Older Turf Sprinters Feature in Washington

Finally a rainless weekend here in Washington. Six older horses have gathered to sprint six and a half furlongs over the firm turf for $50,000 in the Your Cover Stakes. A speedy bunch all with speed figures over 100 have been entered into the race. The entrants have made their way into the saddling paddock, lets have a look at them.

Chaseadar’s Jena Tailya walked into the paddock as if he thought he were the king. The almost black dark bay son of Dixieland Heat has nine wins, four places and six shows in thirty-five starts, with two wins in a row coming into this race. He loves to pressure the pace or sometimes create it, but seems to do better when he has a horse to chase. At 3/1 he looks good, but so does the rest of the field.

Chateau Bold Too owned and trained by chateau2 is looking a little too relaxed in the paddock, as if he didn’t really want to race today. The bay Carson City horse has nine wins, five places and seven shows in forty one starts. In his last eight outings he’s only run on the turf once and finished poorly but it was going over a mile. His preferred distance is actually going over a mile, and closing. At 5/1 he needs a longer race to win.

Chateau2 also sends out Chateau Dude a horse who tends to prefer the dirt over the turf, but is looking good as he stands to be saddled for the race. The bright chestnut son of Aptitude has six wins, seven places and four shows in forty-one starts. Dude has run on the turf in ages, and maybe it’s the wake up that he needs to win again. He likes to come from towards the back and close. At 7/2 I still say he’s a dirt horse more than a turf horse.

Florida owned and trained Torch Relay is another duel surface horse, who is looking fit as he is being saddled in the confines of a stall. The chocolate bay Rahy son has won thirteen starts, and has eleven places with six shows. He prefers to lie a few lengths off the pace and close in when its his turn to win. At 5/2 if it was a dirt race I may have picked him.

Ksparrow2’s Bone In The Woods has been acting up ever since he entered the paddock, and has almost gotten loose twice on his connections. The light bay Woodman son has four wins, three places and seven shows in twenty six starts. Recently this frontrunner has been off his game tiring before reaching the wire. Nothing in his recent starts show that he is ready to race in a stakes race. At 6/1 I’ll pass on this one.

Flobarb2’s Bill Person has been the absolute perfect gentleman in the paddock, besides the occasional nibble on his groom that is. The sunset red son of Personal Flag has six wins, one place and four shows in twenty four starts. Most recently he finished fifth in a grade 1 event. He typically presses the pace and has the highest speed figures in the field. At 3/1 I wish he were at higher odds to win more money on him, but he’s the one to beat.

The jockeys have been given the cue to mount and head to the track, so I must hurry to the press box. My choices are Bill Person, Jena Tailya, and Chateau Dude. Good luck to all may your horses run their best and return home safely.