The Galt House Mile G-2
The Galt House Mile
Grade II
One mile
Fast Dirt
$250,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
This has been a tough week for the New Jersey Racing Commission as allegations into possible race tampering and mafia connections abound. What at first seemed to be a few jockeys getting their chance in the spot light has now turned to speculations that the mob may be connected in the process. In fact, of the 14 jockeys riding in this Grade II event, six of them have combined for a total of eight wins for the entire year so far. Two of them have not even scored once, not even a maiden claimer. We’re not just talking the long shots either. Many of the horses are rated well and have a decent chance to win. I’ll leave it at that as I don’t want to say too much and find my self wearing a pair of concrete shoes. My advice, let the buyer beware.
PP1 8/1 SEEKING THE CAUSE
SEEKING THE GOLD x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x PHONE TRICK
Trainer: connection
Jockey: B Schock ( 39 – 2 – 3 – 3 – 5% )
Breaking out of the inside post, Seeking The Cause looks to upset our morning line favorite. While usually running less than two turns, he has shown some promise with some monster races run in the past and with his mid-pack running style he might just do that. Standing out of the page is the win and the 111 speed rating he scored in the Narrowly Missed Stakes G-3 three races back. His only problem has been consistency and trainer connection is hopeful that the every other race pattern doesn’t hold today as that would be bad news. Mediocre jockey doesn’t help.
PP2 11/1 FLY FOR BUDA
SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x RUBE THE GREAT
Trainer: gg
Jockey: M Squitieri ( 198 – 24 – 21 – 27 – 12% )
You may remember Fly For Buda last year as he made his very promising attempt at the triple crown. He came up short in the first leg but struck gold in the Middle Jewel Stakes G-1 and just missed by a ½ length in The New Yorker G-3. He capped off a streak of 10 consecutive race rating in the triple digits with a win and career tying 110 speed rating in the Citation Cup G-1. But that’s when things went weird for him. In a very strange move, trainer gg decided to enter him in a turf race in preparation for the Breeders Bowl Classic G-1 and this colt just fell apart. Although he ran a tough race on BB day, he just couldn’t compete with the rest. Since then he just hasn’t been the same and forcing him to drop Fly For Buda in an NW1t allowance race last time out. With that win as a prep race for today, he may have gained his confidence back and I think you can look for a big race from him. He’ll need it if he hopes to keep that top ten rating intact.
PP3 12/1 KEY LIME
LEMON DROP KID x STORM BIRD x TURN AND COUNT
Trainer: hilary7170
Jockey: I Chilton ( 43 – 4 – 4 – 1 – 9% )
Our first of two Lemon Drop Kid entrants, Key Lime has shown some spark as of late and with decent speed ratings may have a chance to surprise. This horse scored his first his first stake wins earlier this year but has found the going rough in his last five starts. I think it’s going to take a career best race in order to find the winner’s cirlcle. Trainer, hilary7170 has chosen to go with underused jockey I Chilton in the race and that can’t help things. (hilary + Chilton….hmmm) You’ll see a really nice try here but I think he’s overmatched with many better horses to choose from.
PP4 11/1 SKAHAZADHAN
RAHY x MILL REEF x BUCKPASSER
Trainer: reacher
Jockey:
With a possible upset in the makings, reacher may be reaching a bit too far with his horse Skahazadhan. However, this horse has shown some number in his last few races that do merit at least a try again at the graded level. The only knock has to be the failure for his horse to fire when facing others at this level as his last two attempts at this level have proved difficult. For some reason, some horses feel intimidated when they race against this caliber of competition and this may very well be the case here. If you like to bet the long shots then I think that this may be your best hope as he is showing signs of improving and he may surprise even me.
PP5 18/1 DEPUTY DROP
LEMON DROP KID x UNBRIDLED x DEPUTY MINISTER
Trainer: lbailey
Jockey: F Robbins ( 29 – 0 – 5 – 3 – 0% )
Our second Lemon Drop Kid entrant makes his return back to dirt after several ill-fated attempts on the grass. Deputy Drop has a career high 117 speed rating and has shown many signs of brilliance in the past including a win at the graded level but that was nearly 18 months ago and last year started showing signs of fatigue when entering the stretch. Even so, trainer lbailey has refused to break away from the front running style that was so successful in the past but hasn’t worked as of late. Compounding the problem is a jockey who hasn’t found the winner’s circle once in the last four months. The 18/1 odds may be a little harsh and I think it’s based more on the last few runs on the turf rather than this horses ability to run here today. A return to glory may be in store here today but I’m not quite sold so I’ll have to recommend against until he shows me more.
PP6 8/1 FACT OF THE MATTER(IRE)
GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x A.P. INDY
Trainer: quickcall
Jockey: M Thompson ( 30 – 0 – 1 – 1 – 0% )
Coming on hard the later part of last year, Fact Of The Matter has every chance in the world of stealing the show…I mean win. He capped off a good series of races with his second graded win in the Orangeton Handicap G-2 four races back and rated a 112 speed figure in the process. A race ,by the way, that he beat our morning line favorite Taking Risks by 14 lengths. However, he’s found the going rough in his last three attempts and like our previous horse, riding him is a jockey who hasn’t won a race all year. Not even a claimer. This just makes the selection process even harder and you just have to hope that this horse has the natural talent that his lineage shows that he should have.
PP7 5/1 TAKING RISKS
FORTY NINER x STORM BIRD x ALYDAR
Trainer: bliss
Jockey: R Case ( 261 – 50 – 36 – 35 – 19% )
This son of Forty Niner finished off a very nice three year old campaign last year with a win on DelPenn Champions Day in The Delaware Mile G-1 against older horses. His combined record in graded races stands at 3-5-0 in 12 races and has earned him the number five ranking at this level. This record is not unblemished though as he’s hit some bumps lately. His first race of the year in the previously mentioned Orangeton Handicap G-2 he stumbled out of the gate and finished next to last and he got a rough trip last time out in the Bertrando Handicap G-2. To his credit though, R Case has chosen to ride him today and he’s having an awesome season so far with 19% wins. I have to figure that it’s his race to lose and I think you’ll see a rebound and find him in the winner’s circle.
PP8 12/1 BALLAST
FALSTAFF x EFFERVESCING x TOP VILLE(IRE)
Trainer: crown
Jockey: MJ Squitieri ( 67 – 9 – 3 – 4 – 13% )
Fresh off his very first stakes win in The Back Eric Cap –Stk, trainer crown looks to move his entrant Ballast up to the graded level. Another four year old that is showing signs of improvement, this horse could surprise if he can run at the same level he’s shown at the regular stakes level. He has a mid-pack running style and sophomore jockey MJ Squitieri is having another good season so far. All of which could add up to a win. The only question is whether he has what it takes against two top ten horses? He might warrant a spot on the back end of you tri ticket.
PP9 29/1 DISCO SNOW
SWISS TRICK x SUNNY CLIME x TOM ROLFE
Trainer: runfaster
Jockey: M Bussey ( 31 – 1 – 3 – 5 – 3% )
Normally you would think that at 8 years old that a horse has already hit his prime but our #9 entrant Disco Snow has had his two best races ever this year, finally rating over 100 in two of his last three races. However, without even a regular stakes win to his credit, a 10th place finish last time out and a jockey that’s only won one time this year you have to think that this just isn’t going to be his day. Honestly this horse really belongs in the allowance level or a soft stakes field but no chance here. Look elsewhere.
PP10 15/1 GOLDEN BRIDLE
GOLD FEVER x UNBRIDLED x WHAT A PLEASURE
Trainer: varsitytwo
Jockey: C Renee ( 35 – 1 – 4 – 3 – 3% )
Showing that he’s at home on either surface, the versatile Golden Bridle and trainer varsitytwo are looking to steal some gold today. Although he doesn’t have any stake wins he does have a few near misses as he has shown some very good speed but has always found even faster competition. Also, he seems to run inconsistently and you never know how he may perform. Like many other competing today, he draws a very poor jockey and with mediocre showings in his last two races at the allowance level you have to wonder about his chances. He has shown some brilliance in the past but I just can’t justify him on my ticket.
PP11 9/1 CARO BAMBINO
YAGLI x ZILZAL x CARO(IRE)
Trainer: stormboot
Jockey: Q Oliver ( 150 – 8 – 15 – 15 – 5% )
Caro Bambino scored his first stakes victory towards the end of last year in The Southern Brother Memorial –Stk and is looks now to improve with a graded win today. He show’s decent speed in his races but it may not quite be enough for him to find the winner’s circle. He should contend early but he’ll have to dig deep in order to keep up with some of the horses running today who have already made a name for themselves at this level.
PP12 10/1 VAE VICTIS
Trainer: waremblem5
Jockey: M
Latin for “Woe to the conquered”, Vae Victis may be ready to show that as a four year old he’s ready to contend. He’s coming off two 2nd place finish in Grade-3 events and you can’t help but notice his career best run two races back in the Whirlaway Cap G-3. He was the longest odds on the board that day and surprised everyone with a 112 rating and just missed the win by ¾ of a length. Although he’s not quite the long shot here today he still has much to overcome as the competition is stiffer than what he’s faced in the past. I think today may be his race to prove his worth and may deserve a chance somewhere on my ticket.
PP13 6/1 UPPER MANAGEMENT
MISWAKI x POLISH NUMBERS x AFFIRMED
Trainer: slowhand
Jockey: J Benisz ( 280 – 75 – 58 – 30 – 27% )
Performing nicely since the start of the year, Upper Management and trainer slowhand have run a series of races lately that while rating nicely have yet to turn one of those races into a win. This included a career best 113 rating three races back in The Head Honcho Stake –Stk. Frustrated but feeling like he has something to prove, he is entered here and tangles once again with arch-nemesis Fly For Buda for the 6th time. This race may be more about finally beating this one horse rather than winning the race as Upper Management has yet to finish ahead of Buda in race that they have competed in. After suffering what appeared to be a minor injury in the Breeder’s Bowl Classic G-1, he was raced back seven weeks later and showed little. However, unlike Fly For Buda, he’s come on strong and this may be his race to finally settle the score. Top jock J Benisz get’s the nod which improves his chances.
PP14 12/1 URZA’S BAUBLE
AGNES WORLD x MOUNTAIN CAT x GULCH
Trainer: lender1
Jockey: L Lee ( 58 – 8 – 5 – 6 – 14% )
Having been nicely placed in the past, Urza’s Bauble has a career record on the dirt of 6 wins in 13 races with the last one coming in The Captain Jack Stakes –Stk. He’s another four year old that seems to be coming along nicely but has not shown much in his last two races. He’s coming off an allowance prep race that found him finishing 4th but he did manage to string together a three race series with some very decent numbers. His best races seem to come when he sits towards the back rather than stalking the pace and with careful jockey instructions to L Lee, he may contend for a minor share of the purse. Look for him to improve off his last race but I’m not convinced he can take on the favorites.
MAVERICK’S PICKS
TRI-KEY 5 / 1, 2. 6, 13 / 1, 2, 6, 13