Rains Cause Short Field In California

Rains Cause Short Field In California

California – The torrential rains of earlier in the week have passed but there was flooding everywhere and the track will not be rated at anything better than good on Saturday.  While most of the older horses running in the Grade II, Mansur LeRoys have been over an off track before, some of them really don’t care for it and I am surprised they weren’t scratched.  In fact, a lot of the entries should just plain have been scratched, off track or not, but $250,000 for less than two minutes work is hard to pass up.  Here is the field that will tackle the mile and a sixteenth over the main track by post position.

On the inside is I come To Play (5/1) a 4 YO chestnut colt by Catcher In The Rye.  Owned and trained by Chibound he has amassed eight wins from 19 starts and is 14/19 in the money.  Now, for the good part – he has won five of his last eight including the Almost Blow, the Flywaki, the Cooter’s Sum and last time out won the Wax Tom.  This is a nice consistent sort and although he will be racing at a shorter distance than he has in a long time his prowess over a less than perfect track has yet to be decided.

First Frost (71/1) is a 5 YO pretty bay horse by Orientate that has earned a check in the mud for owner/trainer Newton but I doubt will get one here.  He has three wins from 32 starts but that fat knee on his right front will surely keep him from earning one at this level.  He was claimed last time out for $7,500 by trainer Newton and he will need a lot of help from his connections including the vet to get part of this.

Frigid Meatloaf (99/1) is worse than the horse in post two.   The wear and tear/age factor hit this one some time ago and an old bow in the right front and a suspicious suspensory on the left have this big bay horse screaming for retirement or at least easier competition than at this level.  He has won three of his 26 races and was claimed last time out for $7,500 by Tinoyankee.  The 10 YO by Northjet of has never run in the mud and has a low claim tag of $3,500 which he could make good use of at the starter allowance level.

Slewsback entered Time Earl (10/1) a dark bay 7 YO by Capitol South.  He is a solid allowance level horse and is capable of jumping up the class level when asked.  Although he failed badly in his last two graded attempts he got up in a thriller to win the Father Phil last time out.  Unfortunately he is not fond of the bad going and it could cost him a big chance on Saturday.

Senor Sam (6/1) is another that doesn’t like the mud but he is capable at this level of racing.  Trained by one of the best, Roberto, this 4 YO son of Black Sam Bellamy has won six of 22 and won the Grade III, Maxxed Platinum Plate six back.   He was a good second last time out in an allowance race and while this compact dark bay colt likes the distance, the mud may be his undoing.

Point Given is the sire of the bay 5 YO, Ancesttry (6/1).  Trained by Highstable he has won seven of 36 and was on the board in all of his last four including a second last time out in the Grade III Gus Goner.  This is another that likes the distance and best of all likes the mud so should have a real shot on Saturday.

Post seven will hold Campaniling (7/1) a 6 YO brown horse by Political Whit that is owned and trained by Toddsy.  He comes in off a second place finish in the Father Phil where he finished a head behind Time Earl.  He has three allowance wins showing and has a lifetime of 10 wins from 34 starts.  What will give this one the edge over, at least Time Earl, is this one likes the mud.

War General (7/1) is a copper chestnut son of General Meeting and is owned and trained by Ddahl.  He was fourth four back in the Omaha Wood but does come into this race off a win in a mile allowance.  With six wins from 19 starts he looks as good as anyone in the race.

Falling Darkness (3/1) is a lightly raced (8 starts) big bay colt by Deputy Minister.  From those eight starts he has won five and has only been out of the money once.  There is a big question mark about his ability to handle an off track but he seems to be on a roll winning three of his last four.  He won the Ralph Image last time out with a whopping 116 speed figure which is the best in the race.  If he doesn’t bounce off that effort he might well be the real deal.  Trainer Darkfall conditions this nice 4 YO.

With three allowance wins showing General K. Mambo (5/1) is a consistent sort.  His worst finish for trainer General recently, has been a 5^th in the Grade III, Whirlaway and he comes into Saturday’s feature off a closing second place finish in the Shimko’s Noodles.  He has a total of seven wins from 27 starts but his prowess in the mud is unknown.

Hulk Spa (31/1) is another older horse by Napa Sonoma.  The 8YO bay horse is trained by Patb who needs to get some ice on this guys tired front legs.   He has won seven of 41 starts and has beaten a total of 19 horses from the 102 that raced against him in his last eight races.  He finished fifth last time out in a 5 YO & up allowance and probably spends his nap hour daydreaming of carrots and green grass at his retirement party.  He does like the mud so the track conditioner could be the great equalizer.

On the outside will be Dog’s Return ( 26/1) who is a well bred youngster of four who is by Red Ransom.  Trained by Chasitey72, this big colt will be making his first start on dirt – in a Grade II !  With only a maiden win on his resume he has a lot to prove and if he takes to the dirt he will still have to run a lot better than he has been doing on the grass.  His two most recent stakes attempts were disasters, passing tired to beat five in the Grade II, San Valenzuela Breeder’s Bowl and more recently beating three in the Smash Claim.  He’s ok with a soft turf course but how he will like horses slinging mud in his face remains to be seen.

There are some nice horses in here, some that just don’t belong, and maybe a star in the making.  The mud will be the great equalizer and could contribute to a big upset.   Saturday will tell us how the race played out.  Good Luck everyone.