Big D Park Handicap Grade 2

Big D Park Handicap

Grade II

A mile and one sixteenth

Fast Dirt

$300,000

All horses, 3 years old and up

I would like to start off with an apology to my readers for posting so late today as I have been contending with a hard drive crash on my three month old laptop for most of the day. It wont be ready for a week so I’m forced to write this rather late in the evening on my kids computer using wordpad…uck!

With that aside, welcome to Texas, my home state and The Big D Park Handicap! A quick glance at the past performances show a wide open field of runners and it was very hard to put any kind of prediction together. This is a very strong field and we have several graded veterans going after the trophy as well as former Triple Crown participants from a few years back. Picking a winner may be just as easy as choosing what color silks you like or drawing numbers based on your kid’s birthday. At the very least, sit back and enjoy some good old Texan hospitality and enjoy the Dallas scenery which is home of America’s team the Dallas Cowboys. BTW it’s God’s favorite team too..that’s why we put the hole in the roof so he could watch. The weather is clear with a track that has been rated fast and without further delay our competitors are:

PP 1

7/1  WAR GENERAL

(GENERAL MEETING x WAR CHANT x GONE WEST)

R White ( 164 – 21 – 24 – 12 – 13% )

Trainer: ddahl

Twelve long months, that’s how long it the winless drought went for our #1 post entrant War General. Early last year, this colt was a terror on the track with two graded wins for the year by April including the coveted Texas Derby-G2. Who knew at the time that it would be the last time that year that he would make it to the winner’s circle. Trainer ddahl passed on the Bluegrass Derby-G1, whether for lack of points or the tight racing schedule and pointed his colt at the Middle Jewel Stakes-G1. He was expected to run a good race while gaining good attention at the mutual window but was no match for the eventual winner and today’s fellow race competitor Fly For Buda, as he finished a dissapointing 10th. Not to take anything away from his ability, as this horse has run some bang up race in the process but somehow luck was just never on his side as he finished second three separarte times. It was not until this last April that he finally tasted victory again in a restricted ALW24000-NW1s but what a horse needs sometimes is what we as people need as well–a little confidence boost. With that win, he stepped back into the stakes arena on a wet and windy day two weeks ago in California and ran a picture perfect race on an off-track in the Mansur LeRoys Handicap-G2. He was there to tell the world that he was back. Other than the two weeks of rest, you have to like his chance here today as he seems to back in form and should prove to be competitive. His competiton seems to be slighty more tougher this time around but it would seem that he has a one year old score to settle with Fly For Buda.

PP 2

10/1  SEATTLE DEPUTY

(SILVER DEPUTY x SEATTLE SLEW x GULCH)

J Frame ( 57 – 8 – 7 – 5 – 14% )

Trainer: ets7

Showing good signs of improvements, Seattle Deputy is the classice example of a four year old maturing and getting better. He’s coming off two consecutive personal best 104 SF with the last in a 3rd place finish in The CAD FOR CARDS Memorial-Stk. He was claimed last September by trainer ets for $13,500 and what a steal it was. As with many, myself included from time to time, some trainers become frustrated if they don’t see immediate results or consider a three year old’s career over after the Bluegrass. He has the look of a pure miler and his speeds have been consistent lately but I’m not sure if he has what it takes in a graded race. His lone win in a non-graded stakes race came late last year in an owner restricted event. I’ll be rooting for him but he’s yet to prove himself at this level.

PP 3

7/1  GOLDEN DREAMS II

(LOUIS QUATORZE x JADE HUNTER x GENERAL ASSEMBLY)

G Post ( 52 – 9 – 5 – 2 – 17% )

Trainer: calmriver2 

Springing from the gates of CPU horse pool hell, Golden Dreams II waited in four years in virtual silence before someone would give him a chance to run. Although he has had some peaks and valleys in his races, it’s baffeling to me that this horse hasn’t won more races. Even with three non-graded stake wins to his credit, he has shown some incredible performances in losing efforts. However, it’s this dendency to run erratically that seems to have shied some of the public away from him at the moment. His last race in the Fus Gonner Handicap-G3 had him breaking away from his usual back of the pack running style and eventually fell behind giving way grudingly and finished 5th. If this race sets up the way I think it will and if he can go back to his style of racing that has proven successfull in the past then you may be looking at an upset. The question remains, though, which horse will show up? I believe him to still be in good form but it will take a smart jockey in G Post to prove that he not only deserve the ride today but more stake runs in the future. Give him a shot on the back end of your trifecta ticket but I’ll have to pass on the top spot without a graded win so far in his book.

PP 4

10/1  LEAKY TAP

(PLEASANT TAP x SECRETARIAT x NIJINSKY II)

M Brown ( 54 – 3 – 5 – 10 – 6% )

Trainer: carolover

This Secretariat grandson, Leaky Tap has the breeding that you would expect for a graded runner. As a winner of four stake races including a graded victory early in his three year old season, he’s no stranger to this type of competiton. It was during that three year old season that he showed the most promise finishing in the money in five stake races and competed in all three Triple Crown races. However, he was overshadowed that year, at that time, by a little known colt by the name of I Seek U. However, even though he finished strong that year he only raced once in 2004 and did not return to racing until August of last year. He’s clearly a strong runner still but now at the age of six, he’s lost some of the edge that he had earlier in his career and results have been up and down. In question the most has been his stamina as he has of late shown an eagerness to go for the lead or close to it only to fade in the stretch. Perhaps we missed the chance to see him at his best in 2004 but he’s still a formidable foe. Given the right conditions, he may still return to form but I’m not sure if he’ll find that edge here today. If you like to bet on the long odds then this may be your best chance as you know what he’s done in the past as opposed to others who are hoping to make their first mark.

PP 5

13/1  DAN’S EMPIRE

(EMPIRE MAKER x DANZATORE x BOLD RULER)

K Westbrook ( 46 – 6 – 5 – 1 – 13% )

Trainer: acote4

I may not be alone when looking at Dan’s Empire and scratching your head. This son of Empire Maker last four races have rated speeds of 106, 98, 105 and 89 all of which have been scored in allowance races. His one start in stakes competion was this past December in The MISTER J. O. Special-Stk where he faded to 10th finishing 15 lengths from the leader. However, he’s bounced back nicely posting some impressive if not inconsistent speeds and hopes to run a good race here today. I have to question, though, whether a graded race is the best place to spot your horse to see if he’s ready to move up in class. Given the fact that he’s ran two monster race this year, you can’t deny the fact that trainer acote4 may see something more in his colt but this may be too big a jump and you’ll likely see the same results as last time. I give him an E for effort but look elsewhere with your sim dollars.

PP 6

23/1  CHATEAU BOLD TOO

(CARSON CITY x MACHIAVELLIAN x BOLD RULER)

G Ashbaugh ( 43 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 9% )

Trainer: chateau2

Getting little attention on the tote board, Chateau Bold Too has some high hopes her in Texas. Although he does have two non-graded stakes wins on his record, both of those came on the grass with the last one in June of 2004. He’s been running exclusively in dirt allowance race for the last year. He did manage to hit the triple digit speed figure three time last year but has not shown much lately and there’s not really much riding on hope for him today. He’ll give it a good effort but it the allowance ranks look better in his future.

PP 7

8/1  FLY FOR BUDA

(SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x RUBE THE GREAT)

K Little ( 118 – 22 – 13 – 16 – 19% )

Trainer: gg

World, listen up…Fly For Buda is back! This one time Triple Crown hopefull had been been impressive most of last year. Although he only managed to win one race of the three Triple Crown races he finished in the money in all of them and has finished in the money in ten graded events in his career. But as I reported in his last start in The Galt House Mile-G2, I very unusual entry in a turf event just prior to Breeders Bowl day seemed to do him in as he raced the remainder of the year quite flat. However, I had also seen that with a prep race in an Alw52300-nw1t that he won that he was poised to bounce back which he did as he finished a very close 3rd to #5 ranked Taking Risks. In that race he posted his best SF in seven months and now with his second race after that prep I think he’s ready to show even more. Gunning for him will be War General who is looking for some revenge from last year’s Middle Jewel Stakes-G1 and a slew of others who have ran very strong and consistent as of late. However, I like his form and his chances here and at 8/1 I’m going to put my money here. I think that this race sets up perfect for him and will start to pass tiring foes in earnest at the half mile pole. This is his return to glory race.

PP 8

9/2  BFIFTYTWO

(CRYPTOCLEARANCE x A.P. INDY x SHERGAR(GB))

B Carlson ( 79 – 5 – 10 – 8 – 6% )

Trainer: tirekicker

As a winner of four previous stakes events including a grade 3 score two races back in the Fus Gonner Handicap-G3, Bfiftytwo seems to have the right stuff. This colt, win or lose, seems to give all he has in every race. Trainer tirekicker, last year, was not discouraged after two consecutive mediocre performances in grade 1 events and immeditately pointed his colt against older opponents in order to prepare him for the upcoming season. These non-graded events seemed to breathe new life into Bfiftytwo as his SF numbers bounced right back up and finished the year with two straight stake victories. 2006 started with a loss by the narrowest of margins as Bfiftytwo took the lead in the stretch the Diplomat Way Handicap-G1 only to give it right back in the final strides losing by a nose. This horse seems to be a pure miler as any other distance, shorter or longer, has not faired well for him but the 1/2 furlong extra doesn’t seem to bother him much. Look for him to sit just behind the leaders while pressing the pace and try to make a move in the final quarter mile. With co-favorite War Bluff just sitting to his outside in gate number nine, jockey B Carlson will have the advantage of knowing how hard to push or lay back. This should prove to be a duel right down to the end.

PP 9

9/2  WAR BLUFF

(WAR EMBLEM x PINE BLUFF x IRISH OPEN)

J Chapman ( 166 – 27 – 18 – 20 – 16% )

Trainer: reclaimed

Our other co-favorite, War Bluff, has been riding high lately by winning 9 out his last 11 races. Exactly one year ago, this horse could have been claimed for $7500 and it was there that trainer reclaimed saw something special in this War Emblem colt. With a new trainer, War Bluff suddenly took off winning six consecutive races in a row, all of which were in the allowance ranks with only one starter allowance. During that time, reclaimed slowly moved him out in distance and the horse responded nicely his first time taking two turns on the dirt and capped off that run with an amazing 110 SF. The colt seemed poised to move up in class but in a surprising move he was pointed at the 7 furlong The MAY BRUNETTE(GB) Challenge-Stk. He immediately told his owner, “I don’t like sprints” by finishing 11th with a 94 SF. Taking that race into account, reclaimed prepped him two more times with amazing results before trying again in stakes company. Finally, in his next start and first graded attempt he hit pay dirt in the 8.5 furlong Razorback Cap-G3 and very interestingly changed tactics by saving ground rather than going to the lead and managed to get his head across the wire at the last moment over the #5 ranked Taking Risks. The roles were reversed last time out in the Statewide Pinhead Guild Stakes-G2 where he went back to the front leading style and was caught in the last 50 yards but still managed to post a blistering pace and time. The pace today is expected to be brisk but War Bluff shown any signs of fatigue in the stretch in the past.

PP 10

5/1  OPEN THE GATE

(JUMP START x DISTANT VIEW x RAJA BABA)

P Goodson ( 44 – 3 – 1 – 5 – 7% )

Trainer: deantroops

The lightly raced Open The Gate comes in as our second choice on the board but I find it hard not to rank him as our top choice. With only 14 races run, he’s put up some scary numbers that make the field tremble in fear. His posted a career best 110 SF in his last race in the Return Of The Dragon stakes-G3 and scored his first graded win in the process. Trainer deantroops took his time moving this colt up in class as he spent almost all of 2005 in allowance races until he tasted stakes company on New Year’s Eve. However it wasn’t until the first week of February that he won his first stakes race in The LOUISIANA LIMO Bonanza-Stk and then continued to enter him in non-graded events until he felt the time was right. He saw a possible opportunity two races back in the Bertrando Handicap-G2 and shipped Open The Gate over seas to Hong Kong where he ran a very respectfull 2nd with a 109 SF. His last four races have seen improvement over the previious and it’s hard not give him an edge over the others. Jockey P Goodson should place him a few lengths back of the lead and close strongly. However, you’ll find several other with the same type running style and it may just come down to who has enough gast left in the last 100 yards.

PP 11

8/1  ONE BOLD RUSH

(STRIKE THE GOLD x FAPPIANO x BOLD RULER)

C Shoemaker ( 333 – 78 – 55 – 51 – 23% )

Trainer: sdmforlife

Breaking from the outside post, One Bold Rush still has not shaken a bad case of also-rans. He has shown some flash of speed in the past and but found the winner’s circle hidden from him as he finished 2nd four times last year in graded races and once more two races back in the Oaktree Handicap-G1. In his last race in The Planets-G2 ran at 11 furlongs he really was never in it and I think the distance may have been more than he wanted to go. He shortens up here and I like that move as you may see more from him than recently. If he can repeat that 109 performance he had in the Oaktree he stands a very good chance of finally breaking his first graded win. Trainer sdmforlife has to wonder what the heck it takes to win one of these. Over and over again his colt has turned in a stellar performance only to have victory stolen from him. As I mentioned though with most of the others, this race is pretty wide open and he’ll have to post a career best to come out on top. He’ll try to put pressure on the leader, just sitting off the pace and gradually wear them down. His chance hang on him having “one bold rush” in the club house turn.