How Often Do Jocks Make The Right Choice?

How Often Do Jocks Make The Right Choice?

Vermont – Good question, good weather and a good crowd are expected for this weekend of racing here in Vermont.  The question on everyone’s lips is whether Willie M made the right choice in Saturday’s feature.  The card topper is The Bro’s Hill Stakes and was named after a 10 year old horse by Cahill Road who won 7 of 65 starts and was stakes placed.  The race will be a six furlong dash over the grass for a purse of $70,000 and drew six entries.  Later on the card will be the senior citizens race and I hope everyone will stick around to watch it also.

Breaking from the inside is the striking light grey colt by Cozzene, Voss Hollandia (9/2).  Although this colt comes from a top barn, the leading Vermont jockey, Willie McClendon elected to ride another entrant even though he had won the Live Conquistador Challenge last time out at both the distance and on this track.  Trainer Hollandia4 was upbeat about the rider defection and is happy with the rider he got, D Finlay, another of Vermont‘s finest.

   “This colt is 7/9 in the money on the turf,” said Hollandia4.  “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to win with him!”

Post two will hold Super9’s dark bay Gulch colt, Making A Statement (7/2).  With two wins from eight starts this colt has also been in the money in six of his eight starts and better yet, has won two of his last three.  He finished third last time out in The Financial Colony where he led from the gate to the top of the stretch before stopping like he hit a wall.  He reportedly bled in that race and that maybe why such an underachieving rider took the mount.

Blind Heart (2/1) is the morning line choice and is a 3 YO light grey colt by Lion Heart.  He has only two wins from 11 starts and runs consistently in the 80’s.  Although he hasn’t won in six months he has been bringing home checks, most recently a third place finish in The Damp Sundial. Trainer Moneymaker is hoping that he is rounding into form and will improve off of his last race.

Rancher has entered Lucky Seas (8/1), a dark brown colt by Event Of The Year.  This colt may be the value in the race as he is 4/5 in the money on the turf and was a closing second last time out in The Live Conquistador Challenge.  He does have only a maiden win but that could be remedied on Saturday.

Kirby County (4/1) is the colt that top jock Willie McClendon chose and he had his pick of the field.  Owned and trained by Kirby66, the bright bay colt by Cat Country (who?) has won four of 12 races and that is the most in the field.  He hasn’t been avoiding competition and he has been first or second in five of his last six.  He is back to sprinting after finishing second last time out in the mile and 1/16 Can Rizzo.  Ranked #30, he should not be overlooked and jockeys earn their money by making the right choices.

On the outside is a plain brown colt by Diesis, Sword of Buda (7/2).  Owned and trained by Juju, he is comparatively lightly raced and has won two of five starts, both on the grass.  He started his career in stake’s company winning The Randy West where he went wire to wire at 6 1/2 furlongs.  After a couple of disappointments he came back strong last time out to wire a tough allowance race in Sweden.  Shipping back to the states his connections expect him to continue to improve.

Good Luck to everyone.