Big Race Preview 2825
In just a few grade I races this week many of the divisions are covered as we get a long distance race, a top turf mile, two top notch sprints, and a prep for the Bluegrass Oaks to boot.
Race: 2825.5315 Big Turf Race – Grade I – $400,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three quarters on the Turf
Dancin In Seattle is the slight favorite in the Big Turf Race. He has the most back class of any of these runners but his speed figures do not really separate him much from the rest of the runners. He will likely go to the lead here and armed with his class could be a very tough runner to catch.
Brilliant is a horse that has been jumped around in distance recently. He has done well at longer distances on the turf but it might be a stretch for him to do well here. Rebel Yell N could be the true favorite in this field. This mare will be taking on the boys but at a distance she loves. Her last two races have been second place finishes in a grade II and a grade III race. Her speed figures are probably the best of the field so look out for this lady.
Thrill is Gone has won half his career races. He has won two in a row and picks a good spot to step back into graded company.
Race: 2825.0116 Elixir Turf Sprint Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Turf
General’s Chariot leads a solid field of turf sprinters. The General ran well last time out but only managed a fourth place finish behind some runners that just flew that day. His closing style leaves him vulnerable to speed horses sometimes and a speed horse that has beaten him recently his entered here today. If the General runs his race he will be right there in the end.
Digging the Grave is the second favorite here after setting the pace in the Sand Castle Sprint on dirt. He is a much better turf runner and beat General’s Chariot at the Equinics this year over a yielding surface. The surface for this race will be firm and if he gets away early Digging the Grave could go wire to wire. Scandalous has won four long turf sprints in a row. He has been running at least a furlong further than this but his speed figures are pretty good. He could find himself way back early but has shown he can close.
Two ladies tackle the boys. Red just missed last time out in the grade II Castle Point Stakes. She is a deep closer that can fire a big race. She will need one of those big races if she is to crack the top two here. Jolie’s Song is such a classy filly who has kept up with the best turf milers boys or girls. She has tailed off recently and is back in against the boys this time in a sprint. She has the class but her form at this level is awful right now.
Race: 2825.0316 Elixir Dirt Sprint Grade I – $1,000,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt
Bfiftytwo is the slight favorite is a field full of big time sprinters. He won last time out in the grade III Count Fingers and has really good top notch speed figures in four of his last five races. The only down race was at a mile and an eighth a distance probably a little too far for him at a top level. His consistency is hard to overlook but like I said there are several big time sprinters here.
Casterly Rock (IRE) is coming off a very nice second place finish at the Sand Castle Festival. He won the Breeder’s Bowl sprint and has been a pretty consistent runner. He is a stalker as is Bfiftytwo and if on his game he will be there at the wire. King of the Cats is a hard knocking that rarely finds himself totally out of a race. He might be slowing down a bit but not enough to discount as a winner.
Atakachaw is another old veteran that can run big. He was second in the Breeder’s Bowl sprint and comes off a nice front running listed stakes win. High Gain (IRE) is front runner as well. He is a graded stakes winner capable of the big race. Looking For More most recently closed strongly to win the Sand Castle Sprint. He is on a good roll and will be a handful for any runner on or near the lead in the stretch.
Race: 2825.0416 3rd Running of THE DR. REUBEN GARR MEMORIAL – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf
The number one and two turf milers square off and they draw next to each other. Xtremely a Fan is the number one ranked middle distance turf runner. He is coming off a third place finish in the grade II Arcade Handicap. He was back in the pack in that race and could not catch up with the two front runners. He looks well placed here but faces a very tough challenger.
Manifest Destiny is coming off a grade I win in the Crock of Gold. Manifest likes to keep close tabs on the pace setters so will likely get the first jump on Xtremely a Fan. He may be the better of the top two right now. Jacky Hollandia dominated at the Equinics on the yielding turf course. If this were an off turf surface I would like him a lot more. Even on the firm surface Jacky Hollandia should run well.
Dom Tendancies ran lights out a couple of races ago winning the grade III Laffit Handicap. He stalked and pounced to near perfection. He took some time off and came back in listed company last time with a poor run. Maybe he needed the race to get back on track. He has been much better so throw that last race out.
Race: 2825.1215 lool Oaks – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt
Four ladies share status as morning line favorites in this wide open affair. Fame or Fortune has never been worse than second in six lifetime starts. She stalks the pace very well and has nice improving speed figures. Genna Lou Hoo has picked up the pieces in a couple of graded events this spring and needs to finish in the top two or three here to earn her way to the Bluegrass Oaks. Genna Lou Hoo is a deep closer and that could be the thing that keeps her out.
Wango Tango is quick front running filly that just won the grade III We Get Signal Stakes. She could be dangerous if left alone on the lead and should only be getting better with more experience. Armed With Money won the California Oaks with a rocket speed figure. She came back and ran third in a grade II last time out. Armed With Money is a deep closer and that may be catching up to her a bit but her closing kick is a sight to behold.
Unbridled Mistress won the grade I Sweet Nanette stakes two back before finishing fourth last time out. The Sweet Nanette was on an off track and this track has come up sloppy so she could very well benefit from the conditions.