Will The Brother’s Sweden have Their Way On Saturday?

Will The Brother’s Sweden have Their Way On Saturday?

Sweden – I decided because of the time difference I had better pack my bags and head to Sweden to cover the Grade III Capitol’s Major Price Stakes before I went to Arizona.  So away I went and after an uneventful plane ride, I was met at the gate by piller’s of the community, Jerry and Ronnie who immediately whisked me away to their favorite hotel near the racetrack.  I am not sure whether the hotel part was their favorite or the disco downstairs…………..

After a rather late night dancing – I was up early and off to the track to watch the horses that would be running in the mile and 3/16’s turf feature on Saturday.  The race carries a $125,000 purse and is for horses four years old and up. 

First out on the track was a good looking 5 YO chestnut horse by Dayjur.  The morningline favorite Cry Of The Fox (5/2) was only out for a jog but he was hitting the ground well and his red hide gleamed of good health.  Owned and trained by Redback he has 10 wins to his credit and was a credible fifth last time out in the Grade I Turf Invaders.  Distance could be a question but he sure looked good when he went by me.

Another chestnut came by next, another 5 YO horse, this one by Jade Hunter.  The blaze faced, powerfully built, John Boy The Second (6/1) galloped by well in hand.  He is owned and trained by Dueces and has only six wins but has been in the money 14 of 26 starts.  He does show a win at 10 furlongs but has been running his best races at shorter recently. 

He was followed by a set of two galloping easily.  On the inside was one of m y friend Jerry’s under his Therion stable.  Tete November (3/1) was moving rather choppy but Jerry assured me that the horse would be fine by raceday.  “He will warm out of it,” he told me with a grin.  The 4YO son of Noverre wasn’t the prettiest thing I have ever seen but he is 20/24 in the money and has won six times, including three of his last eight.  He holds a top speed figure of 113 and loves to get loose on the lead.  He will certainly be the one to catch once that Ketofen kicks in.  To his outside was Crimson Prospector (3/1), a 5 YO son of Red Ransom, owned by Jerry’s brother Marianus.  A big bay horse, he was moving easily, and might be the one to beat.  He has won four of his last eight and loves the distance.  He was a good second last time out in the Grade I Victoria Plate at longer and if they can kick him into gear early enough, he will be tough.

Phat Jug (79/1) is a former $5k claimer and he may have been entered to insure an honest pace because I have no idea why else he was entered. However, no one told him that he didn’t belong and Phat  Jug blew by me in a down the lane lung opener with the boy hanging on for dear life.  A 6 YO horse by Authaal he is owned by Balosh, has won three races and he can handle the distance.

It’s all Good Mate (6/1) went by me in a two minute lick, his white socks making the 4YO colt by Fantastic Light easy to spot.  Owned and trained by Sesho17 he is another former claimer but has won two of his last eight and was claimed from a barn that doesn’t keep them around long if they don’t perform to expectations.  He may just have needed some time as he has shown some improvement for his new owner.

Water Witch (7/1) followed soon after and this well bred 5YO by Sadler’s Wells looks to be well placed here.  He loves the distance and although he has a low percentage rider, the compact brown horse went by me, tugging on the reins for owner/trainer Dreaming.

I was all packed to leave for the airport and Arizona, when the last entry showed up for his morning gallop.  Rockland (10/1) is a 6YO horse by Diesis and he had a lovely way of moving as he skimmed over the track.  He is an old class horse that is trying to move back up.  With 19 wins and over a million in the bank this old guy is not what he used to be and must have some soundness problems as the only jock that would ride him was a 2 % rider looking for his 3^rd win of the year.  Rockland is trained by Czarina and class is always dangerous.