Spotlighting High Demand Claimers…and a Few Single Claims

I’ve been a bit busy with covering a pair of Equinic races so the claiming article got shelved for the last two weeks.  As it turns out, not a lot of horses hit the double-digit level in claim attempts.  I’ve added  a few single claims to add some flavor for this round of the article.

 

2/1/14  DOUBLE DOWN DEEP   $4,000  claimed by  Natchilius     12 claims

A five year old female that definitely brings breeding opportunities with the Deep Impact x Awesome Again bloodline.  She moves on to her fifth career barn  and this comes on a drop in class after a long stretch of races in the allowance and starter allowance levels.   In October, she won a start allowance, cranking out a speed of 100.  Speed numbers have diminished since then, and dropped to 78 this week.  The number for this week is understated as she went off as the chalk 1-10 favorite, and easily handled this bunch.  Still, concerns exist on whether or not she can resume better numbers.  I don’t feel she is need of a rest, as she had a four month one earlier in 2013.   Change to a new trainer could have some impact.

 

 

1/30/14 BUSARAS   $3,000  claimed by Tysun  19 claims

A lot of action surrounded this five year old mare.  She’s out of Makfi x Storm Cat and was seeking her 13^th career win this week.  However, at 1-10, she failed to pull it out and finished second.    She has raced in claimers before, but at much higher levels.   The drop to the low $3k is a bit of a surprise but considering that recent speeds have been in the mid-80’s, it looks like a good move in trying to earn a win from her.   Makfi-bred horses tend to like grass and this one tried twice as a 2-year old.  May be worth another shot.  Even if it fails, the switch back to dirt after may be beneficial.

 

1/30/14 CBUNNY WIN  $4,000  claimed by Gowansbbrs    14 claims

Winning this week brought the win percentage to a very nice 50%.  A four year old colt has also been ITM 20 of 22 races, a very nice check earner out of Haynesfield x Cherokee Run.   He has never finished worse than fifth, so he has delivered BP’s in every single start!  Included in his wins are four listed stakes as a 2-year old.  He dropped to the low claiming race after establishing a speed of 98 in an allowance race at the beginning of January, his career best.    A nice find and a horse that can run on both surfaces.  More BP’s are out there that this one will surely amass.

 

 

1/28/14  GREEN FROST GIANT  $2,000  claimed by Indigo2      10 claims

Most of this colt’s races have been against fields of four or five horses and with such small field sizes, it does skew the record of the horse.  He’s out of Frost Giant x Leroidesanimaux.   He picked up his eighth win this week in his twelve starts, easily defeating the field by three strides with a speed of 83, his quickest on the dirt.  His three races on the grass have been a touch faster, ranging from 83-85.   He hasn’t been tested against larger more competitive fields and I think this three year old could hold his weight with tougher competition.

 

 

1/23/14 WOKE UP IN NEWTON   $5,000   claimed by Dzjr446     12 claims

Racing on the turf for the first time, this three year old filly went off as the heavy 1-10 favorite and won with ease against a soft 4-horse field.   This Woke Up Dreamin x Afleet Alex scored her sixth win in ten starts and ITM nine times.   She came into the claiming race after securing her career best speed of 94 and that was on a sloppy dirt track.    Hard to tell if she has talent on the turf, but definitely likes the dirt and may proof to be a wet-track racer.  Well worth the investment.

 

 

1/25/14  SPECIAL FRIEND  $4,000   claimed by Buck17      1 claims

An infrequently raced five year old who just made her 11^th start.   Racing with the $4k claiming group this week, she was tagged as the 3-5 favorite racing a long 15 furlongs.   She dropped to the rear of the four horse field, which has been her custom, and made a late run to come up short and finsh second and lost by a neck.  Speeds have not flourished capping off in the mid 70’s.  But she has been racing a mile up to 15f.  I would give this Meadaar x Poliglote a shot in a sprint race to see what develops.  Low level claiming looks right for her, but for now, the smaller fields are preferable.

 

 

1/27/14  YOZZ LOOSE    $40,000   claimed by Cbchief     1 claims

A pricey $40k was the price paid for this three year old Westerner x High Chaparral bred colt.   He broke his maiden last October with the only jockey that has ridden him aboard throughout his career, M. Scott and all at Thailand   Winning by two strides at just over a mile, he earned his second win at the end of December by just shy of a stride.   In the $40k claimer, he went a bit longer at 9f and did his usual closing late maneuver and finished second by a length.   His speeds have been moving upwards, hitting 85 last time out as a career best.   A bit more than I would have considered claiming him for but the speeds are going up and he has yet to race on the dirt, which could be worth a shot.

 

 

1/28/14 SHIPPING OUT TB   $25,000  claimed by Picko    1 claims

This 5 year old out of Midshipman x Half Hennessey earned his ninth win in 28 starts as he dropped from $150k to the $25k claiming level.  He is loaded with late speed which fired off on the dirt surface, scoring a 99 SP.  He has done faster, topping at 104.  Versatile on both the dirt and turf with speed numbers in a fine range on both surfaces.  A bit pricey at $25k but should be able to recoup the 50 BP’s paid out in a couple of races.   Looks best used around a mile to 10f.

 

 

1/30/14  OF FIRE   $15,000  claimed by Highvoltage    1 claims

A 6 year old with a bloodline of Henrythenavigator x Empire Maker, one that has had a lukewarm record of 5-7-5 in 39 races.   He has been in a drought for quite a while, last time ITM was last August with the last win dating back to December, 2012.   He has not run a route since end of 2011 and shows a little late speed which makes me think a few more furlongs could be good for him.   For now, I’d keep him around the $15k claim level and maybe venture into the starter allowance races.  Another try on dirt is worthwhile as he  has been 8 of 14 ITM on that surface.

 

 

1/30/14  TIZNOON    $75,000 claimed by Scoregon   1 claims

After winning a race in mid-January in the $35k claiming class, he was bumped up two weeks later to the $75k claiming price and won again and marking off a career high speed of 87 in the process.   This three year old out of Tiznow x Lemon Drop Kid has raced three consecutive times now in the claiming levels, wining each time out and moving up to the next level.   He’s coming along fine and could be ready to move over to allowance where speeds for three year olds are hitting in the upper 80’s to 90 range now.

 

 

11/28/13   KANALA   $7,500   claimed by Danno1    7 claims

A beaten favorite this week, the Hard Spun x Ghostzapper filly ran out of ground as she came up short by a quarter stride.    Mid-70’s looks to be the best she can do speed wise which doesn’t give much options on the track.  Keep her short and on the dirt.   Starter allowance races are one option and lower end claimers look to be best place.  Breeding options are also a way to play her.