two turf route wins have come in her last two races, and they were both wins by over 3 lengths. Speed figures are on par with this field, and Barb’s Double Allie is a definite play on both sides of all exotic bets.
PP11 – RUBRUM OBSCURUM – 9/1
Woodman x
Owner/Trainer – Super18
2YO Chestnut Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 87 (8F)
High SF at Distance – 87 (Turf)
The third and final entry from the Super friends, this one proves that if you breed too many horses you will eventually run out of names. Actually it probably proves I’m not that smart, but I hate to admit it. Of the three Super entries, I like the chances of this guy the best. He is stakes placed while sprinting on the grass and his last was a monster allowance win at the distance. He’ll have plenty of pace to sit behind, and pedigree is not an issue. I expect Rubrum Obscurum to be in all your trifecta wagers.
PP12 – BARB’S ON A BUDGET – 10/1
Jolie’s Halo x Machiavellian x Nureyev
Owner/Trainer – Sprintbarn
2YO Roan Colt
Lifetime High SF on Turf – 79 (8.5F)
High SF at Distance – N/A
Poor Barb. She’s on a budget because apparently she’s not getting any kickbacks for her name being thrown around so much. Barb’s On A Budget has won two races in six starts. After winning her debut on the turf, she was raced four consecutive times on the main track where she earned her second victory and highest career SF of 85. Her last race, and second on the grass, was contested routing against stakes company. A decent third place finish gives bettors one more option to consider. This one has an outside shot to disrupt the trifecta.
Well, there you have it. This race has an awful good field with many horses that have a chance to win. My picks would be Drop The Bomb on top and Rubrum Obscurum & Miter Saw underneath. Unfortunately for Drop The Bomb’s connections, my ability to pick winners is similar to Ted Kennedy’s ability to get a woman across a bridge. Good Luck and Good Wagering to All!