Turf is firm in Massachusetts

It’s all 4- and 5-year-olds in the Rapidash Stakes at Massachusetts today.  The Rapidash was named for doctorhoof’s two-time turf stakes winner Rapidash (Pine Bluff x Danzig x Theatrical (IRE)), who retired to become the “dam” of 4yo winner Rapidash Dancer, by Tabasco Cat.

In post position order, the race will be contended by:

1. Flyphard’s Event, the favorite at 2/1.   Lafly’s 5-year-old homebred by Event of the Year x Danzig x Lyphard has the heaviest credentials of the group.  He won this race last year as one of his 16 lifetime stakes wins, which include Grade III wins and a Grade I placing.  He won 2 of his last 5 starts, although he’s been slightly off his brilliant form in his last two races.  With a lifetime record of (40) 18-8-6 $1,091,670, he looks to be the class of the field.  Jockey I. Booty has been off to a slow start this year, and is hoping his talented mount will provide a needed boost to bring him back to winning form. 

2. Top jock S. Blade will pilot cjwalker’s chestnut 5-year-old Unbridled Horizons (FR), by Urban Ocean (FR) x My Christine, by Unbridled x Affirmed.  He’s coming in off a nice win in the Ralph Kingdom Stakes in New Jersey in his last start, his first stakes win after numerous stakes placings, including in a Grade I.  With a record of (25) 7-4-5 $350,615, and his 109 speed rating in his last race, he deserves his short 3/1 odds.

3. Classicus from the clmstable is a 4-year-old son of Sky Classic x Pentelicus x Troy (GB).  A bit inconsistent (19) 5-2-3 $187,995, he picked up a win in the Ghost Shrimp (IRE) Special Stakes at this distance last out.  He has 3 previous stakes wins, and may be rounding into form after several mediocre performances.  Rider K. Kardon is off to a slow start this year with a mere 3.6% winning percentage.  Morning line puts him at 7/2.

4. Carl Hotty (IRE) will be ridden by D. Ezelle, a solid 13-year veteran with consistently respectable win percentages.  The son of Theatrical (IRE) x Roo Art x Dynastic (IRE) is trained by vindy, and has run all his races on turf.  His wins have all come at a mile or over, although he’s been second in both attempts in sprints.  With a record of (15) 4-5-0 $150,510, he has no stakes placings, and may be in over his head, as reflected by the longest odds on the board at 9/1.

5. Second in the Slew Deposit Challenge Stakes in Maryland at this distance and surface in his last start, E Street Band, a 5-year-old son of E Dubai x Beau Genius x Northern Dancer is out of a shemale dam with not much of a race record, but he is loaded with Native Dancer blood from sire, damsire, and dam’s damsire.  Rider J. Vandell’s win percentage is up this year, which can’t hurt.  This young horse was heavily campaigned at 3, racking up 5 stakes wins and even a stakes placing on the dirt.  Owner/trainer kyhomebred seems to be giving him a little more rest between starts this year.  At 7/2, E Street Band has a (36) 10-6-4 $465,938 record.

6. Another 4-year-old, isittrue’s chestnut colt Mirror Image (Mt. Livermore x Nureyev x Graustark) will be ridden by G. Garbaccio, consistently a top rider, with an impressive 46% in-the-money percentage this year.  This 9/2 shot hasn’t won in his last 6 starts, but before that won 4 stakes as a 3-year-old.  If he can come back to earlier form, he could fit this race.

It looks like a competitive field, and we look forward to a good race, with everyone coming home safe.