Spotlighting High Demand Claimers
Hand full upon hand full of horses were claimed this weekend. These are the ones with the most claims:
10/22/13 PROPHESKI $3,500 claimed by Yoz02 21 claims
A five year old filly out of Fuji Kieski, a sire who hasn’t had a strong year with 2-year olds this season. The strength falls on the tail end of the pedigree of Forty Niner x AP Indy which grabbed the eye of a heck of a lot of trainers. She is lightly raced this year with a pair of early spring races and returned this week to finish a mid-field fifth at 3-2 odds. It’s been a year and a half since her last win and I think she could pay back her weight with some patience, but don’t expect a gold mine.
10/22/13 TIZ LUCK $10,000 claimed by Blackbear 12 claims
The name of this 3-year old filly totally mis-describes her. Luck has not fallen upon her at all. She’s had one win in 13 starts and that came back in March when she broke her maiden with her fastest speed of 91. Since then, she’s had 10 starts and hit the board one time. The Lookin At Lucky x Hennessy gal dropped out of allowance this week to claimers, going on poly, which resulted in a disastrous 45 speed. Hard to tell if she was injured in the race or despised the track surface. She doesn’t look like much on paper, but has been racing every 2-3 weeks. Better rest may have better results.
10/24/13 WAR PLEASANTRIES $3,000 claimed by Norseman 10 claims
Picked up in April after running for a tag of $45k, this colt out of War Chant x Pleasant Colony raced exclusively in the starter allowance ranks until the 6-month eligibility expired. He returned to claiming racing this week, going for a low $3k tag and picking up a relatively easy win by 5 strides in the process. He won four races for his previous owner using the strategy of pursing the protected starter allowance races. Seemed to work rather well for prior owner and at the low $3k tag price, he’s once again eligible for the starter allowance races, this time, with lower tags.
10/24/13 UMETOVA $7,500 claimed by Chino2 10 claims
Raced in early September in $8k claiming affair where she was claimed and raced in an allowance once and dropped back to claiming for $5k price tag this week. Attractive 1-2 odds shined the light on this lady from the Grand Slam x Araafa bloodline. She’s out of three-time stake winning mare Cydonia (oddly, she only won four career races including maiden). Umetova has had better success than mom, winning 7 of 28, on the board half the time. She hasn’t had a rest in about a year and a half and that may work wonders for her.
10/24/13 HOLY GREY RULER $2,000 claimed by Mazeltov 14 claims
A field of 11 fillies this week resulted in five being claimed, led by this daughter of Holy Bull with Grey Dawn 2nd as the DS. As the third choice in the field at 9/2, she turned out to be the top one getting the claims in the race and she got to visit the winner’s circle winning with a late close by a head. She’s nine for eleven in the money with four wins and a current win streak of two races racing on the dirt. She hasn’t topped a speed of 90 yet, so the claiming/starter allowance levels look most competitive for her.
10/24/13 BE YOURSELF $2,000 claimed by Bettylou02 13 claims
Also in the same field with Holy Grey Ruler was this 10-year old mare who got the second most claims in the race as the even money favorite. Unfortunately, she failed miserably to deliver, finishing fifth a good 10 strides back. This came on the heels of setting a career mark of 101, however, that came back in April. Only 29 races in her career that dates back to 2005, but includes a long 5-year plus hiatus. She’s up there in age and has shown improvement in second starts back after layoffs. Could have a good run next time out.
10/25/13 PIVOTRAJ $2,000 claimed by Leakysmares 16 claims
An overplayed 1-5 favorite this week, this 8-year old mare out of Pivotal x Rahy lost badly in a four horse field with a miserable speed of 31. She is very lightly raced with only 30 career starts and three during this current year. Affecting her this week was moving from a mile to going two miles. In distance. She never went more than 12 furlongs before, and even at 12 furlongs she finished far back. No speedster here and 80’s seem to be her best speed range. Last win came at the end of 2008. Best shot on the raceway is probably low end, non-winner events. Better shot in using her for breeding.
10/26/13 ALIGNED WITH MARS $5,000 claimed by Jbcri9 13 claims
A sizeable drop in claiming ranks from $100k to $5k resulted in this colt being loved by bettors and wagered down to 1-10 odds. An easy win for this one and a race that attracted many trainers, primarily for the Montjeu x Kingmambo bloodline. This guy likes to run up front but tends to tire and some tweeking with running styles may show improvement. Capable of hitting speeds in mid90-range and could improve as a 4-year old next season.
10/26/13 STILL WANT MORE $17,500 claimed by Bing2 12 claims
Speeds at 7.5 furlongs tend to be a bit higher rated than at other distances, so keeping that in mind, this 5-year old horse charted a 110 speed back in February at this distance agains $150k claimers. Then he took a layoff of eight months and returned to the $17,500 price tag for claimers. He cruised across the line in first this week after stalking the early leaders. He’s out of Ghostzapper x Gone West and has shown that he loves the grass much more than the silly old dirt. I think there is talent hidden in this one.
10/26/13 SECRET ADMIRATION $3,500 claimed by Theshoe 16 claims
In a field of nine horses this week, where six were claimed, this runner saw the most action with 16 individuals pursing her. As it turned out, I was the lucky winner and it is rare that I get to write about one that I finally walked away with. This one is a filly out of Admire Moon x Deputy Minister who took a big drop in claiming price from $50k to $3.5k, which came after a six month layoff. Only nine races over the career of this four year old and I feel she has some talent as she kicked out a speed of 99 earlier this year. Hopes are there that this can go higher.
10/27/13 MINEESOTA FEVER $10,000 claimed by Victorcruzny 11 claims
This 7-year old mare is one of the most infrequently used horses on the track that I have come across. She has only 11 races since debuting as a 3-year old in 2009. After a 2-year lay off between 2010 and 2012, she raced once before being sidelined until this year. Her first two starts this season sported solid mid-90 speeds. She then went on another hiatus for 7 months before dropping in claiming levels to $10k, and getting pushed off as the 1-5 favorite, she got the eye of investors. She finished second after cutting the early fractions on the lead but a much lower 78 speed. She’s out of Demidoff x Storming Fever and is worth a few more shots on the track.