It Looks Wide Open for the Gr. II Orangeton Handicap

This is one of those races that should be fun to watch, but a bear to try to pick.  Almost every starter has a legitimate chance – at least on his best day.  Going by post position:

1. Mr. Niner Again, a 5-year-old from the bigmoose stable is a three-time ungraded stakes winner, whose speed figures have improved over his last three races, from a low of 86 three back to his most recent at 102.  He’s run even higher numbers in the past.  By Forty Niner x Deputy Minister x Mr. Prospector, he’s got a chance on a good day, and may be reaching a new peak.  (13/1) 
2. Coming in off an allowance win, Native Chase (FR) by Way West (FR) x Sovereign Dancer x Native Royalty, won two stakes last year as a 5-year-old, and has been generally running well lately.  Theprofit has done a good training job keeping this horse competitive, and he could have a shot.  (9/1)
3. From the pg45 stable we have a lightly raced 5-year-old by Seeking The Gold x Nijinsky II x Halo.  Fitting Solution has finished first or second in 8 of his 15 lifetime starts.  His last race was his first spf ever under 100, so he could be tailing off.  His previous start was an owner restricted stakes, one of his two stakes wins.  (8/1)
4. This will be the first stakes try for 4-year-old Goochee, by Cryptoclearance x Pleasant Colony x Gulch.  After his 4 most recent starts showed spfs over 100, owner/trainer vacafarms feels he’s ready for the big time.  It’s an ambitious place to start, but this is a promising horse.  (18/1)
5. Clever Mach, punter41’s 5-time stakes winner by Machiavellian x Stormy Knight, by Storm Cat hit the slop last time out, and apparently didn’t like it one bit.  However, 3 of his last 5 races were stakes wins at or around this distance, and if he’s recovered from the wet, he could be a serious threat today.  (7/1)
6. Cjt3 is flying his Australian-bred Retrical (AUS), a 4-year-old son of Redoute’s Choice (AUS) x Sister Bro (IRE), by Theatrical (IRE), in from Malaysia for this race.  The colt is a non-stakes winner, and his better races have been on turf rather than dirt.  He could surprise us all, but it seems unlikely.  (32/1)
7. Thegallery has entered Grade I winner (Delaware H.) Ethan Hollandia, by Richter Scale x Robellino x Bold Commander.  With a high spf of 115, the 5 year old certainly has the ability to win at this level, but his last two races have been decidedly below par.  With a return to form, he could be tough.  (10/1)
8. Silver Victory, at 6/1 is a lukewarm co-favorite.  The 5-year-old by Silver Ghost x Whipped Boot, by Cool Victor (out of a Northern Dancer mare) has won a Grade III on the turf and two stakes on the dirt, as well as placing in a Grade III on the dirt at two.  His last 2 starts were both in graded stakes, in which he was unplaced.  He represents the arterra stable.  (6/1)
9. If you look back to the Grade II Shiny Gem Stakes here in New York, last year’s winner was Vindiana Jones, by Vindication out of Smoke Lynn, by Gone West x Danzig.  And if he’s a “horse for the course,” peeps6’s newly-turned 4 year old could have a better chance than the 18/1 his recent form has earned him.  (18/1)
10. Quickcall’s 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway (IRE) x Uncool To Ridicule, by Fusaichi Pegasus, Fact of the Matter (IRE) won the Bluegrass Derby Trial (Gr. III) and 4 other stakes.  His last start was an 8^th place finish in the Delaware Mile on DelPenn Champions Day.  His previous start had been a 112 spf to win the Highland Handicap.  With a bounce, he could be right there at the finish.  (10/1)
11. Speaking of bluebloods, how does Storm Cat x Alydar x Native Dancer sound?  A little bit old-fashioned, but top class.  That’s the breeding behind plunk’s 5-year-old Mizzou County.  He won 3 stakes last year, but his last two races didn’t match his pedigree.  He is also shipping in from Malaysia for this race.  (9/1)
12. Robert The Bruce’s only stakes win was the Grade II Copenhagen Cup in Denmark.  The relatively lightly raced 6-year-old is nicely bred, by Mt. Livermore x Roberto x In Reality and has run spfs as high as 113.  Owner dioscuri  is hoping that this talented but inconsistent horse will repeat those efforts rather than the real clunker he ran in the Gr. I Jockey Guild Gold Cup at this track two starts ago.  (16/1)
13. Five-year-old Stormzapper (Storm Cat x Gone West x Known Fact) has hit the board in exactly half of his 12 starts, including a win in the Grade II Bertrando H. at 1 1/8 miles with a 114 spf.  Rosesinmay’s entry is lightly raced, and currently would qualify for a non-winners of a race in 9 months.  (16/1)
14. Finally, the co-favorite, lukewarm though he may be, is the race’s only multi-millionaire.  Taking Risks, by Forty Niner out of Atlantic Sky, by Storm Bird x Alydar, comes off a successful 3-year-old campaign.  He won the Delaware Mile (over several of today’s other starters) in his last out, and had an additional 4 stakes wins (2 graded), as well as 3 Grade I placings.  Bliss has his 4-year-old well rested.  (6/1)