John John attempts comeback in Utah
This week in
The race is named after the dual stakes winner December Prospect who spent his racing career in the karie barn. A winner of 9 from 36, and more than $400,000 in prizes, this talented son of St. Jovite / Mr. Prospector was sent to the vet for THAT operation, before then meeting with Van Nistleroy and producing December Storm. Sadly that breeding was unsuccessful, and karie retired December Storm after he failed to earn a single dollar in 5 starts. December Prospect’s racing highlights came in his first two seasons, at three and four, where he won a black type event each year. He raced on until 7, but didn’t greet the judge in his final 17 starts, his last allowance wins being consecutive events mid way through his five year old season.
To the field racing for black type glory this weekend:
From the inside gate will emerge Danes Risen Star. Running in the famous manni colors he’s vying for his sixth black type win, and seventh overall win in his 22 start career. He’s a five year old by Danehill, from the incredibly smart, nine times stakes winner Babe’s Sheep (Risen Star / Seattle Slew). Manni165 threw this one in at the deep end from the outset, winning an allowance on debut at 2, and following up two starts later with a stakes victory. Restricted to seven runs at 3 for two wins, and eight at 4 recording three stakes wins, he has raced almost exclusively at the top end of town. He’s lining up for the fourth time this year, following up a couple of triple digit fifth placings in stakes events.
The meguire Mining Company was founded in late 2004 with the lease on an old gold mine, and an unhealthy reliance on Raise a Native. The major asset of the company was the two year old colt Gold Strucked (Strike Gold / Strike the Gold / Mining). Soon after commencing operations, substantial nuggets were to be found simply lying around on the ground (2 stakes wins from 3 starts at two). The share price rocketed and the 2004 office Christmas party was an event to behold. Shareholders were confident they’d backed the next Poseidon, while the company director rolled around the floor in unrestrained fits of hilarity. 2005 brought a reality check. Five top level starts produced nothing more than vague specks of color. The share price crashed and meguire was no longer laughing loudly, in fact he could raise no more than an insincere grin as he demanded a restructure. Back to basics, the company regained profitability without striking it rich. (8 allowance starts for 1 win, 2 seconds and 2 thirds). The share price plodded along, but the 2005 Christmas party was a far more subdued affair. 2006 has brought more optimism to meguire Mining as Gold Strucked has lifted the bar. The share value has risen, although to levels still way below its peak, as signs of a new vein have been located with a couple of triple digit speed ratings. Will more gold be strucked this week? Are there more exciting nuggets awaiting discovery? Will meguire regain his former jocularity? Some of the answers may present themselves in this weekend’s episode of the Gold Strucked story
Maximise occupies stall 3. This slow maturing four year old has blossomed since entering the dragnil stables. Perhaps given insufficient time by his original trainer, dragnil claimed a bargain for 15k in week 2447. The new trainer increased the quality of the opposition he set slowly, combining higher tag claims with starter allowances and allowances until Maximise clearly established himself as the genuine article. Carrying impressive blood, being by Cryptoclearance from Sevilla, a nicely bred but poorly performed daughter of Red Ransom / Mill Reef, a little time was possibly all he needed. Maximize comes into this, his first black type attempt, with 5 wins from 18, $90,000 in earnings and direct from a smart allowance win in Oregon four weeks ago. This may be the start of a very successful four year old racing season and although he is officially the outsider of the field, he’s not without a real chance.
Throwing the race into total confusion, trainer festivmood returns to the track following a 15 month sabbatical (welcome back, festivmood). The trainer is reprsented in this event with the proven star of the past, John John. John John is a Grade 1 winning miler with the most impressive record of 8 wins from 17 and a bank account of more than $850,000. With speed figures regularly edging towards 120 there’s no doubt that on his day, he would strike fear into his opposition in whatever he contested. The big question mark surrounds his ability to bounce back to his best in his first run for more than a year. John John lacks nothing on the form page, and his bloodlines read make interesting reading. He’s by Blushing John, an inexpensive but capable son of Blushing Groom, from the 14 start maiden Storm Cat / Riverman mare Caulfield. The bookmakers have long memories, having no reservations in installing John John at a very short 3/2, while opposing trainers can always hope their charges have the edge in fitness.
From barrier 5 comes Alzao Missed, a five year old winner of 6 from 22, knocking on the door of $200,000 in prizemoney. He’s another who’s climbed from the claiming ranks to be a genuine stakes contender. Joining the slewsback2 operation mid 2005, Alzao Missed has, in 12 starts for his new connections, recorded three allowance wins, and finished third in a full stakes field three starts back in The Stupid Pie Stakes over the mile in
Taking his spot in stall 6 will be Dencora. A five year old homebred, he boasts impeccable lineage carrying Storm Cat / Sadler’s Wells blood. Trainer bongo has been content to dominate the lower allowances ranks, winning 10 of his 28 trips to the track, picking up $180,000 in the process, and returning sizzling speed ratings as high as 118. His occasional trips into black type territory have seen him run some nice races without tasting victory, although he did run third twice in stakes races as a three year old. His last start failure can be forgiven, as it was on a rain affected track, and took his off track unplaced record to 2 from 2. The 9/1 on offer could be generous, as the oddsmakers are running scared from the favourite, and a run anywhere near his best could see him joining the well deserved stakes winners club this weekend.
Go Go Yubari occupies gate 7. This lightly raced four year old boasts a better than 50% winning record, having come home first 6 times from 11 trips to the track. Very nicely bred, being by the hugely successful, but somewhat under-rated sire Pine Bluff, from the gender altered, light raced Gone West / Private Account horse One Account. One Account won 3 from 16 and $61,000, while his offspring Go Go Yubari has well surpassed that effort, banking just under $200,000. tiramisu42 raced both the immediate ancestor and now Go Go Yubari, taking him through the allowance conditions before achieving stakes success last start in The Gal Light Special in DC at the final meeting of 2005. It will be no surprise to anybody to discover this horse on the verge of a most exciting four year old season. Top jockey O.Osborne has accepted the ride and the price on offer of 8/1 puts this horse on the second line of betting.
Barrier 8 will be occupied by another lightly raced up and comer, The Pedro Factor. This four year old seems to have found his niche at the dirt mile, despite having genes which shout out for long on the grass. He’s by a capable but under-rated son of Sadlers Wells in Scenic, with Ela-Mana-Mou and Unfuwain making up the remainder of the pedigree. Pedro1975 obviously knows what his charge prefers, as he’s won 4 of his 9 starts, and pocketed $80,000 as he’s been gradually elevated through the allowance restrictions. He’s returned triple digit figures at each of his last five starts, all over this distance, while picking up two wins and two seconds. The Pedro Factor is a model of consistency of late, will be well ridden by quality rider F. Teising and has been expertly groomed for this first tilt at the black type
Gate 9 has been allotted to Smeltz in Dixie. At 5 years old and with 34 starts in his career, he’s just about reached modern day sim veteran status. Smeltz in Dixie has picked up 7 victories and $187,000 along the way, since being claimed for 20k by alexxx69 at his first start. He earned lower case black type when third in The Junior Road Stakes in Oklahoma in the middle of his three year old season, and again when second in Maryland’s Your Palaces Challenge just over a year ago. His breeding is interesting, being by the useful but underused Tactical Cat, a son of Storm Cat, out of the moderately performed Laura Skate (Hallow’s Eve / Dixieland Band), a low level winner of 7 from 20. Smeltz in Dixie is clearly the pick of her 3 progeny to date and has been a constant provider for his current stable. He hasn’t won for almost a year, and runs into some smart opposition in this, but he still runs the odd solid race and must be given some sort of rough hope.
Drawn gate #10 we find Creep. The four year old colt is by Generous from the Grade 2 and Grade 3 winning mare Finger Expand (Miswaki /
Silver Blast lines up in the outside gate, number 11. He’s a four year old homebred son of Silver Deputy, from the stakes placed mare Pharun Groom (Nureyev / Runaway Groom). Silver Blast is clearly out to prove something this weekend, as his younger three year old Theatrical half-sister, Unchallenged, is showing signs of perhaps becoming something special. Trainer blaster6 has brought Silver Blast along patiently, winning his maiden at his third and final start at 2, two allowances from just eight starts at 3, and a last start victory at the second start of his four year old season. Preparation for black type racing does not come much more thorough as he faces stakes competition for the first time in a career which has provided 4 wins from 13, and has banked $76,000. The oddsmakers are showing him scant respect, installing him at 16/1 and second longest in the betting. It’s a testament to the strength of this field that the outsiders possess very real chances of bring home the spoils in this event
The Morning Line Says:
3/2 – John John
8/1 – Dane’s Risen Star, Go Go Yubari, The Pedro Factor, Creep
The Computer Says:
Go Go Yubari – 219
Dane’s Risen Star – 258
Creep – 377
Dencora – 631
The Pedro Factor – 722