Six to take on Barely For Speech Special
The second edition of the Barely For Speech Special features six older horses going 9.5 furlongs on California’s main track. The 2005 running of the Special had just four entrants; trainer Woodhead’s Pinning My Hopes earned his sole stakes win in that race. This year’s Special might see another entrant earn his black type as well.
Coon’s Dog, trained by tigereyes, has drawn the inside post. The 5yo Theatrical mare is well-regarded by the tracka handicapper, who placed her at 5/2 on the morning line. She’s a confirmed dead closer who, in her last victory, somehow made up about 12 lengths in the last quarter mile. Look for her to drop waaaay back and come running late. This race distance might be a tad too short. Despite her come-from-behind style, she’s never been given more than 11 furlongs to run. She’s not exactly a slouch at 9-10, but she might really shine at 12 or possibly more. Coon’s Dog will be making start #46 here.
Euroalien’s charge Oxys will break from post 2. The oddsmaker doesn’t seem to love or hate this one as he’s been listed at 6/1. At just 4 years old, Oxys is fairly lightly raced with just 12 races in him (he’s won four times). The Woodman colt has shown flashes of brilliance (he won a 9f allowance 5 back on the lead with a healthy 103SP) but is a bit inconsistent at placing. Oxys runs his best when he gets an early lead, so I’m expecting jockey W Rogers to get this colt out front fast. Could be in the mix at the wire, but doesn’t seem to have yet developed the determination that will get him his first stakes win.
Jockey M Staples gladly took the ride on the field cofavorite (at 9/5 odds) Forgotten Halo. The Stoners Stable trainee has put together an impressive record of 8 wins in 16 starts (with an additional 5 board finishes) and over a quarter-million in earnings. He hasn’t hit the winner’s circle since four starts back in February, but certainly could be ready to make it back there in this race. This gorgeous light gray son of Jolie’s Halo loves to have the lead by the half-way marker, so if he’s in front at that point odds are good the race is his to lose. The distance is ideal (his last stakes win was at 9.5) and he’s in pretty good form. The tuneup in an allowance last out may have been just what the doc ordered.
Trainer bigeasy probably isn’t thrilled that his Danzatame colt Northern Danza ended up in gate four right next to Forgotten Halo. Northern Danza hasn’t routed since he was a 2yo (he’s 4 now) so this is asking a lot of the colt to both move out of allowance company and run a long ways at the same time. Northern Danza has shown flashes of speed at times in his career, but all three of his wins have come on the lead. Unless the field falls apart he really doesn’t have much chance of getting (or keeping) the lead, unfortunately. The 20/1 odds assigned are a pretty good reflection of the colt’s chances.
Calsea sends out the 6yo Undeniable Pigeon from the five post at 12/1 odds. The son of Pat The Tenor has earned seven wins from 36 starts, but so far zero wins in stakes company. The horse is actually pretty good on both surfaces, and seems to put in a nice turf race most every time he’s switched back to it. In terms of running style, the Pigeon has a nice closing kick. However, it looks like age has caught up as his speeds are slowly declining. If this were 2005, I’d say Pigeon had a real good shot at winning. Given his gradual slowdown, however, I don’t think it’s likely.
The other cofavorite, Alderaan, breaks from the far outside. Aalusive’s homebred son of Aldebaran out of the hemare Dark Invader has lots to recommend him here. He’s coming off of two very convincing allowance wins including one at this distance two back (although on sloppy rather than fast dirt). Alderaan already has a pair of stakes wins under him so he certainly has the class to win here. He also has a versatility of style that much of the rest of the field seems to lack. The 4yo colt can handle stalking, he can handle closing from midpack, he can handle closing from the rear of the pack. Jockey E Land has, in my opinion, the best horse in the field.