Look of Eagles – Five by Five
Faith, the rogue slayer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, had a catch phrase “five by five”. It seemed to relay to that everything was smooth and on target. “Five by five, B” she would often say with a smirk. This is probably well known to fans of the show, but what is probably less known is where the phrase originated. Five by five can first be heard in Aliens, used in a very similar format. You can almost imagine Faith, saying in her confident manner, “Five by five Slew” in today’s race, the Ozark Dancer Special for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs on good dirt.
Overwhelming 4/5 favorite Slew Gulch is six out ten in his young career and has won his last three races. Three straight victories have come with SFs of 90+, all in Stakes Company. Slew Gulch likes to conserve his energy back in the pack and then blows past his competition when asked to find the wire. It will take a big upset to knock of this sprinter who has all the elements in his favor to make it five for five. He’s even undefeated on an off track (1/1).
The rest of the field is well balanced however, and if someone is going to break up Slew Gulch’s winning streak several of the other colts in this race have talent. Lion of Tsavo, a stakes winning son of Lion Heart enters this race making his first start as a 3-year-old. After breaking his maiden in his second career start, Lion of Tsavo went on to win a stakes race the next time out at 6.5 furlongs. He hasn’t been back to the winner’s circle since then, and this race could determine if he was just a precocious 2-year-old, or if he’s matured and ready to win again at 3. Lion of Tsavo likes to stalk the pace and will make a run at Jungle James going into the stretch.
Jungle James figures to set the pace for this race. He’s strong on the lead but hasn’t always been able to finish a race, placing 6 times out of 11 career starts. He’s finished 2nd in 4 out of his last 5 races, all in stakes company. He will try and fend off the field here as well, but Lion of Tsavo and Slew Gulch will be making runs at him.
Tall Cool One shows talent as well. He’s finished third 4 times out of 6 starts. He’ll be settled in between Slew Gulch and Lion of Tsavo. Will most likely make his move with them and hope to follow them to the front. If Tall Cool One can get the first move of the three, he has a chance of finding the winners circle. He’s coming off a career best 87 SF in the slop, so he may favor today’s off track.
Slew Point is the long shot in this race, and he’s won 5 of 8 career starts, a nice testament to the tough little field in today’s race. He is coming off an allowance win, and has a turf stakes victory to his credit, but he has struggled in Stakes Company recently, missing a money spot in his last three tries. He’s trying to turn it around today. A deep closer, he could have a lot of ground to make up.
There isn’t much speed in this race, so Jungle James may be able to run away with it. If he doesn’t go gate to wire, expect Lion of Tsavo to make a run at him first, as he’ll be sitting closer to the pace. Slew Gulch will likely come flying up from the back and pass both of them in the stretch. I wouldn’t discount Tall Cool One and Slew Point though, and yes I am waffling here more than Peyton Manning talking about his offensive line, but the field is so close it’s anyone’s race if Slew Gulch falters. That’s a big if though, and he has a good chance to make it a Five by Five day for owner ace3.