Ohio throws open its surface to the juvenile colts this week, with the five-and-a-half furlong $60,000 Larry’s Land Memorial Stakes taking center stage on this midsummer’s weekend. As usual for this time of year, the race seems to be wide open, although one lightly raced colt appears first among equals.
Sinnful Des(IRE) is the early 6-5 favorite, and his lone credential is a wire-to-wire maiden win in Utah five weeks ago. But that sparkling effort netted him a strong debut speed figure of 77, and he finished well, unchallenged, with a time of :58.40 for five furlongs. The stable of songcycle has engaged B. Fortune to ride, a journeyman experiencing a career year, with more than half of the wins in his five-year career coming this year alone. His job should be to negotiate a path to the lead, with just enough in the tank to hold off the late charge of the field. This son of Sinndar(IRE) out of a Summer Squall mare will definitely appreciate added ground, and might have some preference for the lawn down the road. The questions are, though, whether or not this compact field of six has a strong enough closer to rein him in down the stretch, and whether just having one career start gives him enough seasoning for two-year-old stakes company.
Rudolph Noveyev(IRE) looks to throw a wrench into the pace scenario. Trained by the ferncourt stable, he’s got speed to burn, and could be the right horse at the right time. This son of Noverre(IRE) out of a Nureyev mare exhibited a lot of speed in his first three races, wiring the field in his maiden win three back, and repeating that effort in a subsequent allowance win. His last effort was a failed stakes effort in Europe, which should only serve to sharpen his speed for this race. At 7-2, with circuit leader M. Grunhard in the irons, this juvenile colt is the prime threat angling for an upset, providing enough of his speed is held in reserve for a stretch drive.
Van Tiztelrooy is the most experienced youngster in the field, and has two wins in the bank already for the darylcal stable. He too looks to pressure the early pace, and his last, an allowance win in Missouri, showed him on the right side of an early pace battle, stalking then taking over late. His best speed figure was in the slop in Kentucky, and this son of Van Nistelrooy looks to be a promising juvenile as the year grinds onward. Whether he can outlast so much early speed, though, is a question mark.
Niner For Gold is a fascinating youngster whose North Florida credentials and pedigree add an air of mystery to the race. He’s a son of the Mr. Prospector-line sire Apuron, out of a Dr. Koch mare, and showed his tendency towards early speed in his first two career starts at the Panhandle track. His trainer, megaman42, has him ready for his first start against winners and away from North Florida; the lack of a headliner within the pedigree (save for having Forty Niner as the dam’s dam-sire) tends to run against the grain for the two-year-old division, as typically the two-year-olds with the most buzz have the priciest pedigrees. His figures are in the 70s for both starts, and whether he can keep up will be answered today. The key might lie in the fact that this horse has already run and won at six furlongs on the lead; intriguing contender.
It Can’t Be So won his February debut in California with a speed figure of 70, but his numbers have since tailed off. This son of Yes It’s True has been well-rested between starts for the larkin stable, and his last effort was a misfire on the grass in Michigan, which might serve as a wake-up call for this two-year-old. He looks to rebound here, and with the lengthy rest between starts (nine, eleven, and now five weeks between races) and the last turf effort, he could be ready to surprise at a 5-1 price.
Wooden Helix(AUS) represents the sadlier stable, and there’s not too much that can be said for this starter. The reason: he’s making his career debut. The backstretch rumor is that he’s a modest work horse in the mornings, and has been polishing off his feed after each work as if he’s starving. His jockey, K. Wheeler, is having a very good year, which will no doubt work to the advantage of this son of Woodhill(AUS). His breeding suggests that he might enjoy some added ground on the dirt, and this time of year surprises with juveniles are the rule rather than the exception. It’s always chancy to bet a firster debuting versus winners (in a stakes race, especially), but given the evenly matched, speed-oriented field, he might be worth a play in your exotics.
My selections:
- Van Tiztelrooy
- Niner For Gold
- Sinnful Des(IRE)
Happy racing, and good luck!