Three Year Olds Highlight Undercard In KY
With only one week to go before the Bluegrass Derby the stakes competition heats up in Kentucky. We have three stakes this week including the listed Panjay Challenge for three year old running a mile on the dirt for $80,000. In my opinion the field got lucky with a late scratch of Silver Christmas, with him being moved to the Derby Trial, whether it was a good move or not will not be seen until Saturday. The horses are filtering into the paddock so lets take a look.
Red Tiger, owned and trained by clk2000 is calmly walking around the paddock waiting to be saddled. The big roan colt by Hold That Tiger is has one win with three places and seconds in twelve starts. He’s thrown two clunkers in a row, and hasn’t won since September 24th of 2005. When he is on his game he comes from behind to try to win. At 9/1 I’ll pass on this one.
The Follower, owned by unionave has been cow-kicking as he walks around the paddock, trying to show off dominance to some of the other horses. The dark bay Aldebaran has a win, with four places and three shows in nine starts. Oddly enough The Follower, is a leader in his last few starts he has been going to the lead, but fading failing to capture a win. He has also shown some ability to close which may be best if he wants to win. At 3/1 the oddsmaker likes him, and so do I if he closes.
The dilphinman trained Golden Banshiii has been tucked away in a stall to keep him from getting too excited. The sunset red chestnut son of Arazi has three wins and places in thirteen
starts. He seems to be a hit or miss colt about every other start, making this a race he should fire in. With top jock Givens in the saddle this horse shouldn’t be overlooked at 7/2.
Pacific Empire owned by dancer has been prancing around the paddock, ears fully pricked to see what is going on. The muscular chestnut son of Kingmambo has four wins, a place and a show in thirteen starts. His last two starts have been very forgettable, I’ll even throw out the last start because it was is first time on an off track. When in winning form he is tracking the leader close behind. At 3/1 if he breaks from the gate well he’s got a good shot.
Tiznowstormy owned and trained by wiscojoh has been stormy like in the paddock bucking and rearing while his connections try to saddle him. The dark bay son of Tiznow is lightly raced with one win and a show in five starts. He is a true closer who was coming on late in his last start. He makes his debut in routes today, but hasn’t shown comparable speed figures to the rest of the field. At 12/1 he has a lot to prove, and I don’t think it will happen today.
Book Link (IRE) trained by bjbandit has been moved into a saddling stall to keep him away from the excitable horses, so far he’s been calm with his stable pony standing in front of him. The small light bay son on Noverre (IRE) has three wins and four places in nine starts, and is a winner on both surfaces. He is a super closer, meaning he lies well off the pace and closes in to win. He closes so late that I believe a mile may just be a little too short for this 5/2 horse.
The bugler has given the signal for the jockeys to be hoisted into the saddle as L Cardinal is tossed up onto Cangueominium who is trained by screendoor. The honey red chestnut son of Millenium Wind has one win and two places and shows in eight starts. In three tries going a route distance he has gotten third once. Since breaking his maiden he’s only run in stakes competition, while it looks like he’s better suited for allowance sprints. At 9/1 this pace stalker will fade at the end.
So wraps up the field for the listed Kentucky Stakes. My choices are Pacific Empire, Book Link and The Follower. Good luck to all may your horses run well and return safely to their proper stables.