Going for $90,000 in the Financial Colony

It’s a small field for the Financial Colony Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs on the grass for 3-year-olds, but there are no longshots here.  All have run respectable speed numbers on the turf, and based on best performances, any one could  have a chance.

1. Making A Statement (7) 2-1-2 $31,776, a son of stakes winner Ongoing Wail, from the super9 stable will break from the inside.  The son of Gulch x Summer Squall x Seattle Slew has the royal breeding for this (and since it’s the FINANCIAL  Colony S.,  might be a hunch bet – statement, like bank statement, get it?  Sorry about that!), and won his last two, a maiden breaker and a N2L, both on turf, with an 82 speed figure last out.  It will be interesting to see how he does here.  His dam was stronger on dirt and at a distance, but he certainly seems to like the grass well enough.  5/2 

2. Volodimer, also at 5/2, (4) 1-0-1 $37,930, represents the hollandia6 team.  Dam West Rum wasn’t much of a racehorse, but does have turf breeding.  The colt is by Officer x Gone West x Blakeney (GB), and debuted on dirt, then improved substantially, winning his second start on turf and staying there for two stakes attempts, finishing 3^rd and 4^th in his two attempts.  His turf debut gave him the top speed figure in this race, with an 85.

3. Conservatory is a royally bred son of Forty Niner x Seattle Slew x Pine Bluff from the elesto barn.  He was second with an 82 speed figure in his last start, his only attempt on turf.  (4) 1-1-0 $16,160.  His only stakes attempt was on dirt, where he finished a very disappointing 9^th of 9.  9/5

4. Mt. Zabeel  (7) 2-0-3 $53,452, by Forestry x Mt. Livermore x Zabeel (NZ), from galloper would seem a logical favorite.  He’s the only stakes winner in the field, and has two additional stakes placings, all on turf, and he’s also the top money earner.  His top speed figure was an 83, and he shares co-favorite status with Conservatory, which seems surprising based on his record.  9/5