Small Field for the Live Conquistador Challenge

The turf will be a bit soggy for the Live Conquistador Challenge Stakes at Vermont Race Course.  A six furlong sprint on turf for 3-year-olds only has attracted a very small field. 

1. Lucky Seas, by Event of the Year x Seeking the Gold x Danzig, (6) 1-1-1 $31,880, has a pedigree that covers the “big three” – Seattle Slew, Mr. Prospector, and Northern Dancer – one generation back.  He is inbred 3×3 to Mr. P.  His best speed figure, an 81, came in his maiden breaker on turf.  His first two starts were on dirt, and were not what one might hope for.  Although he was last in his most recent start (Pinky Bonanza S.), he was only 7 lengths behind the winner, and in the race before that, the Quebelle’s Challenge S. in Upper New York, he managed a nice stakes placing.  He will represent rancher and will go off at 3/1.

2. Run For Honey, owned by carlos410, has hit the board in exactly half his starts (12) 1-2-3 $72,920, and is the top money earner in the field.  His best speed figure of 85 came in his last race, although he was out of the money on the dirt.  He certainly hasn’t ducked anyone; his last 8 starts were all stakes, and include a second, two thirds, and a fourth, all sprints.  With his pedigree (Gold Fever x Forli (ARG) x Sea-Bird), I’ll be interested to see him stretch out a bit, and perhaps to try the dirt again.  5/2

3. *Computer filled out the field with Quirt’s Petion, (11) 2-1-0 $17,693, a son of the stakes-placed mare Wicked Hot (GB), by Petionville x Dubai Millenium x Forty Niner.  His pedigree makes him inbred 2×3 to Seeking The Gold, as both Petionville and Dubai Millenium are by that son of Mr. Prospector, and also inbred 3x4x4 to Mr. P, thanks to Forty Niner.    In the past, he’s run for a tag as low as $2500, and his best speed figure to date was a 78 in a dirt allowance race.  He finished second in a starter allowance in France LAST WEEK.  I’d be a bit worried that he just won’t have the energy to compete today!  5/2

4. Hollandia4 has entered his colt Voss Hollandia (10) 1-4-2 $52,224, out of the very talented game dam Brown Voss, a two-time Grade I stakes winner and a specialist in turf sprints.  By Cozzene x Akaaber (by Danzig) x Lion Cavern, Voss Hollandia finished 3^rd in the North Baby Bonanza S. at 2.  This will be his first start in 2006, and he comes off a 2^nd place finish with his best spf of 82 in his last start.