Thirteen Take On Final Thoughts In The 3 YO Sprint
I was glad to get out of the Arizona heat and the cool breezes here in Delaware were much welcomed. It was late in the day when I arrived, so after finding my motel, I took a quick swim in the pool and then ate an early dinner before heading down the street to the Republican Pub, found just to the right of the Ghengis Khan Theater. Inside were many of the GR Simsters and just about all of the DelPen crew. Even Jeff, the token Liberal, or at least the only one at DelPen who admits to being a Liberal, was there. There was a great deal of smack being talked, but everyone behaved him/herself. All that is, except Afc who was spending his last few days of unmarried bliss, surrounded by those that were wishing him……. well???? I hated to leave the fun and the company but I had to be at the track early for the morning workouts.
Shortly before dawn I arrived at the clocker’s booth and found a chair to await the first horse on my list. I was here to cover the 14th race on the Delaware Smackdown card, a 3 YO sprint at 6 furlongs for a purse of $250,000. It wasn’t long before a big, strapping chestnut colt appeared out of dark and headed up the path towards the track. Under a tight hold, Hard To Handle (12/1) galloped effortlessly around the one mile oval. Owned and trained by Zwylde, the horse has won three but has finished second in all of his recent outs. He has a top speed figure of 103.
A sunburned chestnut with a big bald face and a dark, almost black, colt galloped by in a set of two. First Slice (20/1) is a son of Summer Squall and is trained by Totheright. Ranked #29 he has four wins from 14 starts and has won his last five in a row. He went gate to wire in his last out earning a speed figure of 101. The dark colored Abner Hill T (10/1) was hard to see in the gray light of dawn but appeared to be moving well within himself as the two galloped an easy mile. He is owned by Apocolypse and holds the third highest speed-figure in the race with a 106.
It took two grooms to get Topicount’s number 6 ranked colt Phantom Wings (6/1) to the gap. He screamed and yelled and made a spectacle of himself. The big red colt by Fusaichi Pegasus, was a bit common in the head but that could have been because with all his yelling all I saw was teeth. I sure hope he was being asked for a two-minute lick, because it didn’t look like the boy was having a lot of influence on him. The colt is the second highest money earner in the field and his last four victories have all been stakes, two of them at six furlongs. He earned an impressive 107 speed figure, winning The Vietnam Cap last time out.
Pony riders were in demand as three more came by in quick succession. A plain brown colt, Vegas Thunder (17/1), may be a former $7,500 claimer, but he has won his last five in a row and loves the distance. He is owned by Super25. Looking For More (9/1) also went with the pony and was also feeling good as he went by. Owned by Gene, the chestnut son of Brahms has seven wins from 10 starts and has won six of his last eight. Lopic also sent his dark bay colt by Seeking The Gold out with the pony to have a bit of fun. The Power Of One (15/1) did just that and kicked and squealed his way around the track with the pony rider constantly scolding him. With four wins from eight starts, his lone stakes victory came in The Senor City Sal.
No Easy Way Out (19/1) floated by in a ground covering gallop for trainer Allvindy. A big good looking chestnut colt by Vindication, he is a stakes winner at six furlongs. Da’Turah (9/1) by Machiavellian, is trained by Charmer and although he has yet to find the winner’s circle as a 3 YO, he did finish 3rd in a Grade III sprint with a 103 speed figure.
A compact dark grey colt, Final Thoughts (9/2) whistled by on the rail in a down the lane lung opener after a 3/4 mile gallop. The number one ranked 3YO sprinter looked sharp and will undoubtedly be the one to beat on Saturday. By Wild Again, he is trained by Lenny8 and has won 7 of 11 starts including his last four in a row. He has won two graded stakes and earned a 108 in the grade II Wry Ridge.
Mravenger, himself, led his light grey El Prado colt El Yes Avenger (15/1) up to the gap. “Stay to the right,” he told his rider as the powerfully built colt galloped off. He has also won seven of his 14 starts but seems to like a little more distance. Close on his heels coming on to the track for an easy mile gallop, was another light grey, Mach Recital T (12/1). Owned by Highc, Mach Recital T’s last win was four back and the son of Macho Uno is looking for win number four.
Grrm sent his colt Casterly Rock (11/1) out for a jog. He is a big moving dark bay colt by Giant’s Causeway and he won his last out, The King’s Decree. Also out for a jog was the number 16 ranked colt House Of Phyl (7/1). By Opera House, the bright bay colt was on the bit and wanting to do more than just jog. Owned and trained by Sal, and named for his beautiful wife, he has been in the money in 15 of his 19 starts and is the most experienced colt in the field. His last stakes win was five back in The Cuvee Beau at longer but he looked fit and sharp and on the muscle as he went by me.
This will clearly be one of the best races on the card to watch and I wish the best of luck to everyone.