Big Race Preview 2797

Race: 2797.5315 All Your Base Are Belong To Us Cup – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

Skills in Magic seems well positioned to continue his winning streak and get his second grade I win in as many starts. He has been strong winning pretty easy in his last two races coming from off the pace. He is the heavy favorite here standing head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

Listen to the Lion (IRE) might be the next best runner in this field. He did not like the off surface at the Equinics but had won two graded stakes in a row going into that race. Dessie Holandia (IRE) is another that did not like the yielding turf at the Equinics and was in pretty good form prior to that. Bootlegger seems the best long shot in the field. He is a perfect two for two to start off his career and with a little improvement he likely can hit the board this week.

Race: 2797.5416 Sydney Derby Trial – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New South Wales
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

Number one ranked Creepshow (IRE) leads a full field of runners. He has won back to back grade I races and in five races has already earned a million dollars in purses. He looks much the best on paper and the stretch out in distance appears to be a non issue.

The Understudy (IRE) looks like the biggest threat to the favorite. He likes to be close to the early pace and has won three in a row at or on the lead his last two wins in stakes company. He steal this one on the front end. Comisky improved nicely last time out getting third in a grade I. He is a deep closer and the distance looks well within his grasp. His problem will be having to close with the favorite. 

Northern Wells is a front runner who looked pretty solid last time out. Distance could possibly be an issue here and he may have some good company on the front end of this race. A little improvement off his last will make him pretty tough to pass in the stretch. St Moritz is the best long shot in the field. He is lightly raced and closed well last time out to get the place. He could improve enough to make some noise here.

Race: 2797.0115 California  – Grade I – $500,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three quarters on the Dirt

Xtremely Gold is favored here after rolling home in the Equinics putting up a pretty big speed figure. She has had an excellent career thus far and runs back at the same distance where she was so successful. Xtremely Gold likes to come from way off the pace and that can catch up to a runner every now and then. The question will be is this that week?

Sacrilege is one of the top long distance females and she ran second to Xtremely Gold at the Equinics. She did finish ahead of Xtremely Gold a couple of races back on turf. This is an interesting rivalry. Eek the Cat is an interesting runner. She is a front runner and will make sure the favorites will have to work to get the win. Her speed makes her very dangerous even though she seems a bit below the top two speed figure wise.

Xtremely Awesome has been doing pretty well at longer distances here recently. She has won two of her last three and will be stretching out just a bit and closing like many of the other favorites. Galloping Ghost is an oldie and currently ranked number one in this division. She is on the down side of an awesome career and does not appear to be able to keep up with a group of runners like this. Still you hope the girl has one more big one left in her.

Race: 2797.5915 Crock of Gold – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Ireland
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Manifest Destiny is the heavy favorite and looks to have scared away some runners as this grade I field draws just eleven runners. He only has one win in his last few races but has been right there in all of the races putting up big speed figures. He looks to be in a spot to make short work of this field.

Niner Connection is the second favorite here but he is not the runner he used to be. Recently he has been getting his head right in allowance company and maybe that puts him back on the path to being a productive runner at this level. His form is good and the field is not all that great so this could be a good opportunity to keep the good form going.

Rahy Breaks Away (JPN) may have the best chance of upsetting the favorite. He has been running very solid speed figures at this distance in graded company and he is lightly raced. He should at the very least hit the board.

Race: 2797.0316 Long Live Kentucky – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Kentucky
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

This field draws just eleven runners. Wild Cat Tales is the slight favorite here although does not look over whelming. She has run some very solid and consistent races recently but has not been as fast as she was last year when she won a grade II race. Looks like a good spot for her to get back on track.

The Aus Boss (AUS) was one of my favorite horses from last year. She won grade I races on turf and dirt and placed in grade I races from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter. She is coming off a layoff and might be slightly better on the turf. This could be a tough distance to get first race back in a while but it would be no surprise to see her fire here. Dubai Prospector ran against the boys in the Derby last year and finished second. She has not raced much since and has not won a race since about this time last year. If she has anything like she did this time last year she wins this race.

Berenguela may have been running in races a little further than she likes recently. Her last race at this distance was a very good one. She should improve with the cut back in distance and should be respected. Otto History is the speed horse that could take this field gate to wire. She has just five career races and is already a grade II winner.

Race: 2797.1616 The General Pals Sprint Show – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Washington
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Six and one half furlongs on the Turf

General’s Chariot is the favorite in a race where he invited all comers. Funny thing is his friends seem to be avoiding him as the field only draws twelve and who can blame them. General’s Chariot was simply brilliant last year. His debut as a four year old was a strong second place finish at the Equinics and with a race under his belt is sure to improve. That spells doom for the rest of the field.

Otto O is the second favorite here. This will be his fourth start of the year already and he has yet to hit the board. His deep closing style puts him too far back most races but if he is on he can kick home strong enough to threaten. Blazing Sevens has been a strong sprinter the last few years and is on top of his game right now. He stays close to the pace and that could be the right place to be in this race.

Race: 2797.0615 Fantasia Handicap – Grade II – $250,000
Track: Arkansas
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

The first two finishers of the Sweet Nanette Stakes are co favorites here. Unbridled Mistress made a big jump up in the Sweet Nanette and now needs to prove that was not a fluke. With her pedigree I seriously doubt it was a fluke and we could be looking at one of the favorites for the Oaks. Fame or Fortune ran second to Unbridled Mistress last time out. She closed from much further off the pace than usual last time out so it will be interesting to see where she is placed early on in this race.

Winning Season is a grade I winner as well. She has is a closer that comes from well off the pace. She won a grade II race last time out and is currently the number six ranked filly. She faces a tough field here. Katherine has just three races under her belt but has shown a great deal of talent. She may still have something to prove distance wise but the talent is there.  

Race: 2797.0614 Arkansas Juvenile – Grade II – $275,000
Track: Arkansas
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Magical Merlin is the favorite in Arkansas. He is the number three ranked three year old and seems very well spotted to add to his collection of stakes points. He has been a very solid closer but now the pace horses are really picking up the pace and he is finding himself further and further back. Eventually he will not close into the pace and that could happen this week.

Sagatector (FR) is the second favorite and may be an even deeper closer than the favorite. He has put together some nice speed figures but eventually will not make that big kick home. Italian Ice (IRE) seems to be a runner primed for a big performance. He has really improved since stretching out and likes to stalk the pace. He will have first jump on the pace setters and that may be all he needs. Cologne Niners is another stalker that seems to improving at the right time. He has won two races in a row and his last race was pretty impressive. It could be a battle between Italian Ice (IRE) and Cologne Niners rather than the favorites.