Many Questions To Answer

Many Questions To Answer

Ontario – For the first time in months I have a full set of entries to cover and even though there are several horses that may not “belong” in my eyes, there are more than that that do.  The Yors Numeras Sprint is a Grade III that will be contested by 14 horses three and up over six furlongs.  Several 3 YO’s are breaking the Sim cardinal rule of not trying older horses until late July – but who knows – maybe the rules have changed.  There is $125,000 on the line for Saturday and the weather is great so let’s look at the field by post position.

A big dark bay colt by Rubiton finds himself down on the rail.  Rubiton Active (10/1) is a winner of half of his last eight starts including his last two.  A recent auction purchase he seems to like his new connections as he hasn’t lost a race for owner/trainer Caddywampu.  He fired big in the Pal Listen and even better in the Mount Billy.  The 4 YO colt has won 1/3 of his 24 starts and seems to be on a roll.  Definitely one to watch.

Sir Montjeu (23/1) is a bright copper chestnut and a 4YO son of Montjeu.  Although he has scored three wins, he has never done it at this level.  He broke his maiden for $20,000 on the turf after 14 tries and then came back in a $15,000 claim where he was picked up by owner/trainer Fortyshade who liked something about him.  Switched to the dir and moved up to the allowance level, his speed figures jumped 20 points.  He seems to be a happy horse but he will need his best on Saturday.

Babycolt will send out Indiscretion (9/1) a 4 YO light bay son of Danzig.  With six wins from 17 starts he has some speed and has been knocking at the door, but hasn’t won since taking the Rickety S Special seven races ago.  He was soundly beaten by Rubiton Active last time out in the Mount Billy but trainer Babycolt told me that the saddle slipped and it was all the jock could do to just to stay on.

He showed some early speed against galloping routers but will that hold against this field of tough sprinters?  Trainer Deepblue thinks so and even though the last time the connections tried this, it ended in a near disaster, they are hoping for better results this time around.  Snake (13/1) is a well-built 6 YO bay horse by Forty Niner and has won five of 32 starts.  He ran well last time out in the Grade III Sunlight Sonata at much longer and flashed some good speed before tiring.  He shouldn’t tire on Saturday and will hopefully bring home a piece of the pie.

White Stripe (25/1) was aptly named, the dark brown colt by Afleet has a lovely white stripe down his nose which makes him easy to recognize as you walk down the shed row or to pick out in a field of horses turning for home.  This colt is ranked # 22 in the 3YO dirt sprinter division – unfortunately this is for 3 & up and 3 YO’s mostly don’t have enough experience to face down older horses.  Trained by Boxerwood he is the winner of the Rickety Cat and the Her Times and was second in the Grade II Lost In The Fog.  He’s got an uphill battle on Saturday, but is a pretty nice individual.

Post six will hold Royal Distraction (6/1) a 4 YO dark bay colt by Sligo Bay.  Trained by Dereen5073 he has won seven of his 24 starts and is looking for his fourth win in a row!  He is quite versatile as to where he is placed in a race and that comes in handy when you have the speedy types that he will face in here.  He came from next to last to win an Idaho allowance three back and then followed that with another allowance win at the same track where he went almost wire to wire.  He raced mid-pack last time out to win the BB Buzz with a 107 the best of his improving speed figures.  If he keeps on improving you could make some money on this one.

Runningwithbuddha (8/1) is a pretty dark grey 4 YO trained by Jeffsbarn.  By Cherokee Run, he has five wins from 22 starts and is a solid allowance or overnite stakes colt.  He is stepping up here, but he comes in off a good winning effort last time out in the Colonel Glen where he never gave up and won in a photo. 

Bigrama is sending out a classy old guy, Desert Regent (5/1) a 7 YO son of Green Desert.  “He’s got a lot of minor aches and pains but we can help him with those and when he’s right, he’s right,” said Bigrama.  A winner of six of 27 starts and over a half million dollars, Desert Regent is being asked to shorten up on Saturday but he has an enviable record of being 4/4 in the money in sprints.

The longshot of the group is another 3 YO, Stormsrollin (79/1), a roan son of Unbridled’s Song, trained by Graz30.  He has won four of 12 starts including two of his last four.  They were allowance wins and in his only attempt at the graded level he finished a disappointing last.  He has matured since then and will not have any problem with the distance but this is a giant step up and he will need a lot of help.

Post ten will hold the favorite, Looking For More (3/1) a 4 YO liver chestnut by Brahms.  Trainer Gene has found a pretty soft spot for the number two ranked older dirt sprinter and although the horse was assigned an underachieving jockey by the racing secretary (he’s looking for only his 8^th win in the last six months) if the boy can just hang on he should be okay.  The colt has 11 wins from 18 starts and those include his last two, the Grade I Sand Castle Sprint and the Grade I Elixir Sprint.  This is the one to beat.

Rasender Roland (7/1) is a good looking bay, 4 YO colt by General Meeting.  He has won three of his last five including the African Gulch two back.  Well trained by Mabuse he has a total of seven wins from 16 starts and is another that can be rated, which may be important here.  He will need his best but it is not an impossible task.

Cat Lodge (26/1) hasn’t won in nine months and at 5 years old and 43 starts he might prefer am easier race.  The aches and pains of an athlete can sure slow one up but trainer Noitsabes thinks he’s got the right stuff and the horse comes in off a nice effort last time out where he placed second in a California allowance.  By Grand Lodge, the handsome blood bay has six wins and is a solid and consistent check getter at the right level.

Zewango1 will saddle Refuse To Bow Down (11/1) a 4 YO bay son of Machiavellian.  Lightly raced, he has won three of 12 starts and has been first or second in his last five starts.  This is the kind of horse that every trainer would love to have in his barn in assorted sizes and colors.  His trainer feels it is time to see what the big horse can do and is asking for a big class jump but the horse just might have what it takes.

On the far outside is the other 3 YO colt in the race, Seattle Union (44/1) by Dixie Union.  This is another colt looking for win number four and Arcticboy feels the mousy bay colt is ready.  He comes in off a strong win in the Mookie Into Niner over a sloppy track last time out with an amazing 30 point jump in his speed figure.  Although he has his age against him, this colt may have what it takes and it will be interesting to see if he can run as well on a fast track.

There are a number of tried and true veterans and some upstarts with a lot to prove and Saturday should answer some of the questions.  Good Luck to everyone.