Ireland’s Smurf Catcher

            Welcome to Ireland, where we have already given you a full card of races today and are closing in on the last race on the day’s card, the GII Smurf Catcher, a race of a mile and three eighths for 3 year olds on a Firm Turf course.  We have a full field of talented 3 year olds so let’s see who has shown up for this grueling race…

First up, in PP1, is #99348 Palinyewah(AUS), a willyam40 trained brown colt by Redoute’s Choice out of Club Wandering(Sadler’s Wells x Explosive Bid) and is 9/2-2-3 lifetime.  This colt has never won a stakes event and his last race, a graded stakes, was far from awe inspiring.  But he finished a 2^nd and a 3^rd in graded events last year.  Don’t know what to make of this one.  He is off at odds of 10/1 and has jockey D. Doyle up.

Next, in PP2, we have #106362 Otto Empire.  He is a gallorette trained chestnut colt by Empire Maker out of a mare by Danehill and is 6/3-0-0 lifetime.  This guy hasn’t won a race yet this year, after reeling off three straight wins in his first three starts, including a stakes race.  All of his starts this year have been in graded stakes, but so far has only been able to pull off one 5^th place finish.  He needs to step it up a few notches to hit the board here today.  He is off at 6/1 and is being ridden by F. Durst.

Next up, in PP3, is #100518 The Story So Far, a super26 trained chestnut colt by Awesome Again out of a mare by Unbridled and is 8/2-2-3 lifetime.  He is the first of two super stable entries.  Today’s race will be his second stakes start and his first turf stakes.  He made the switch to the lawn last time out with excellent results, winning with style.  But will he have the class to pull ahead of some of the other boys in this race?  He is off at 16/1 and has jockey S. Collins in the saddle. 

Then, in PP4, is #110013 Foil(IRE), a chestnut seiren trainee by Theatrical(IRE) out of a Rhythm bred mare and is 5/1-1-0 lifetime.  This guy has actually raced at this distance before, last time out where he broke his maiden.  His speeds have not been as spectacular as the other 3 year olds in this race, but the distance factor may give him an edge.  He is starting at odds of 26/1 and is ridden by G. Holland.

Next, in PP5, we have #106437 Sky Hero.  He is a chestnut lostcode trainee by Rahy out of a mare by Nijinsky II and is 7/3-2-0 lifetime.  Our favorite jumped into stakes competition right after breaking his maiden and has some measure of success, winning a stakes and never finishing out of the bps in any of his stakes runs.  His speeds have been good and looks to be a tough runner.  He is the favorite today at odds of 9/2 and has jockey F. Dirks in the irons.

Coming up next, in PP6, we have #101911 El Fredo(IRE).  He is a fwcltd trained light grey colt by El Prado(IRE) out of Do In Tete (Trempolino x Stage Door Johnny) and is 6/3-1-0 lifetime.  This colt won his first stakes try last time out and has been on a three race winning streak.  He also has seemed to be improving with distance, so if that is the case, he will be another one to watch today.  He is off at odds of 9/1 and has jock C. Rice in the saddle.

Starting in the middle of the pack, in PP7, is #24729 Azkaban, a brown lenny4 trainee by Rainbow Quest out of a Lyphard bred mare and is 3/2-0-1.  This colt named after a wizard prison has done fairly well for himself in his short career, winning his first two starts and coming in third last time out in his first stakes event.  This is another where distance will be the factor; if he can go the 11fl, he should be one to keep an eye on.  He is at odds of 11/1 and has jockey S. Jaeger up.

Next up, in PP8, we have #95891 Horse Called War, a zewango2 trained brown colt by Pulpit out of a mare by Alydar and is 8/2-1-0 lifetime.  This guy will be making his first stakes run in this race, and he has drawn into a pretty stiff field.  He has done ok in allowance races, but should get some more stakes experience under his belt before hitting the graded scene.  He is off at 13/1 and is ridden by L. Montgomery.

Then, in PP9, is #10293 Jacobite Charlie.  He is a chickadee trained brown colt by Dubai Destination out of Meliahs Rage (Storm Cat x Mr. Shawklit) and is 13/2-1-0 lifetime.  He has started in three stakes races, only finishing 5^th in an ungraded race.  His allowance runs have also left much to be desired.  He will more than likely find this field to be a tough one to run in.  He is starting at odds of 19/1 and has jock D. Nickesy taking up the reins.

Next, in PP10, is #109273 Gargamel(IRE).  He is a chestnut lopo87 trainee by Galileo(IRE) out of a mare by Kingmambo and is 4/3-0-1 lifetime.  This fellow’s name fits right in with the name of today’s race, but instead of Smurfs, he’ll be chasing a win.  He has won his last three races, including a stakes race last time out.  He should be able to go today’s distance, but will he be quick enough to finish ahead of everyone else?  He is off at odds of 11/1 and has jockey Z. Kentucky in the saddle.

Next up, in PP11, we have #79198 Dragnipur, a brown dormello trained colt by Sadler’s Wells out of a Blushing Groom(FR) mare and is 8/3-1-3 lifetime.  This colt has tenacious written all over him, having not finished out of the money in all of his turf races.  By breeding alone, he should be able to go the distance, but it is hard to tell.  He is off today at odds of 10/1 and has jockey E.C. Doyle in the irons.

Then, in PP12, is #101310 Blessed Road, a lasthope trained chestnut colt by Kingmambo out of Kristeene S. ( Kris S. x Seattle Slew) and is 7/2-0-2 lifetime.  This guy hasn’t been on the lawn since the end of last year.  He should like the switch back to the grass, but is doing so in the company of some tough ponies.  Before his surface switch, he was doing fairly well in his stakes races, winning one and finishing third in another.  If he can make a come-back, he will be one to watch today.  He is off at odds of 6/1 and has jock M. Russell up.

Next, in PP13, we have #97182 Tales Of War, a super10 trained brown colt by War Chant out of Telling Tale (Nureyev x Robellino) and is 10/2-1-4 lifetime.  The second ‘war’ name and the second super stable horse in this race.  He made his first stakes foray in his first start of this year, winning it and finished in 4^th last time out in another stakes.  But he is definitely going to have to pick up the slack if he wants to hit the board here today.  He is starting at odds of 16/1 and is ridden by P. Adams.

And last, but not least, is #11992 Fantastic Muse.  He is a borden trained brown colt by Fantastic Light out of Muse (Danzig x Rainbow Quest) and is 9/3-0-1 lifetime.  This colt started out hot last year, winning a GIII the race after breaking his maiden.  But he has had some trouble of late, finishing third once in his last five races.  He will need to revert back to his earlier form to have a shot at this one.  He is off at 12/1 and has jockey A. Reed at the controls.

            Whew, lots of nice choices here today.  With only one of these boys having raced at this distance before, the distance should make for an interesting race and make or break any one horse’s race.  For this one, I like the 5, the 6 and the 4 for my top three, not necessarily in that order.  Good Luck and Good Racing!