Long Sprint on Turf for 3yos

Ohio’s Glitter Bluff Stakes is named for jlor3851’s homebred Glitter Bluff (Glitterman x Pine Bluff x Danzig), who finished his racing career running for trainer yella, who retired him as a shemale to breed to bargain sire Bonus Time Cat, producing Glitter Cat XP, who is still racing (without a great deal of success) as a 5-year-old.  Glitter Bluff was a two-time stakes winner as a 2-year-old among his 5 lifetime wins.

In one of many 3-year-old races this week, 6 colts will take to the firm turf to see who’s best in this “extra long” sprint. 

1. Breaking from the inside will be 13candles’ Gun Carrier (NZ), one of the co-favorites at 2/1.  The son of Zabeel (NZ) x Blakeney (GB) x Raja Baba is dropping back in distance from his most recent starts.  He ran a respectable fourth in his stakes debut, his only off-the-board finish ((7) 2-3-1 $49,482), all on turf.  In his second attempt at stakes company in his most recent start, he finished second with a very nice 92 spf, getting caught in the stretch after leading in the 1 1/16 mile Barely For Bold Stakes.  U. Douglass will steer, a 6-year veteran who’s off to a good start this year, and shortening up a little may be to this colt’s benefit.

2. Q. Miller, a consistent and talented rider will be on Master of the Yard, at 7/2.  A homebred for fairfax with a record of (8) 3-0-2 $88,882.  In his only other stakes attempt, early in his 2-year-old career, he finished third in the Tolerant Peak Stakes on the Delaware main track.  He’s coming in off two straight allowance wins on turf, which provided his lifetime best speed figure of 87.  Master of the Yard is by Gone West x Kris S. x Sadler’s Wells, and on breeding it would be interesting to see him try a mile or over, and he’s working up to it.

3. Wilderness Rules, owned and trained by rlogans is by Canadian Frontier x Ali’s Door (Lit de Justice x Singing Telegram).  This experienced colt certainly hasn’t ducked the competition, with 8 of 11 of his starts in stakes company.  He’ll be ridden by highly competent and consistent journeyman N. Bedford.  Wilderness Rules is the first foal from his dam, whose only win was a route on dirt.  He has three stakes placements on turf, all at 1 mile or over, but hasn’t won a race in six months.  His lifetime best speed figure of 82 occurred in week 2650.  He’ll start at 8/1.

4. dcsharks presents us with his colt Sharks Oleander (Olmodavor – a son of A.P. Indy – out of Seekastar, by Brahms x Seeking The Gold), winner in his last start, a stakes at 7f (T) in Utah.  In fact, he’s coming in off three straight wins, and has hit the board in 4 of his 5 turf starts, with a lifetime record of (9) 4-1-2 $78,935.  His lifetime high speed figure of 89 occurred two back during an allowance win.  At 5/2, he’s a definite threat.

5. Co-favorite Winning Spree has been “knocking at the door,” having made 5 stakes starts and finished second in 4 of them.  Stevesutto’s son of Speightstown x Miss Warlock, a well-bred maiden by Seattle Slew x Dixieland Band (and dam of 2 other winners) is the top money earner in the field, at (11) 3-4-1 $113,804.  He posted an outstanding speed figure of 96 at this distance and surface to win an allowance race.  These two factors have contributed to 2/1 odds.  His rider, A. Hartel, has had only 19 rides this year, winning 2 for a respectable win percentage, but a dismal in-the-money record; Winning Spree gives a chance to improve those stats.

6. At 55/1, Bantu (AUS), owned and trained by encores2 appears badly overmatched today.  He was stakes-placed in his first start, with nothing since – (4) 0-1-0 $24,250.  He’s an all-Australia-bred, sired by Commands (AUS), a Danehill son, out of the amusingly named Fangs (AUS) by Dracula (AUS) x Western Symphony (AUS).  He’ll benefit from the assistance of L.Bailey, a solid rider, but with a lifetime best speed figure of 65 and his maiden status, he seems unlikely to have much chance.