Washlet the early favorite in the Pea Patch
Twelve trainers have brought forth an entry in the Pea Patch Juvenile G3. They’re each hoping to earn some coveted Stakes points for possible entry into this October’s Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile. But not only will they have to conquer the competition, but the distance as well as only one entry has ran this trip before. Add in the fact that there are no previous Graded winners in the field and you can see it will take a step up from someone to bring home the win.
1) Black Clown (Afleet x Gone West) semi3 He has a runner up finish in the Montana Futurity G3 to back up his one win. Afleet already sports one Graded winner from this season, and Black Clown’s running style will put him in a great spot to become the second. While he was nipped at the wire in the Appealing Love Handicap, he was closing well in the Montana Futurity and simply ran out of room. He’ll have to do it alone in this one though as the 5% jockey can’t be counted on to make the difference.
2) Pegs ‘R Us (Fusaichi Pegasus x A.P. Indy) oddsonpop Coming in fresh off a maiden win in his only start. He wired the field in that one, opening up a lead of more than 2 lengths before fading down the stretch to win by a quarter length. He’ll have to survive an extra furlong and a half here, but his pedigree says that shouldn’t be a problem. Pegs is a third generation runner for this stable, and while both of his ancestors showed the ability to throw out a huge run, neither could do it on a consistent basis. A win here would easily make him more accomplished than either of his predecessors.
3) Washlet (Dehere x Pulpit) seppy He’s been given the role of the favorite, and deserves it after post a couple of big speed figures in recent performances. Those performances including a fast closing second in the Faber College Juvenile G2. That run followed a third place in the Vermont BB Juvenile G2, so he’s easily the most accomplished runner in the field. A natural progression for him here would make him Dehere’s first Graded winner since his 2002 class of offspring. Washlet comes from a G grade mare who’s first offspring had to drop down to maiden claims to get a win. And while the seppy stable has already made it to the big dance with New York Thunder, Washlet could one up him with a 2yo Graded win this week.
4) Havic(GB) (Haafhd x Nureyev) paceman2 Following a failed attempt in the Goats That Faint Juvenile G3 paceman2 made a surface switch and was immediately rewarded with an allowance win. That also produced Havic’s best speed figure in his 5 career starts. Coming from a B ranked Nureyve mare that has already produced a Graded winner, the expectations for success have got to be high. The use of Haafhd was a gutsy choice, and if Havic can get it done here he will easily be the most accomplished runner in his freshman class of runners.
5) Mail Order Bride (Gone West x Nijinsky II) zapspride Word on the track is that this filly was named after Mrs. Zap. If that’s true at least the statmeister had the good sense to make it a well-bred namesake. She was third last out in the Stoker Handicap G2 against the other girls, posting a speed rating that should allow her to hang with the boys. She was right off the early pace in that one, before losing a little ground down the stretch. The extra distance this week might make it rough on her to ascend to the top spot, but it would not be a huge surprise to see her in Zap’s weekly list of Stakes winners.
6) This Could Be (Kingmambo x El Prado) bigblueone A perfect 2 for 2 coming into this race he’s already just one win short of the record posted by his G ranked momma. But while that mare couldn’t beat me in a mile race, the choice of Kingmambo appears to have kicked in enough stamina to get This Could Be to a mile, and perhaps beyond. The Bigblueone stable is loaded with 2yo’s this season and it will be tough fight to be top dog of his class, but This Could Be could take the early lead with a win here.
7) Ten Bold Affairs (Ten Most Wanted x Black Tie Affair) robsscoobi He’s shown a bigtime late run in all 3 of his previous starts. The added distance here should give him a great shot at being his sire’s first ever Graded winner. Another who’ll have to do it on his own as he also sports a 5% jockey on his back.
8) Tick Away (Bestyoucanbe x Geri) kevoman5 The early pacesetter in his last two starts, Tick Away had to eat some dirt down the stretch as the field went flying past. That doesn’t bode well for this attempt at the longer distance. For him to have much impact in the final strides I would think a change in tactics is in order.
9) Tamariki (Peintre Celebre x Foolish Pleasure) emtstables After his win in the Natural Stallion Cap, emtstables expected more from him. So the 10th place finish in the Faber College Juvenile G2 must have been a head scratcher. Still he was just over 4 lengths back of the winner at the line, so it wasn’t all bad. His winning efforts have come courtesy of a powerful late kick, which was absent in the Faber College. If it returns this week he could be tough to hold off.
10) Empire Statement (Empire Maker x Danehill) super11 Brought home a big win in the Virtuous Wingo Special last out with a late closing finish to earn this Super stable’s second Stakes victory. He’s looking to be the second juvenile from that stable to earn win #3. If it doesn’t come this week it surely won’t be long as this one should get better and better as the year goes on.
11) So Slew Me (Belong To Me x Seattle Slew) babyfarms The only one to sport a previous run at this distance, So Slew Me won an allowance last out over this trip. That was his second win, already matching the total posted by the F ranked mare that he was bred from. He’s been on or near the lead in both wins, so he should be in the mix at the finish. Holding off the closers in this field will definitely be a challenge.
12) Mr. A.P. Fu (Fusaichi Pegasus x A.P. Indy) epic The second runner with this pedigree, Fu brings a previous Stakes win to the party. Another who made his last stop in the Faber College Juvenile G3, that didn’t fare well as he could only manage an 8th place finish. It appears he was farther off the pace than preferred in that one. That should happen again with the ‘Shermanator’ aboard.
Good luck to all and here’s hoping we see a couple of these runners at the Breeder’s Bowl!!