Rock’s Series Draws New Blood

Rock’s Series Draws New Blood

Texas – Recent rains have made Texas rather soggy and the while the sun is out as I write this the track will undoubtedly only improve to ‘good’ by Saturday.  Rock’s Texas Cooking Series is up to a mile and 3/4 over the main track this time around so trainers better hope their horses are dead fit if they want to collect any part of the $200,000 that is up for grabs.  The race is for all horses, three and up and they will probably feel like they have run ten miles by the time they finish the race, as a ‘good’ track is just one condition up from ‘heavy’ which is the absolute worst as far as tiring one out. 

Breaking from the inside will be Kris Noia (6/1), a 4 YO bay son of Kris Kin.  Trained by Noia, this colt is ranked number 21 and has seven wins from 24 starts.  He comes into this race off a winning effort last time out in the Rat Morris at two miles.  He won that race by some four lengths and seems to be rounding back into form after a long lay off when he grabbed a quarter and was distanced in the Grade III, Victory Marathon.  He certainly has the class to run here and with his improving speed figures would be a popular choice if not for the fact that he doesn’t really care for an off track.

At seven years old most horses would be thinking about retirement but Yachsen (7/1) has only made 22 starts in his racing career.  One of the very few Dubai Millennium horses around, he is trained by former taxi driver Ace.  The big brown horse was distanced two races back in the Grade I, Sandy Hawley when his saddle slipped and the jockey was forced to use all his skills just to stay aboard.  The horse came back with a strong second last time out, only tiring a bit in the stretch in an Indiana allowance.  “I wanted to give him a little confidence booster,” said Ace, “he’s kinda of a wimpy horse and not real bright.  When the jock wouldn’t allow him to run in that Equinic’s race he’s the kind that thinks that’s what he is supposed to do from then on.  So I had my jock really shake him up last time out and get racing back on his mind.  I’ve got a strong rider on him this time and although I really hate to say it, he’s not the best in the mud.”

This Love (6/1) is the only filly in the race and will get the filly weight allowance.  That should really help her over this long distance race.  By Thunder Gulch, the copper chestnut, 4 YO is ranked # 16, on the filly side of the rankings and has five wins from 23 starts.  She was distanced three back in another Equinic race, the Angel Cordero Jr., but won the Fifth Circuit at this distance easily.  She comes into this race off a third place finish in the Silver Bag Memorial.  Trained by Sdmforlife her best quality may be her love of an off track and with the break in the weights and her light build, she might just skim her way to victory.

Stalchico will send out JB Pro (7/1) a compact bay 6 YO son of Hector Protector.  I doubt that I have ever seen a horse by this sire but he could be out of Texas by Boxcar as long as he runs as well as this one does.  He has 12 wins from 38 starts which is just under a third of them.  He also has won five of his last eight races and is on fire as far as a form cycle goes.  He comes into this race off a win last time out in the Kong’s Wizard and loves the distance.  He lost his starter tag but it didn’t matter as he has moved on convincingly and seems to have found his niche.  Unfortunately he is not fond of off tracks and this may hurt him on Saturday.

Rainbow Quest will be represented by Western Quest (9/5).  Trained by Mizunomp14, this 4 YO colt is ranked # 35 and while an off track may not be his first preference, he can handle it.  He has won six of 20 starts and is a speedy sort that will try and take control early and make the rest catch him if they can.  He has earned 100 plus speed figures in his last three races and comes into this race off a 4^th place finish in the Grade III, Someone Set Us Up The Bomb stakes, after leading to deep stretch.

On the outside will be Casual Connection (8/5), the slight favorite who is conditioned by Piracing.  An older horse at six, he is by Rahy and is ranked # 4 in the long dirt division.  He has 12 wins from 42 starts and has won four of his last eight including the Brashly In An IC at two miles with a 103 speed figure.  He also won the Grade I, Sandy Hawley at two miles, and the Grade II, Gallant Socks which was over an off track.  He bounced badly last time out in the Grade II, Pennsylvania Power but the horse is fit, has the class, and unlike many in this race loves an off track.  It will definitely be his race to lose.

Good Luck to everyone!