Showdown In Germany

We have quite a matchup for this week’s Night Grass Special. The ten 2yos are going 8.5 furlongs on the turf for a purse of $90,000. We have the 12th ranked filly, the 21st ranked colt, and a graded-placed multiple stakeswinner, along with several others with stakes wins or experience.

On the rail is gael1’s My Own Turbo(Ire) at 9/2. The champion of the Irish Turf Futurity, this Best Of The Bests(Ire) lad is already famous at the Ireland track. He has three stakes victories to his credit and also finished second in the G3 Dalesbark Cup. He is ranked #22 in the sprint division. He ran an 87 in his only route so far.

In post two at 13/1 is Jolo, owned by czarina. He is by Aptitude out of a Gulch mare. He won both his maiden and an allowance at a mile on turf, then ran third in the Gift Wrapped Just For You Stakes in Italy last time out after leading throughout most of the race. He will likely employ that tactic again, as there really isn’t another here who will go right for the lead.

In post three at 15/1 is daninja’s Enharmonic Diesis(GB). He is by Diesis(GB) out of a Singspiel(Ire) mare. He began his career in a series of GR Simsters Residency races, breaking his maiden in an allowance at 7 furlongs and running second in an allowance at a mile. He then shipped over to Europe to begin his stakes career, but ran into a very tough field in his first test, which featured the #8 ranked turf colt. This field may be just as tough.

In post four is fredarcher’s Pate Treott(Ire) at 11/1. He is by Fasliyev(Ire) out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. He has run four times, and finally broke his maiden last time out in Ireland over a mile. He has improved every race, but this is a pretty tough spot for a first stakes appearance. He has had a good rest since his last race, though, and should have matured some.

In post five is Devil’s King(Ire) at 5/1. He is by Refuse To Bend(Ire) out of a Cozzene mare. He is coming off a very impressive victory in The Hardly With Marc Special, in which my graded-winning filly found out that running with the colts is like playing with fire. He ran a 91 in that one, and an 89 in his maiden victory, both at a mile. He has a very good jockey in E. Bernstein and will certainly be a factor here today.

In post six at 10/1 is Sam’s Aroma. He is by Burning Roma(Rubiano) out of the stakeswinning Sky Classic mare Skiming The Clouds. He won his maiden in Kentucky, then scored an impressive victory last time out in the NWRC’s Cavalcade Cup Juvenile Turf, running an 87 over 8.5 furlongs. The odds are a bit longer than I would expect given this guy’s performances, but his odds were over 9-1 in both of his victories, so I’d guess he doesn’t pay much attention to them.

In post seven at 5/1 is thomkal’s Three To Eight, the #12 ranked filly. She is by Congaree out of the G2-winning Dixieland Band mare Eight Shelley. She really woke up once she tried routes, and has shown steady improvement, finally winning her first stakes last time out in Ontario where she ran an 85. She has also run an 86 in a second-place effort in another stakes. Both were at today’s distance of 8.5 furlongs.

In post eight at 6/1 is The Magic Flute(Ire). He is by Singspiel(Ire) out of the G3-winning Caerleon mare Rickety Tide. He won his debut on dirt, and has also won two allowances and a stakes on turf. He had a long layoff after the G1 High Flyer Stakes, and came back with a very nice allowance win with an 83 and a newfound ability to rate. He could surprise here if he can break out of the win-every-other-race pattern.

In post nine at 10/1 is Cozy Ghost. He is by Cozzene and based on the G2-winning horse Ghost Prospector. As seems to be typical of Cozzene babies, he’s taken his time maturing, and finally broke his maiden two races ago. He just missed last time out in an allowance at today’s distance, running an 83. He is likely to continue to improve now that the races are long enough in distance for him.

Rounding out the field is rosemont’s Dessie Hollandia, the #21 ranked turf classic colt. He is by Desert King(Ire) out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. He won his debut, but didn’t run very well for a few races after that. After taking some time off, he came back in a stakes in Sweden, and proceeded to win three stakes in a row. Last time out he ran second in the G3 Apparently Juvenile, running a 92 over the 9 furlongs. He has the top jockey here today in T. Small.

This should be quite a race! We have accomplished runners, horses who have already won stakes in only a few starts, and horses on the rise who are coming into their own as the distances increase and they mature. Any one of several entrants could take this without it really being an upset either way. Good luck to all the runners, and may they all come home sound.