Only One Will Remain Undefeated in Ostend.
The Belgian Tike Stakes Stakes
Grade III
Four and one half furlongs on Firm Turf
$125,000
All horses, 2 years old
We’ve got some very impressive colts in this race and they are starting to week out the chaff and show who’s boss back in the stable. Trainer hopes and dreams are either buoyed or shattered in many of these youngsters races. It looks like more of the former than the latter here with these nice looking youngsters. Let’s take a look:
1 – BEATING THE ODDS ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED AVG SPEED RANK 5/1 FlyingTail 5.0% Se.Morris 11% 68.4 68.4 N/A
(ORATORY x GULCH x VICE REGENT) This colt is sired by Oratory who has been a fairly successful freshman turf sire so far. He has everything you need to win this race. He won his first outing with a nice 68 SPF at a similar distance and with his front running style, the inside post certainly won’t hurt. He also has Morris up in the irons and he is quite capable, especially when it comes to young colts. Could be a formidable duo for this first Stakes race for these youngsters.
| 2 – SOCIABLE PRAYER | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | PazRacing | 16.7% | B.Campbell | 8% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(ALJABR x SKY CLASSIC x JUST THE TIME) Already the third race for this chestnut colt out of multiple stakes winner SOCIABLE EMBLEM. He has a third and a really nice win last time out on an off track. That is what makes this colt tough to handicap as his previous two were at six furlongs and his 74 SPF came on an off track. Does that mean that he just likes the mud? His mom excelled at longer distances and I think this one will too. Perhaps the four and a half won’t let him get up to speed.
| 3 – TOCK LOCKS(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/2 | Hollandia4 | 37.2% | T.Littleton | 8% | 59.6 | 59.6 | N/A |
(HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x GULCH) Another one that is pretty tough to figure. The morning line sure likes this colt who won his only outing going away. That win was with an SPF of only 59 in a five horse field though. Did he back it down when he got ahead or was this an all out run? If it is the latter, he will have a tough time competing here. Most juvenile colts show nice improvement between that first and second race so we will be watching this guy to see what he can do.
| 4 – DIRECTOR OFTRAFFIC(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | WhoAmI2 | 12.7% | Ji.Walsh | 7% | 66.2 | 62.5 | N/A |
(LONHRO (AUS) x THEATRICAL(IRE) x NORTHERN DANCER) Our most seasoned young colt in the race, this will be the fourth race and he is still looking for that first elusive win. He has been very competitive with two seconds and third and the times are improving nicely with a 70 SPF last time out. You have to wonder if this is one of those youngsters that just needs to get that first win then puts it all together and really understands what he is supposed to do. He is another that may be built for longer distances.
| 5 – JENNA’S DEPUTY | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/1 | Dowelly2 | 20.3% | A.Smith | 20% | 73.4 | 70.8 | 9 |
(FRENCH DEPUTY x REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) x FAIRY KING) This is the French Deputy’s offspring’s fourth outing and he is still undefeated. Need I say more about this impressive juvenile. Trainer Dowelly2 knows that he has something special here and has him pointed in the right direction. He also has the tracks hottest jockey up in the saddle in Smith who has always done exceedingly well with the youngsters. The colt loves this distance and should continue his undefeated streak here.
| 6 – ROY MUNSON(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31/1 | MaryYLodge | 10.5% | R.Jeremy | 3% | 65.1 | 65.1 | N/A |
(CULLEN (AUS) x STRAIGHT STRIKE x RED GOD) Apparently named after the bowler with high aspirations in the movie “Kingpin”, this colt has some high aspirations as well. He showed tremendous improvement from his first race where his SPF was in the mid 40’s to fading to a third place finish with a 65 SPF last time out. That is certainly more like it and will let this youngster contend if he can bump that speed up a bit more.
| 7 – YEARS GO BY(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/1 | LastHope1 | 15.8% | J.VanDam | 15% | 66.3 | 64.2 | 17 |
(ORATORIO (IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x NORTHERN DANCER) This nicely bred young colt is two for two at short distances and looks like he is on track to continue to get better. He could use a bit more oomph in his SPF but that should come with maturity. These juveniles have to grow up in a hurry though or they are left by the wayside. Trainer LastHope1 has VanDam holding the reins and that will help out as he is one of the best at this track. A good chance that this pair hits the board.
| 8 – POLICE AND THIEVES(AUS) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | AVG SPEED | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | Hammercee | 4.9% | R.Starr | 6% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
(ELVSTROEM (AUS) x JOHANNESBURG x SEATTLE DANCER) This Aussie bred was flying along until he hit the slippery stuff in his last outing. Trainer Hammercee now knows that he definitely doesn’t like an off track. He fared well in his other two races though and that includes a very impressive 75 SPF two back for his only win. I’m not sure how the outside post will affect him as this will be the first time from the high numbers. There’s always lots to learn from these juvies and that will be another to put in the book for Hammercee.
Morning Line = 7-3-5-1-4
Yoss Tipsheet = 5-2-4-1
Paz Picks = 5-7-1-2
A fairly even race with some really nice looking colts, I like SOCIABLE PRAYER to finish fourth as I worry about the distance for him. That gives a chance for BEATING THE ODDS to beat the odds in this field for third and YEARS GO BY to hold on for second by a neck. The youngster that is ready to make a statement to the racing world this week is JENNA’S DEPUTY . He’s on his game and I don’t see anyone beating him.
Good luck to all runners!
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