Big Race Previews 2853

Race: 2853.0815 Maryland Special Handicap – Grade I – $750,000
Track: Maryland
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three sixteenths on the Dirt

Solar Song leads this field of eleven older runners. Solar Song is on a two race win streak. He beat several of his rivals here two races back when he won the Sand Castle Classic. He tuned up for this event in the grade III Sunlight Sonata. It is hard to win three in a row at this level but he has won two big races already this year and seems in good shape her for another good run.

Wonderboy Cougar (IRE) finished second to Solar Song in the Sand Castle in his last race. He has taken a little extra time between races. It is hard to tell what the extra time will do for Wonderboy but he rarely runs a stinker. He is fresh and that could be just what he needs to get a win here. Unprecedented was sixth two back at the Sand Castle and tuned up for this run with a nice allowance run. He is a great horse up to nine furlongs but get past that and he is not as accomplished.

Sensationalize ran big two races back to get a grade I win. He is an up and down runner but when he is up he can run with the best of them. He will be closing from the back of the pack. Elyod’s Red (IRE) is a horse to watch for. He has run well against listed stakes company and if he carries that form over to this race he could be right there with the favorites.

Race: 2853.0715 Chicago Derby – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Illinois
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

A full field of solid three year olds are lined up in Illinois. Sundays Rule is one of three co favorites on the morning line. He seems the most accomplished in this field five wins from seven starts including the grade II Heatless Stakes last time out. There will be plenty of pace in this race and it is very possible he gets the same trip he got last time out stalking and pouncing.

The Lake Effect is an interesting runner here. He has won two in a row in listed stakes company and has yet to try a graded stakes. His speed figures fit this group of runners and he like to stalk the early pace. His running style should give him a good chance in here. Globogym is one of the better closers in this race. He has closed well his last two time out in graded company earning a pair of third place finishes with solid speed figures. He could be ready to take that next step forward and win a race like this.

Parejo (IRE) suffered his first defeat while finishing second in the grade III Bluegrass Derby Trail stakes. He is another stalker that should be prominent in this race. Burning Flag has never finished worse than second in five career starts. Last time out over a track rated good he led wire to wire in the grade III Texas Derby. That was his second 100+ speed figure in a row and that makes him a player here. Watch out for him on the front end.  

Race: 2853.5314 South Astralian Cup – Grade I – $400,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Two miles on the Dirt

The old veteran Casual Connection is one of two co favorites. He is off a nice win in the Rock’s Texas Cooking Series and won the two mile dirt Equinics race a few starts back. He is probably the classiest in this field but he has a ton of races. He will need to be on top of his games because some of the more lightly raced horses look very solid.

Lemixeux Again is one of the more lightly raced runners in here. He has been very good in his last three races with a win and two seconds. All three races at longer distances produced 100+ speed figures. His two seconds were against graded runners and this time the field appears to be one he can handle. Pharao’s Tornado (IRE) is a runner capable of the big speed figure. He is not as consistent with it as his trainer would like though. Last time out he won a listed stakes at thirteen furlongs with a 103 speed figure.

Race: 2853.5015 Rising Sun Spring Cup – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: Japan
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Turf

Offer up a million dollar purse in a turf sprint and the General will come a calling. General’s Chariot is the morning line favorite after he got back on track last time out. He was closer to the pace last time around and was an easy winner. He likes this seven furlong distance and is much more versatile than people might realize. The General drew a tough outside post but he looks much the best on paper.

Scandalous draws all the way to the rail as the second favorite. He is the second choice mainly because of his race two back where he exploded against listed company for a 109 speed figure at this distance. He will need to repeat that here to win against the General. Night’s Desire has put together a really nice string of races recently. He likes to be close to the pace and with his recent string of races it is hard to imagine him not hitting the board.

Once Haunted finished second to the General last time out and finished ahead of him in the race before that. Once Haunted has been right there in his last two attempts at this level just missing and will likely be a factor in this race. Kiki’s Solid Rock beat many of these three races back leading gate to wire in the General and Pals grade I. He was third last time out to the general but is the type of horse if he gets the lead he runs big.