Eight Gun For the Carden Special

Welcome to Ireland race day, where we have a full card of racing for you today.  We are nearing the end of our card, the 15^th race, The Carden Special, a Grade II event for 4year olds and up going a mile and a half on the Fast Dirt course.  The $250,000 purse has drawn some nice routing horses, which makes this a very close horse race.  Let us see who’s shown up….

From PP1, is #95054 Epic Steam, a 4 year old brown colt trained by waremblem6.  He is a son of More Than Ready out of River Speaking (Danzig x Alydar) and is 13/2-4-3 lifetime.  This big colt has made only one stakes start, which was his last race, where he finished 2^nd.  He has been a solid allowance runner, but still has many of his conditions left to use.  He could surprise, especially since his speeds jumped last time out, but he will need to perk it up a little more.  He is off at odds of 8/1 and is being ridden by jock M. Fontain.

Next up, in PP2, we have #75920 Lucus Augusti(IRE).  He is a 4year old brown colt trained by galicia.  He is a son of Theatrical(IRE) out of Alvarella(IRE) (Barathea(IRE) x Shirley Heights(GB)) and is 21/5-3-1 lifetime.  This colt has been mainly running on the grass for most of his career, only switching back to the main track in his last start.  He has had more stakes appearances than PP1, with some success, but his recent stakes have not shown that he can handle stiffer competition.   He will need to go back to his form of early last year to take this one away.  He is the longshot here at 14/1 and has jockey S. Collins in the irons. 

Then, from PP3, is #69859 King Of The Wind, a 4 year old brown colt trained by topicount4.  He is a son of Deputy Minister out of Fuamatu Ma’afala (Fusaichi Pegasus x Buckpasser) and is 19/4-1-1 lifetime.  This colt, whose name reminds me of a book by Marguerite Henry, has been ok in his allowance runs, and placed in an ungraded race early last year.  However, he has not been as consistent as others in the race.  His speeds have been ok, but this is his first attempt at this distance of 12fl.  He is off at odds of 12/1 and has jock F. Dirks in the saddle. 

Next, breaking from PP4, we have #89309 Geodesic Quark, a 4 year old derbyrun trained brown colt.  He is a son of Exploit out of Alygenius Fog(Beau Genius x Alydar) and is 17/4-6-0 lifetime.  This colt may have a small case of seconditis but, he has sure put up some nice numbers over route distances.  His closing style will put him in trouble if there is no speed in this race.  But by speeds alone, he is definitely one to watch, having placed and won in stakes races.  He is the favorite today at odds of 5/2 and is ridden by E.C. Doyle.

Starting from PP5, is #91842 Old Pulpit.  This 4 year old sunkitten trained brown colt is a son of Pulpit out of Old Bang (Seeking The Gold x Damascus) and is 18/5-5-1 lifetime.  This big colt has had some ups and downs of late, but seems to be pulling it together a little bit recently.  He has gone this distance before, but that was several races back, but that shouldn’t be a big issue.  And his recent speeds have been decent, so if he can pull it together, he can steal this from under the favorite’s nose.  He is off at odds of 5/1 and is being ridden by Z. Kentucky. 

Next up, in PP6, we have #46228 Barb’s Adventure.  This 4year old dark grey sprintbarn trainee is a son of Palace Music out of a Al Hattab bred mare.  He is 14/5-1-2 lifetime.  This big guy has been on what seems like a hot streak of late, winning 2 stakes in a row in his last two starts, one at this distance.  However, this is his first graded stakes attempt, so anything could happen.  His speeds in those races have been very good, so I can see this one being up there in at least the top three.  He is at odds of 7/2 and has jockey A. Reed in the saddle. 

Then, breaking from PP7, is #22336 Lemieux Again, a 6year old brown horse trained by mrfu.  He is a son of Storm Cat based on Forty Egg (Forty Niner x Sir Ivor) and is 16/5-2-1 lifetime.  This old man of the track is a really solid allowance runner and has done ok in his stakes appearances.  However, his speeds are not as stellar as some of the younger boys in this race.  He is going to have to really step up his game to steal this one away.  He is off at 6/1 odds and is ridden by M. Russell.

Last, but not least, in PP8, we have #32905 Schottzie II.  He is a 7year old chestnut horse trained by tihsho.  He is a son of Pulpit out of a Buckpasser bred mare and is 44/10-9-0 lifetime.  This big horse has the most experience of the bunch, in terms of races run.  He is still running decently, but his speeds are not too stellar and he has not run at this distance before.  That and the wear and tear factor will give this guy a few obstacles to overcome besides his rivals.  He is also at odds of 7/2 and is being ridden by D. Doyle. 

            Well, as you can see, we have a pretty close horse race here today (and there’s nothing wrong with that).  Personally I like the 4, the 5 and the 6 to round out my top 3, but there are many other options that are up in the air.  Good luck to all connections in this race and Good Racing!