The Palms

The highlight race over the inner turf track this weekend in Florida is The Palms (G3). The race, restricted to only three-year-olds, is run over a mile and one eighth. The total purse for the race is $150,000 and the whole field of fourteen colts will be gunning to get a piece of that prize purse on Sunday. The race is set to go off at @00 p.b. EST on Sunday over what is expected to be a firm turf track. Let’s take a look at the fourteen contenders heading to the gate in this years’ race.

1. Stormy Meerkat – (Stormy Atlantic x Broken Vow x Storm Bird) – tbloode – E. Sharp – 18/1

The first horse to go to the gate on Sunday and also the longest shot on the board for The Palms (G3), the bay colt has made seven career starts to date, of which three have resulted in wins. The colt is an allowance winner but has never attempted graded or listed stakes competition, so he will be facing a big step up in class this weekend going into The Palms (G3). The most recent start for the Kentucky bred horse was in an allowance race in Kansas over a mile and a quarter. Breaking out of the gate and settling into fifth early on, the colt was urged to make a move later on in the race and ultimately went on to win the race by a head at the wire, setting a speed figure of ninety-six, which was a lifetime best speed figure for the colt. The colt is usually rated farther back in his races, which is probably where we will see him when he comes out of the gate on Sunday.

2. Fast In The Past (AUS) – (Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Nureyev x Roberto) – pmjstable – S. S. Ledwidth – 13/1

Making his tenth career start this weekend, the three-year-old colt from Australia has already accomplished a graded win and has career earnings over $200,000. The most recent start for the bay colt was in Arizona during the Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes (G2) over a mile. The colt hung back towards the rear of the field at the break and didn’t progress much throughout the mile-long race, eventually crossing the wire in tenth, though only three and a half lengths off the pace of the winner. He set a speed figure of ninety-five for the race, which equalled a lifetime best for the colt that he achieved in The Summertime (G3) over a mile in Ontario, Canada. He won that race by one and a half lengths. Late last year the colt also managed to get in the money with a fifth place finish in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf. The colt has run mid-pack before, but more recently has been running farther off the pace at the start of his races, which is probably where we will see him start out this weekend.

3. California Hotel – (Giant’s Causeway x Montjeu x Kingmambo) – bosshog – F. Mac – 5/1

Looking for the first graded stakes win of his career, but already a listed stakes winner, the bay three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt is lightly raced with just four lifetime starts to date, however he has finished no worse than third so far in his short racing career. The most recent start for the colt was in Colorado during the Alyfoo Deed Turf Route, a listed stakes race over eight and a half furlongs. Settling out of the gate into fourth, the colt made a slight advance in the stretch and crossed the wire in third, three and three-quarter lengths off the pace, but posting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred five. The first win for the colt was in his listed stakes debut in the Pepper King Turf Juvenile, at a mile and also in Colorado. The colt will likely be forwardly placed on Sunday, off the pace of a few front runners early on, ideally in third or fourth early on.

4. Midnight Echo (AUS) – (Redoute’s Choice (AUS) x Seeking The Gold x Tilt The Stars) – tbrag – D. Esperado – 9/1

Out of the graded winning broodmare Steaming Mad, this bay colt is the second Australian-bred horse to take to the track for The Palms (G3) on Sunday. Already a listed stakes winner, the three-year-old colt is still looking for his first graded win, though he has attempted the feat a few times. The most recent start for the colt came overseas in Sweden during the Zero Louis Turf Special, a listed stakes over a mile and a half. Settling just off the pace in fourth early on, he crossed the wire a fast-closing second, setting a speed figure of one hundred, which was a lifetime best. The most recent win for the colt interestingly came over the dirt during a mile long allowance race in Victoria, Australia. January saw the colts most recent attempt at claiming a graded win in New Zealand during the Adam George Cap (G3) at a mile, where he finished in the money but off the board in fifth. The colt is a versatile runner and has run as a late closer as well as just off the pace, so the pace early on is probably going to dictate what the colt gets asked of him early on.

5. Saddle Another (JPN)– (Falbrav x Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew) – dominant – R. Bokie – 10/1

Out of the allowance winning broodmare, The Eldar, this three-year-old Japanese-bred colt is looking for the first stakes win of his career, graded or otherwise. Though he is listed stakes placed in his eight career starts to date. The most recent start for the colt came in an allowance race over nine furlongs. Settling just off the pace of a couple of other horses early on, the bay colt was urged forward late in the stretch and went on to win the race by a length and a half, setting a speed figure of ninety-nine, a lifetime best for the colt. The colt finished third in both of his listed stakes appearances. The sole graded start the colt has faced was in last years’ The Wooden Reserve (G3) over a mile and a half. He finished in the money with fourth, though was still nine and a quarter lengths off the pace from the eventual winner. This Sunday, the colt will likely be placed either just off the pace or slightly farther back towards the middle of the pack at the break.

6. Yankee Kipper – (Kipling x Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector) – pastures1 – K. Bowen – 11/1

Graded placed in his career so far, with a graded win so far eluding the bay colt, the Oklahoma-bred three-year-old is out of the allowance winning broodmare, Yankee Tradition. The colt will be making his tenth lifetime start this weekend in The Palms (G3). The most recent start for the colt came in Surrey, England during the Mario Bar Turf Route. a listed stakes race over a mile and a half. Settling towards the middle of the pack out of the gate, he started moving forward to challenge the rest of the field midway through the race and ultimately going on to win by an impressive three lengths with a speed figure of one hundred one. Prior to this he also won the listed Gold Inferno Turf Juvenile on a good turf track. The most recent graded start for the colt came in Surrey, England as well during The Notting Hill Special (G3) at seven furlongs where he came home four lengths back in seventh. The colt could be as forward as the middle of the pack out of the gate on Sunday, but could also be held back off the pace towards the rear of the field early on.

7. Right To Carry – (Distorted Humor x Ghostzapper x Seattle Slew) – joenova – N. Armstrong – 10/1

The only Grade I winning colt in the field this weekend, the Kentucky-bred bay colt is out of the listed stakes winning broodmare Didyousaysomething. The three-year-old colt will be making his eighth career start this weekend and has finished off the board in just one start in his career to date. The most recent start for the colt came in Vermont during the Equinics – Residency Helpers (G1) where he took off out of the gate and settled towards the rear of the field early on, back in eleventh out of the gate. He gradually started making his move in the middle of the race and crossed the wire in third, three and three-quarter lengths off the pace, setting a speed figure of ninety-seven. The most recent win for the colt came in Deauville, France during The More Nay (G1), where he was up closer to the pace being sixth out of the gate. He went on to win by a quarter length. The colt will likely stay mid-pack early on out of the gate, though he could run farther back as a closer like he did in the Equinics earlier this year.

8. Thewholearmorofgod (AUS) – (Lonhro x A.P. Indy x Northern Dancer) – wfstables6 – N. Bonus – 10/1

Lightly raced with just five career starts so far, the three-year-old brown colt is the third Australian-bred horse to go into the gate for The Palms (G3) on Sunday. Out of the Grade I winning broodmare Dangerous Waters, the colt is graded placed but still looking for a graded victory. The most recent start for the colt came in Louisiana during the Monjeux Turf Route over a mile and a half. Settling back far off the pace early on in tenth, the colt started to inch forward midway though the race and crossed the wire back in second, just a length off the pace of the winner, setting a speed figure of ninety-eight. The only graded start the colt has had came in Paris, France during The International (G2) at a mile, where he finished third, five and a quarter lengths off the pace. Prior to this he won his most recent race, an allowance race in New South Wales, Australia. This weekend, the colt will likely be trailing most of the field early on, settling towards the back of the pack and waiting to be urged forward to challenge the other horses.

9. Great Dane Dancer (JPN) – (Stay Gold (JPN) x Nureyev x Danehill Dancer) – bobangod – C. Capper – 10/1

The second Japanese-bred colt in the race this weekend, the bay colt has made eight lifetime starts, finishing off the board only once in his career to date. He is ranked #10 in his turf routing division and is already a Grade II winner, so his experience will do him well here in The Palms this weekend. The most recent start for the colt came in Arizona during the mile long Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes (G2). Running as a closer starting his run far off the pace of the rest of the field, the colt was asked midway though the race to run and responded, going on to win the race by  a head at the wire with a speed figure of ninety-nine. Prior to this start the colt also won a mile and a half allowance race out in California. He was much closer to the pace in this race, settling just off the front runners in fourth, and won by a length and a quarter. The colt narrowly missed finishing in the money in last years’ Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf (G1) as he cruised home to cross the wire in sixth. The colt is usually forwardly placed in his races, settling back off the pace of a few front runners, but as his most recent race suggests, he is also very capable of running far off the pace as a closer, so he has shown some versatality that may do him well on Sunday.

10. Valcarlos – (Pleasantly Perfect x Seeking The Gold x Storm Cat) – rioja – To Smith – 9/1

Making his graded stakes debut this weekend, the three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt is out of the stakes placed broodmare Burlada, who has produced two other offspring that have gone on to be graded stakes winners and winners of over one million in career earnings. This bay colt is a listed stakes winner, but will be taking a step up in class to graded stakes this weekend. The most recent start for the colt came in the Salamambo Turf Route, a listed stakes race over a mile and one sixteenths. It was a small field for the race, but early on the colt stayed far off the pace out of the gate in last position, which was fifth. Midway through the race the colt was over ten lengths off the pace, but when he was asked to run the colt took off, but came up just short at the wire, finishing second just a quarter length off the winner. He set a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred two. His prior race was his most recent win, this coming in Vermont during the Classic Dowelly Turf Mile, another listed stakes race. Placed in another short field of six this time, the colt brought up the rear early on, but went on to win by one and three-quarter lengths after an impressive run down the stretch. The horse will probably be one of the last out of the gate here on Sunday as well, though he’s going to have a lot more horses to get by here than he has in the much smaller fields he has been in prior.

11. Yoplace – (City Place x Silver Ghost x Deputy Minister) – yoyo40 – R. Gray – 15/1

The only local-bred horse going into the gate this weekend, the three-year-old colt is a striking roan-colored standout among the other bay and brown horses in the race. Out of the allowance winning broodmare Silver Lining, the colt has equalled his dam’s accomplishments and is an allowance winner himself. This Sunday will be his first attempt at any form of stakes competition. The most recent start for the colt came in Michigan during a nine and a half furlong allowance race. Breaking out of the gate and settling just off the pace in second behind the front runner, the colt held onto this position until the stretch when he was asked to run. He would cross the wire first, leading by two and a half lengths, and setting a speed figure of ninety-four, equalling a lifetime best speed figure he had posted in his prior race during a nine furlong allowance race in Kentucky. The colt will likely be sitting just off the pace at the break on Sunday, possibly as far back as fourth out of the gate.

12. Rajj Mahal (IRE) – (Rajj (IRE) x Naevus x Swain) – bbaffert16 – B. F. Abman – 10/1

The first of two Irish-bred horses going to the gate this weekend in The Palms (G3), this bay colt has made seven career starts, winning four times so far. At one point placed in a $50,000 claiming race, the colt is now a listed stakes winner and is making his graded stakes debut this weekend. The most recent start for the colt came in Iowa during the Shy F. Turf Challenge, a listed stakes race. Breaking out of the gate and settling just off the pace in third, by midway point in the race the horse had gained the lead and went on to win the race by two lengths with an impressive career-best speed figure of one hundred seven. Prior to this race the colt also won the listed Seat Back Forward Turf Mile. The colt will likely be held quite a bit off the pace early on on Sunday, likely near the rear of the field before he is asked to challenge other horses later on in the race.

13. Property Of Evil – (Curlin x Awesome Again x Sadler’s Wells) – stupor1 – G. Gogan – 9/1

Nearing the end of the field for Sunday, this Kentucky-bred bay colt is out of the allowance winning broodmare Heartsbane. Himself a listed stakes winner in eight starts, the three-year-old has finished off the board only once in his career to date. Like many of the horses in the field this weekend, the colt will be making his graded stakes debut. The most recent start for the colt was last month in Vermont during the Z Celebre Turf Route, a listed stakes race at a mile and three sixteenths. Settling just off the pace of a couple other horses early on, the colt made his move in the stretch but only managed second as he finished behind by two and a quarter lengths. He set a speed figure of ninety-nine for the race. Prior to this most recent race he won the Race Series for grracers over nine furlongs by two lengths. The colt will likely be held back off the pace towards the rear of the field on Sunday, possibly as far up as being more towards the middle of the pack.

14. Thunder Launch (IRE) – (Lawman (FR) x Red Ransom x Sadler’s Wells) – nycowboy313 – S. Wild – 10/1

The last horse to go into the gate on Sunday, is also making his graded stakes debut this weekend in The Palms. The Irish-bred colt has made eight lifetime starts, finishing off the board twice in his career. The most recent start for the three-year-old bay colt was in his sole listed stakes start, the Abyss Turf Route over a mile and one sixteenth in Louisiana. Settling back towards the back of the pack in ninth early on, the colt started picking off horses out in front of him early on and eventually crossed the wire in second, off the pace of the winner by two and three-quarter lengths. In his first and only stakes race the colt set a speed figure of ninety-seven, which is a lifetime best to date. Prior to his first listed start the colt saw his latest victory in an allowance race over nine furlongs. Held up closer to the pace in this race in fifth, the colt was urged to wait a little longer before making his move, and eventually went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths. The colt will likely bide his time early on on Sunday, settling back towards the middle of the pack, or even farther back towards the rear.