Big Race Preview 2769
Three grade I races this week to watch and starting this week and going through all the way to the Bluegrass Derby check out the Bluegrass Beat.
Race: 2762.6315 Train Yard Special – Grade I – $450,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf
The odds maker seems to think this one has a heavy favorite but I beg to differ. This one is wide open and for sim gamblers could produce some nice prices if you find the right combinations. The favorite here is Cosmo Girl. This is a very well bred filly with two 90+ speed figures on the turf in routes which none of the other have. She is a grade II winner but she just raced last week in the Equinics. How she handles back to back runs will probably determine how well she does here.
I think the winner will come from one of the next two runners. Gettin’ It is fresh off a grade III win where she ran a nice 90 speed figure. She is very well bred and has a nice middle of the pack closing style. Her breeding suggest this distance should be good for her as well. Getin’ It beat Kills the Pain (IRE) last time out. Kills the Pain (IRE) was running in her first route last time and now with that run under her belt she may be ready to hold the lead better.
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Race: 2762.0314 The Saturday Night Special – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf
Xtremely A Fan heads this group of grade I hopefuls. Since changing stables he has bounced around a bit trying a couple of different distances. He ran lights out last time out in a grade III race back at his more familiar distance of a mile. As long as he is on good form he will likely make short work of this field.
It has almost been a year since Jolie’s Song last won a race and here she is back in with the boys again. Unless she shows a complete reversal of from she will likely finish off the board again. Beyer Beware could be the one who upsets Xtremely A Fan. Beyer Beware gave the favorite all he could handle last time out losing by a head on the wire. Maybe the extra little distance here puts him ahead of the Fan. Lord Hornblower is probably the best long shot in the field. He is lightly raced and has speed. That speed could be the key to him hanging in to the end.
Race: 2769.0915 Sweet Nanette Stakes – Grade I – $400,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Dirt
This field will be a good test. There are several fillies in here that look to have a real chance. Fame and Fortune could be the real deal. She is not the favorite here but she has won three of her four starts and what a race she ran last time out. She posted a 96 speed figure which is the tops in the field.
The favorite is Alarming Soldier who has won two of three starts. This will be her first stakes test and she looks pretty solid. Elusive Infinity comes into this race off a very nice second place finish in a grade III. That was a very solid speed figure and puts her in contention. Drop the Lemon Kid has really improved her last two races. If she can continue that improvement she could be a player in this field.
The first major stops along the road to the
Race: 2769.0214 Fountain of Ute – Grade II – $200,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt
You have several horses lumped together with the slight favorite here being Super Coverup. His pedigree has a lot of sprint influence but he proved last time out he is pretty good in routes. He is a stalker type so the pace will not get away from him and if he can repeat that 96 speed figure he should be a factor in this race.
Always Improving won the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Juvy and will be returning to the dirt. He started his career out on the dirt and is stakes placed but he is racing just seven days after an even run at the Equinics. Melek Ha Cavode is a perfect three for three coming into the race. He ran a very fast race last time out winning a seven and a half furlong stakes with a 97 speed figure. His one route try was solid he could remain perfect. Garcon Zig is a runner that has run a couple of 90+ speed figures and comes in off an open allowance win. He could have a solid shot.
There is just a whole group of runners here and anyone of which could step up should be an interesting race.
Race: 2762.0515 Risen Star Stakes – Grade III – $125,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt
Giant Run (IRE) is the favorite here but throw him out till he can prove he can run a mile. He is zero for two in routes but has run some very fast sprints. Super stables start two pretty good runners that both have a chance. Cash is King did not run all that well last time out in a stakes but has a couple of nice speed figures here in routes. A bounce back and he looks like a contender. Cycle of Renewal (IRE) is perfect in his two dirt starts. He won a stakes at this distance last time out but needs to improve off that run to win here.
Alastor is very much like the favorite in the Fountain of Ute in that he has a sprinty pedigree. However he ran very well last time out winning a stakes at this distance and should be a player in the stretch. Several other runners look capable of getting into contention here like White Hot, Death Alley Driver, and Senior Year.
Race: 2769.4116 The
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and three sixteenths on the Dirt
This field did not fill and Virtuoso might be a reason. Virtuoso is a deep closer that was very solid as a two year old finishing fifth in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvy and third in the Movieland Futurity. As he matures his closing move improves as he showed winning convincingly last time out in his three year old debut. He looks like the best contender running this week.
Fuzzy Magic shares favoritism with Virtuoso but is not as accomplished. He has been running very well in listed stakes with several 90+ speed figures. He stretches out a bit and that should not hurt him. The filly Punch Drunk T has shown up to take on the boys. She is a nice filly with solid speed figures and finds a nice spot to possibly place against the boys.