Life’s a Peach

A field of nine has gathered in Georgia for the seventh running of the Grade III Peach State Classic, ten furlongs for older males.  With only one top 100 ranked classic runner in the field, the race presents an opportunity for a horse to move up in the standings.

Handicapping this one may be a question of pace.  Only one has shown early speed, but that speed has been in longer races. 

Here is a look at the field:

1. Early in his three year old season, Lightbringer (Touch Gold x Easy Goer) finished third in the Grade II Patriot Stakes.  Since then he has picked up four stakes wins, but has not finished in the money in five more graded tries.  Last time, in the Grade I Maryland Special, he made a bid but hung facing top rated Unprecedented, and he also finished more than three lengths behind Silver Canuck, who is here today.  Nevertheless, the Greenapple (18%) trained colt is the top rated one here – the only one in the top 100 – and is more than capable of running a stalking trip and taking it all, especially at his favorite distance.  4-1.

2. Like a Rock (Rock of Gibraltar x El Prado) recently won three in a row in late charging style at a mile and a half, culminating with an impressive win against a decent field in the Texas A. P. Challenge.  Then he threw in a terrible race for trainer Peeps2 (14%) last time the One Flux Special.  If he bounces back he should be competitive.  He is ten for 14 in the money in routes.  9-1.

3. The only graded winner in the field, Silver Canuck (Silver Deputy x Kingmambo) won two graded stakes just over a year ago, both at today’s distance.  The Pher (11%) trainee has been consistently facing better than these and holding his own.  Very sharp right now, a deserving favorite.  Picks up a rider who is not having a good 2006.  5-2.

4. Millenium Storm (Century City x Storm Cat) makes an ambitious appearance for the Vrcomp2 (12%) barn.  The four year old has not been in a stakes since his two year old season.  Comes into this off a sprinting allowance win in not spectacular time.  Three for sixteen lifetime routing.  Would be a surprise. 17-1.

5. Touch and Stop (Touch Gold x Nijinsky II) has run six times this year: all stakes a mile and a half or longer.  Trainer Dlynche (19%) has him trying to wire the field every race, and the strategy has worked pretty well as the horse has picked up two wins and two seconds doing it.  This shorter race may make it harder to get that easy lead, but there aren’t many here that want to run early, so the race may be his to lose.  9-2.

6. Tree Huggin God (Forestry x Local Time) has lost his last two races by a combined 52 lengths.  Anzstable (12%) responds by stretching him out and stepping him up in class.  After 42 lifetime starts, the Tree Hugger may be slowing down.  26-1.

7. Lightly raced Sith (Forty Niner x Northern Dancer) placed in the Grade III Sunlight Sonata two back and ran a better-than-it-looks eighth in another Grade III last time when he ran into a very deep field.  Facing much softer today.  Trainer Lurve (20%) has the closer very sharp.  Jockey has been hot lately.  9-2.

8. Yev’s Leprechaun (Fasliyev x Desert Secret) makes his stakes debut off a two race win streak against full allowance fields.  The modestly bred colt broke his maiden at a tab, and since then Vilfly (12%) has done a great job developing him.  He has six route wins and deserves to be here, but more likely for a minor award than for a win.  Deep closing style may not be the best in this company.  10-1.

9.  Buddha’s Undies (Buddha x Unbridled’s Song) has one win in 14 routes, but that win came earlier this year in a stakes at this distance.  The Corza5 (85) trainee has tried graded stakes seven times and has only once finished within eight lengths of the winner.  Yet another closer.  Prefer others.  5-1.

Morning Line: 3-7-5-1

Timmn’s picks: 5-3-7-2