All Eyes on the Aged Turf Sprinters
On a cool Saturday afternoon a field of six older horses has gathered to run in the Almost To Brook Challenge Stakes. The race will be run over a seven and a half furlong firm turf course with a purse of $35,000. The field is preparing in the saddling paddock so lets take a look before they head to the track.
Chicago War Lord out of the windycity stables looks like he’s been through some wars as he walks around a tree in the paddock. The bay son of Brahms has three wins and two shows in twenty six starts. In his lone turf try he was a fading fifth. At 8/1 this front runner isn’t performing well on the dirt, and doesn’t seem to like the turf so no thanks.
Pjlracing’s Close Book the morning line favorite has been nibbling playfully on his groom as he meanders around the walking ring. The ultra dark bay son of Take Me Out has won eight times with six places and seven shows in thirty-one starts. He only has three starts on the turf with a win and a place. He can come from off the pace or go for the lead some this versatile 9/5 horse has a shot but won’t be my number one choice.
Shane03’s Champland Band is a striking chestnut colt that gives off the heir of authority as he praces through the paddock. The son of Dixieland Band has seven wins, three places and two shows in twenty-nine starts. He loves to come from the way back, which will have to be lengths for this race since there are only six horses, but loves to close. At 7/2 he should be flying late and hitting the board.
Trainer camilla is trying to get Memory Lane to take a walk to the winners’ circle by shortening him up in distance. The muscular bay son of Gone West has five wins and a show in fifteen starts, with the majority of the wins coming at a mile or more. Since trying graded competition two back he’s seemed a little off, that race may have taken something out of him. He likes to come from off the pace to close and has been quite successful at a mile a half a furlong shouldn’t affect him too much. At 9/2 he could mean trouble for the other horses if he’s recovered from his second to last start.
20two sends out my choice Super Mario, who has been hiding in a tacking stall not getting much attention by the betting public at all. The bold light bay son of Giant’s Causeway has eleven wins, one place, and nine shows in fifty-two starts. He comes into this race with back to back allowance wins in the upper 90s where he dictated the pace both times. At 5/1 he’s a good value as long as another horse doesn’t try to push the pace faster than he wants to go.
Rounding out the field as the jocks get their final instructions is isitrue’s Mirror Image, who was behaved minus the kicking at his trainer as the girth was tightened. The light red chestnut son of Mt. Livermore has six wins, two places and three shows in twenty starts. A highly ranked sprinter he is, but without a win in over six months. When he’s running up to par he comes from off the pace and closes fast, he does best when chasing a fast pace, most likely due to the other horses fading. At 3/1 he’s off form, I don’t think he’ll be in the mix.
That’s the field, my picks are Super Mario, Champland Band and Memory Lane. Good luck to all may your horses run their best and return safely to the stable.