One Way To Glory in the Diplomat Way Handicap
Early season G1 races often are as much a preview of what is to come as they are a culmination of what’s already been done. Short on established stars but flush with potential, a big early season G1 test will go a long way to establishing a horse’s credentials through the first half of the 2006 calendar year. There are 14 horses set to contest a flat mile of Kentucky dirt this week for a $400,000 pot in the G1 Diplomat Way Handicap, and only the favorite, Unprecedented, has established G1 willing form in his recent past. Thirteen others have braved the sometimes finicky winters in
Diplomat Way Handicap
Grade I
One mile
Fast Dirt
$400,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
PP | Horse ID | Horse | Owner | Jockey | Odds | Comments |
1 | KINGPIN JACOB | 8/1 | Despite the clunker that he tossed out in his last race, this Langfuhr colt has enough back class to make him a big contender in this race, and is capable of throwing a 105+ speed figure on his best day. If he can put to rest the nagging questions associated with a next-to-last finish in his previous outing, he can be a force to be reckoned with when he turns on the engines through the stretch. He’s a live horse at decent odds if you’re willing to forgive the last one. | |||
2 | 9/1 | While still ranked twelfth in the division, this blue blood has been reeling of late: since a win in the Lil’ Leprechaun Mile (G3) and two desperately close losses in a pair of G2 races, he’s been regressing steadily. He was drubbed by today’s favorite Unprecedented twice in his last four races, and looks to be an underlay here. Seems as though he’ll have a hard time reversing his recent form here. | ||||
3 | BUDDHA’S UNDIES | 14/1 | The numbers seem to indicate that he’s a sprinter. The past performances seem to indicate that his closing kick can, in the right circumstances, be effective over a route. The pedigree (2×2 to Unbridled’s Song) is somewhat odd. The prospects are somewhat dim today, simply because there seem to be classier horses with similar running styles in the field today. Pass on this one. | |||
4 | PERFECT MOTION(IRE) | 11/1 | Yet another with a strong closing punch, and all of these closers are going to be praying fervently for a hot pace. Why a Theatrical-sired horse has found his best stride on the dirt, I’m not quite sure, but it apparently works for this colt, though he may be just a cut below the top horses in this field. A career best effort gives him an outside chance of jumping up into the money, but there is little to suggest that after 34 starts, he’s ready to take his game to a new level. | |||
5 | CAMPANILING | 11/1 | The speed figures put him a step ahead of Perfect Motion, the class he’s been running in puts him a step behind. Either way, he’s been in the habit of winning, and he looks to have the better chance of stepping up and running a big one. He’s got a hot jock on board, but he’s another that will be left at the mercy of the pace situation. A stone-cold-closer, if there’s no pace, he has no race. | |||
6 | ENOUGH A LA EMBLEM | 17/1 | Going for him is the fact that, at the very least, he’s a stalker, which puts him in a decent position relative to all the closers that seem to be begging for a pace to run at. That said, his last race was the only one he shows above a 100 speed figure, and he’d need another 5 points to put him in contention with this field. He’s more likely to regress than he is to make that jump. | |||
7 | CORAL GUY | 11/1 | Repeat prevailing theme: Closer, needs pace, has class if race sets up for him. The only twist is his very, very, very sporadic race schedule over the last few months. Consistency might be an issue for him here. | |||
8 | ALYRUSH | 12/1 | Lightly raced colt has the speed figures to put him squarely in the mix today, and he was most unfortunate not to win a listed stake with a 110 speed figure. If a horse a long odds is likely to have a say today, my money would be on this one. | |||
9 | INDYCITY T | 16/1 | This four year old is bred for speed, speed and more speed. His sire, Indian Territory, is by | |||
10 | BFIFTYTWO | 5/1 | Six furlongs at the G1 level didn’t agree with him, but since two mediocre efforts under those conditions, he’s stretched out to 8.5 and 8 furlongs with plenty of success. His speed figures make him a solid 2nd choice in this field, though he may have the tactical advantage over Unprecedented if that rival sticks to his recent tendencies. If he can handle the jump in class and clear Indycity T relatively early though, it may be difficult for anyone to chase him down. | |||
11 | UNPRECEDENTED | 4/1 | Ninth in the division, this colt has a pair of G1 wins in the Bob Woodward (9 furlongs) and the Sterile Mile (8 furlongs) to his credit, and his late charge is always dangerous, though he doesn’t always make it to the wire in front. The speed figures are imposing in this company, and class alone says he’s the obvious favorite, but he would benefit from a return to the tactics he used in the Bob Woodward, where he set the pace. He doesn’t necessarily need to be on the lead today, but he would be well served if he were to be within 3-4 lengths of the leaders with half a mile to go, instead of his customary 6-7. If he can adjust accordingly, he’s the likely winner. If not, look for Bfiftytwo to hold him off in what may be an exciting stretch drive. | |||
12 | TIME EARL | 18/1 | His last win was in a $6,200 allowance race, his only stakes attempt in his last 8 resulted in a tiring 7th (of 7), and was 4th against $25k allowance company last time out. He’s an honest trier and a very useful horse, but he’s very much in over his head today. | |||
13 | WAY COOL JR. | 17/1 | Probably more of a factor in this one for how he’ll be instrumental in forcing the pace early than what kind of an impact he’ll have at the finish line, but if he can soften up Bfiftytwo, he may pave the way for one of the closers. If by some miracle he can clear the field early he may have enough to hang on if he can pull out a huge effort, but he tired badly last time out going 7.5 furlongs. Needs a lot to fall his way to pick up any sort of money here. | |||
14 | ALZAO MISSED | 11/1 | Yet another horse at 11/1 in the field, and like the rest, there’s enough to like that you can’t dismiss him, but he’s not necessarily a big player. The 106 speed figure is enticing from his last outing, but he also is likely to regress, as that figure represented a 15 point jump from two starts back, so he may regress. |