Champ Plein de quatorze défini pour passer à Paris dans le Grade II $150,000 Laffitte Criterium
A full field of fourteen two year olds will enter the Paris starting gate for the $250,000 Grade Two Laffitte Criterium to be run at a distance of Six Furlongs over the Turf Course.
1 – READY CHAMPION – the snowchief trained daughter of Eskendereya out of the G1 winning STRIKE WHEN READY has picked up right where her Dam left off winning four of seven starts, one of those wins coming in the G2 Why You Buggin Stakes back in June. The promising two year old has progressing speed figures in every start and enters this field off a determined third place finish in the G1 Chevel Stakes after prompting the pace only to get caught by the fast closing fillies. Takes on the boys for the first time but appears up to the task…chance for upset
2 – STAR OF CHEVELEY – the mattclooch trained son of freshman sire Intello out of TRANSACTIONS, Dam of the G1 winning SPECIAL BALLADE. The talented young colt finished first last time out in the My Miracle Turf Juvenile after an up close fifth place finish in the G2 Flying Children Stakes where he was beaten by PUNCH GOLD, first in the field, and CROSSTOWN FLIGHT, the second place finisher in that same event. Unable to gain the lead in the G2 Flying Children, the ENG bred two year old may run into a similar scenario on Saturday racing again at this level…needs patient handling
3 – ELUSIVE PLANE – two year old son out of Elusive Quality is the first offspring of the stakes winning CHARTER AIRLINE. Trained by gowans, the quick footed Bay turned in a solid effort last time out in the G1 Middlepark Stakes where he led the field at every call only to get caught by the aptly named WHIZZING BY in the final yards. Finished ahead of the well-regarded ARCANOID in that race as well as the G2 Bobby Papin back in July and looks like an overlay in this field at 11-1…chance at a price
4 – TELL THE KING – another from freshman sire Intello out of stakes placed mare ABIGAIL IS QUEEN (Kingmambo x Storm Cat) trained by ldyssecret made a strong case for his chances in this field with his second place finish in the G3 Stubenville last time out. The capable ENG bred was all out trying to catch the very speedy CRY ME A WINNERR, something that hasn’t been done in three consecutive starts, and should benefit form that pursuit while turning back to six furlongs in Saturday’s feature…don’t ignore
5 – ARCANOID – reliable son of Arcade trained by the joe333 stables is making his eleventh start of the season. The ever consistent Illinois bred has been on the board in eight of ten starts four at the Graded level including a win in the G3 Aaron Burr. Unable to catch ELUSIVE PLANE in the G1 Middlepark and Bobby Papin in previous starts, connections are hoping the improving two year old can benefit from a fast early pace and turn the tables on his rival in the Paris feature…chance off best
6 – PUNCH GOLD – the zilver10cents trained son of Stay Gold impressed favorably last time out when first in the five furlong G2 Flying Children Stakes defeating race rivals STAR OF CHEVELEY and CROSSTOWN FLIGHT. On or near the lead in every start, it will be curious to see if the JPN bred colt can invoke his tenacity going six panels, a distance that left him tiring in both starts at that distance…must not falter
7 – MYDADCHARLIE – the quiggy1 trained son of Myboycharlie out of the Graded placed mare BONE OF PEGASUS, Dam to Stakes Winner GIANT STRIDES, and graded placed mare SHES ALL MYSTERY. Making the colossal jump from a win in MSW, the ambitious IRE bred turned in a credible fifth in the G1Firebird two races back finishing less than two lengths behind the third place ARCANOID. Second in the G2 Miller Reef Stakes last time out while posting a 90 speed figure puts this lightly raced two year old right in line for a strong effort here on Saturday…might surprise
8 -OF SAMOA – the adrian trained Cape Cross colt out of Stakes winning AM BUHDUH BAMBAM took a three for three race win streak into his first stakes try last time out in the G2 he Boones Farm. Boldly placed on the lead, a formula that has produced perfect results to this point, the precocious Irish bred quickly opened up a lead on his rivals extending that lead at every call until the talented TONATIUH ELYSEES and ITALIAN DREAMER fourth and seventh place finishers respectively in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf…might be this good
9 – CROSSTOWN FLIGHT – hailing for the top connections of the dixiedotco stables, this two year old City Zip colt out of the Grade One winning WATER LANDING is another that took a three for three race winning streak into the his first graded stakes, the G2 Flying Children Stakes Flying Children Stakes last time out. Used to establishing the pace in his previous three starts including a gate to wire victory in the Slurpee Again Turf Juvenile, the fleet-footed Kentucky bred pressed the front running CLIMATE COMMANDER at from the start. Relentless at every call, the dazzling two year old colt held sway to the wire only to lose a photo to a perfect trip PUNCH GOLD. Speed of the speed here…dangerous
10 – DURANGO’S PASS – two year old Sea the Stars colt out of a Kris S. x Nureyev mare trained by the johnscott stables has struggled with consistency at the stakes level, sandwiching a win in the seven furlong G2 Nationwide Stakes with a couple of ordinary efforts in the G2 Future Stakes and the G2 Grand Critter Stakes, a one mile affair where he finished eleventh. Turning back into a sprint should improve his effort here on Saturday, but start number nine this year off his worst effort raises a red flag…your call
11 – KRAGENMOOR – the SAF bred son of Trippi out of the multi-stakes producing mare BROAD PROJECT is wearing the colors of the davarto stables in his first open stakes appearance here on Saturday. Winner of three straight before finishing a fast closing second in the SAf-bred Nursery Local Stakes, the ambitiously placed SAF bred will attempt to pass the acid test at a short price in his graded stakes debut. Could fall victim to a fast early pace, but hasn’t disappointed yet…prefer others
12 – BARB’S KAKES – the jakematt trained son of Victoire Pisa out of the stakes winning, multi-stakes producing mare BARB’S HELLE enters this field after a third place finish in the G2 Miller Reef Stakes, a finish that puts him right up there with many of the contenders in this field. Winner of the Miller Reef went on to finish fourth in the G1 High Flyer Stakes, a race that was won a tick faster than the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf. Eligible to improve off that effort, expect the JPN bred dig a little deeper coming for home this time around…fast and fit
13 – DAWN APPROACHING – the russrob2 trained son of Dawn Approach out of a Monsun x Dynaformer mare started off his career in fine fashion winning his first two starts before finishing third in the House For Sale Turf Juvenile two races back. Bred to go the distance, it is hard to explain his last race around two turns where he finished sixth, eight lengths behind the leader. Turning back to a sprint could improve his chances here on Saturday, but coming off his previous effort marks him as a horse that is ambitiously placed…look elsewhere
14 – BE MY OOH LA LA – the broohar trained son of Dawn Approach out of the stakes winning mare DYNAMICAL is another who enters this field out of the G2 Miller Reef Stakes. Fourth in that field behind BARB’S KAKES and MYDADCHARLIE, the Irish bred colt has struggled at the graded level finishing tenth in the G1 Blue Diamond Road, a race where ARCANOID finished ahead of him in fifth place. Late running style favors him in this event and may find himself sitting on a perfect trip if things fall his way, but he will have to show marked improvement to get things done in the Saturday feature…must show more
PROJECTIONS
You know you have a competitive field when the race favorite is 6-1. Many of the horses entered in the G2 Laffitte Criterium have met in other races at the graded level which can help eliminate some of the contenders when you go to the windows. OF SAMOA, a somewhat inexperienced stakes level runner made his stakes debut off of three career starts, all wins, in the seven furlong G2 Boones Farm, a race where he drew off in the early going only to get caught by TONATIUH ELYSEES and ITALIAN DREAMER, both of whom went on to run well in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf. MYDADCHARLIE also made an aggressive jump in class with success when second in the G2 Miller Reef Stakes and might be this good. CROSSTOWN FLIGHT will be a much better horse around six furlongs and could give the top choice all he can handle. ELUSIVE PLANE has beaten several of these in here and should be around for a share of the pool. In a race that is loaded with speed, TELL THE KING figures to benefit the most should the pace collapse in this race.
TRIFECTA PLAY
8 / 3 4 7 9 / 1 3 4 7 9 11 12 14
3 4 7 9 / 1 3 4 7 9 11 12 14 / 8
1 3 4 7 9 11 12 14 / 8 / 3 4 7 9