EWC Stake Series: SJ’s Fupeg Jones Seeks Third Straight Stake Win
The EWC has a resident sponsored race, one in a series of races plotted out for this year, featuring 2 year olds. This weekend’s race will be held in Florida on the dirt course, at a distance of 7.5 furlongs and is titled EWC FLORIDA GULF COAST STAKES. Here’s the field, which is prominently filled with males:
1. Kashbration 14/1
Ships in from Ireland for the stake event for trainer Kashman, coming after a win in a local bred MSW at 6.5f and speed of 74. The Excelebration bred colt improved considerably form the 63 speed in his first start. Travel may have an impact, but improvement in speed will be necessary to defeat this field.
2. Ahmedtheterrorist 5/1
The only unraced horse in the field has been tagged as the co-favorite and represents trainer Achmed. Anyone familiar with Jeff Dunham knows the background to the name of this runner. The colt is out of Galileo who has seen only 7% of the 2014 crop of 2-year olds win on the dirt. Question is whether this terrorist likes grass.
3. Bawler Boulevard 7/1
A Street Cry bred colt trained by Manofsteal. This guy has three races and keeps getting better. Starting at 5f he has progressed to 7f in three starts, winning twice with a fourth sandwiched between wins. Speeds have progressed from 75 to 84 in last start at end of June. Likes to run behind leaders and strikes like a snake. One to keep eyes on.
4. Awesomism 8/1
This 2 year old colt fathered by Awesome Again has made one career start for trainer Raceck and that came in the April running of the EWC Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes at 6.5f. He showed some sharp closing speed galloping from 10th to 3rd, missing by a bit more than a stride with a nice 78 speed. Has had a nice long break between races and the extra distance should be helpful. Look for another good run.
5. Mr. Zapper 15/1
Race Sponsor’s Johnscott part of an entry seeks first career win. Ghostzapper bred has finished third in three of four race starts. Each has come at distances of 6 to 6.5 furlongs and this youngster looks like he wants more distance. He gets it this time and it could make a huge difference.
6. SJ’s Fupeg Jones 9/1
Trainer Popsntips has seen this Fusaichi Pegasus bred colt win a pair of EWC residency races already. He brought home the EWC Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes at 6.5f in April and the EWC Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes in June, also 6.5f. Speeds of 81 and 84 were some of the best speeds in the racing circuit during those dates and this front runner has top earnings in the field with over $175,000. Takes shot at making it three in a row.
7. Tale Of The West 12/1
Made debut in April appearing in EWC Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes where this colt ran a nice 76 first time out, but finished sixth. Trainer Hof2014 watched this one follow up with a second a month later with a 73 speed. He broke his maiden on the poly surface in early July wiring the field with a 69 speed and out front by 1 and a quarter lengths. This Tale Of The Cat bred colt comes in with less than three weeks rest and conditioning will be a factor.
8. Harrogate 8/1
Made debut in May for trainer Atw8 and it was an excellent one for this Distorted Humor bred colt. He ran a MSW 6.5 furlong race with a speed of 84 with a wonderful late rally to win by a half-length. Gets decent rest between starts and could be dangerous in his second start.
. Sizzle Connection 21/1
This daughter out of Sea The Stars ran her first pair of races on the turf. Finishing fifth in a MSW in March she lunged into the EWC New York Empire Stakes in April. This event was a huge letdown for trainer Ednovo concluding the race in eleventh. She then transitioned into the dirt race, another residency stakes: EWC Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes and things didn’t get better, finished fourteenth. Not looking likely for this lady who has nice bloodlines.
10. Felixstowe 5/1
Trainer Atw8’s got the co-favorite in this race with this son of Malibu Money . He won his first time out, taking a 6f MSW by more than a stride with a 78 speed for 6 furlongs. Last month he set the pace and lost the race in the final strides of a 7f allowance, with a strong 85 speed. Speed in the 90’s is within the realm of possibility for this guy.
11. LK Posse 36/1
A filly sired by Caleb’s Posse started her 2014 campaign with a second followed by a win. Trainer Begt123 then delivered her into the EWC Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes where she ran second for a long portion of the race then hit a wall finishing 10th. In her last outing, an allowance at 6f, she ran with a 71 speed (typical for her) and tired late after setting pace. Front running girl who has trouble staying there and will be hard in this large field.
12. Flat Kat 25/1
Has won twice going 5 furlongs for trainer Poolshoota and brought that into the June running of EWC Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes. Ran flat in the stake appearance and the Lookin At Lucky bred colt finished seventh but set career best speed of 74. May have tough time again as faces several from that last race and speed will need vast improvement.
13. A. P.’s Humor 10/1
One of the race Sponsor’s Johnscott entries, this filly finished second in the EWC Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes at 6.5f with a blistering 82 speed. This was followed three weeks later with this Awesome Again bred running in the G2 Stoker Handicap at the end of June. As second choice, she was large disappointment finishing 13th with a diminished 68 speed going same distance. Looks to make recovery in return to residency stake event.
14. Royale Rahy 41/1
After a fourth in his first start in March, this two year old out of Excellent Art broke his maiden in April winning a photo after leading all the way. These were on the turf and trainer Edenovo ventured into the EWC Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes dirt event only to witness this cold finding favorable positioning up front early then seeing the wheels deflate quickly and finishing eleventh. The 68 speed in that event won’t be enough here, but if the digits can flip to 86, it would make a difference.
15. Computer Expert 23/1
The Ice Box sired colt started his career with a very promising second followed by a win earlier in the year. But running in a pair of EWC stakes, Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes and Louisiana Bayou Classic Stakes he finished well back in both events. Horse has potential but seems reluctant to reveal it for trainer Wbenglish.
16. Queen Mary II 48/1
A four-time starter who has not had a top-three finish and comes from the sire of Verrazano. She has tried both dirt and turf for trainer Edenovo and neither has produced any exciting results. However, between May and June starts, her speed numbers increased from 53 to 62. Still, she faces boys for first time and maybe that will excite her.
17. Scotian Jones 29/1
Has one career start which came in the EWC Arkansas Hot Springs Stakes. The Smarty Jones bred horse ran the race with a 76 speed, not too bad for a first outing, but finished 9th. He displayed some late speed chopping off three strides that he was trailing by and gets an extra furlong to run in this race. Trainer Captainandcoke may have an outside shot her with the extra distance and nice long rest beteween starts.
Harrogate was impressive in first start showing late run ability, distance won’t be problem, gets top pick.
SJ’s Fupeg Jones has won two consecutive residency stake races, wears target as one to beat.
Bawler Boulevard improving with speed numbers and extra distance in each start, third