Tight field contests GIII Legoland in Louisiana

 

NEW ORLEANS — After so much hope as 2-year-olds, a group of 14 3-year-old males will clash on Saturday in the Grade III Legoland at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Louisiana, as they try to begin their campaigns in strong fashion.

 

 

With a mix of graded winners, stakes winners and allowance winners showing promise, the field is wide open and could make for an interesting run and result over a mile on fast dirt for a purse of $150,000.

 

 

Who could take home a big notch in their belt? Read on for a look at the competitors…

 

 

 

 

1) Lone Wolves                                                 AWESOME AGAIN X SEEKING THE GOLD X STORM CAT
Resume: 9-5-1-2                                               N Ashmore                         petersd                                                                7/1

 

 

Lone Wolves stacked up impressive results as a 2-year-old, boasting the second-highest career earnings in the field ($442,120) and finishing in the money in 89% of his nine races. Among those finishes were five victories, including a Grade II (The Stanford, in August) and a Grade III (The Nashua Special, in November). The son of Awesome Again has gone against graded competition the last five times out, so there’s no question about his ability to handle this level. He was also edged out by half a length in September’s Grade I Hopeless Stakes. Last time out, on Dec. 13, he closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a third-place result in the Grade III Sam’s Town Delta Jackpot. The mile distance seemed ideal in the latter stages of 2014. Though this will be the deepest field he’s faced, his ability can hardly be questioned. Like all the runners, it will be about how he matures into his 3-year-old year and how nine races as a 2-year-old (busy, but not saturated) will affect him moving forward. Should provide speed in the race.

 

 

 

2) Legends Blend                                             SHANGHAI BOBBY X JOHANNESBURG X STREET CRY
Resume: 13-3-1-1                                            A Jolly                                   doaana                                                 15/1

 

 

The son of Shanghai Bobby has done some things in his career. He leads the field in earnings with nearly $500,000, has already taken to the track 13 times and no one has run a bigger race — the Grade I Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile — or won a bigger race — the Grade I Ana Delia Memorial. But Legends Blend has also been up and down. He began his career with three straight wins, including an open stakes and the Ana Delia, but then struggled to find consistent form as the year wore on, perhaps because the other horses caught up with him and/or perhaps of an aggressive race schedule that often saw him get only a few weeks rest between stakes runs. He also has yet to prove he can be competitive at the mile distance (his best runs came in sprints). Was he a flash in the pan or can he find himself rejuvenated to start 2015? Expect a tight stalking run.

 

 

 

3) The Collaborator                                         DISTORTED HUMOR X BERNARDINI X NORTHERN DANCER
Resume: 7-3-1-2                                               C Morris                               eminc8                                                 10/1

 

 

The Collaborator got off to a quick start as a 2-year-old, winning his first two before taking the leap into graded competition, where he showed he could be very competitive. The son of Distorted Humor has been in the money in all but one race — a slightly off-track Grade II High Roller’s Juvenile in which he finished just two lengths off the lead, but fifth. He has, in fact, never finished more than two and a half lengths back. The Collaborator closed out 2014 by winning the open Blazing Saddles Breeders Showdown by two and a quarter lengths with a speed figure of 99. He showed improvement in every race, and could, perhaps, fancy even longer than a mile, though he’s shown he can run pretty well at the distance. The only thing missing is an actual graded win, so this runner does have something to prove. Will likely run mid-pack and come with a hard, final stretch close.

 

 

 

4) The Dream’s Over                                      OASIS DREAM X STORM CAT X MR. PROSPECTOR
Resume: 7-4-1-1                                               K Carson                              lenny2                                                  7/1

 

 

In seven career races, The Dream’s Over has won four and finished out of the money only once. Renowned trainer Lenny chose to bring this son of Oasis Dream along slowly, working through the allowance restrictions and taking a few shots at a listed stakes race. He won one of those — the GR Simsters Juvenile in November — with a strong run and a 97 speed figure. Last time out, The Dream’s Over was not quite as lucky, finishing third in the listed Wizard of Winter Dirt Juvenile. Both of those raced were at 8.5 furlongs, and he has won over a mile before, so there’s little question about distance. He appears to have gradually matured through the year. There’s no knowing how he’ll handle a step up to a graded race, but there does appear to be some raw talent and he was handled carefully as a 2-year-old with a clear eye toward the future. Another lead stalker.

 

 

 

5) Badlandz                                                         DISTORTED HUMOR X UNBRIDLED’S SONG X SEATTLE SLEW
Resume: 10-6-0-1                                            P Davidson                          street                                                    6/1

 

 

Badlandz enters this race as the odds-makers’ favorite, building a resume with the second-most races run in the field and the most victories. So he knows how to win; he actually began his career winning four in a row, the last of which was residency stakes event Minnesota Testbarn Residency 2yo Stakes. After that, his Street Stables conglomerate decided to throw him into the fire, with five straight graded runs, including a victory in September’s Grade III Buckeye Juvenile. He has been competitive in other Grade II and III events, and wasn’t far out in finishing sixth, three lengths back, in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile. Last time out, the son of Distorted Humor ran past the field in the open Minnesota Testbarn Juvenile Stakes with a 101 speed figure. The mile should not be an issue, though he may be another who ultimately peaks at a longer distance. Steady improvement and big speed figures are why so many favor Badlandz. The biggest question could be how his legs mature as a 3-year-old already with 10 races on them.

 

 

 

6) Foolish Fire                                                    ORB X STORM CAT X SECRETARIAT
Resume: 5-3-1-0                                               M Buck                                 tombstone                                         10/1

 

 

Foolish Fire is one of the lightest-raced horses in the field, but rewarded Tombstone Stables (under the larger Trotter umbrella) with a fine 2-year-old campaign that hinted at, perhaps, bigger things to come. The son of Orb has won three of those five races, including last time out over a mile in the listed Fiction Wins Dirt Juvenile in late November, when he won by a quarter of a length with a 100 speed figure. It was the third open stakes run for the horse. His owner’s patience, however, means he has yet to run against graded competition, and although he’s done well against lesser fields, his career thus far has not been dominant. What does that mean for a step up? One would think he has the ability to be competitive, but we won’t know until he proves it. Expect Foolish fire on the lead.

 

 

 

7) LV Distorted Itch                                         TAPIT X DISTORTED HUMOR X GENERAL MEETING
Resume: 7-3-1-1                                               E Seifert                               jackworm                                            12/1

 

LV Distorted Itch climbed the allowance ladder through much of his 2-year-old year before showing he had more to give with a win in October’s listed Rhibus Dirt Juvenile with a 98 speed figure. That encouraged his owners, who then ran him in the Grade II Ransom over 9 furlongs, where he was never a factor. It was a disappointing end to 2014, but now the son of Tapit is back and looking to prove he is maturing into a graded-level competitor. LV Distorted Itch has been stretched out, so a mile should be handled pretty well. As for the elite level, he wasn’t ready to face it as a 2-year-old but is he now? Should come out of the gates mid- to back-pack and try to close over the second half of the run.

 

 

 

8) Black Cool                                                       CROWN DELITE X ONE COOL CAT X BEST OF THE BESTS
Resume: 7-3-2-1                                               JR Golden                            gael1                                                     18/1

 

 

One of the longer shots in the field, Black Cool spent most of his 2-year-old season drumming up money with strong allowance runs, climbing the ladder. His development through the year was good, going from a modest start, albeit in a win, in a maiden hot race to nearly winning a graded race. After he notched his third career win in an NW3L run in November, his trainer decided to make the leap, and Black Cool finished out 2014 with a runner-up finish, coming up just a head short, in the Grade III Sam’s Town Delta Jackpot. He posted a speed figure of 100 in that run. That certainly shows promise — nearly winning a million dollar race — but was it a one off performance? Can the son of Crown Delite do that consistently? Black Cool could end up being a massive bargain from surprising roots for Gael1 Stables and head honcho NickeyD. Out of bargain sire to a mare that never hit an 80 SF and never one more than a maiden claimer, this one has already proven his value, and should continue to. Likely another horse looking to run a length or two back of the lead.

 

 

 

9) Doubledep                                                    MAGNIFIC X DEHERE X PULPIT
Resume: 8-2-3-2                                               F Oxon                                  artsim                                                   15/1

 

No one in the field has as few as Doubledep’s two career wins. What does that mean for his chances? This son of Magnific had a modest but hopeful 2-year-old campaign, bringing in some allowance dollars and picking up an open allowance win while testing himself against listed stakes competition three times. The first, mid-year effort did not go well, but his last two times out showed promise. Doubledep finished less than two lengths back in second in the Catch Sparky Dirt Juvenile and a month later came even closer, missing out by a head in the Colonel Prospector Dirt Juvenile. The distance is there and Doubledep has teased at taking the next step, but hasn’t done it. That leaves this race as a large step up, but it’s possible his 3-year-old year could bring the maturation needed. He posted a 98 speed figure last time out. Likely a mid- to back-of-the-pack runner.

 

 

 

10) Bullettheblue                                             SHAMARDAL X RED BULLET X AWESOME AGAIN
Resume: 4-3-0-1                                               B Coates                              becker4                                                                22/1

 

 

This son of Shamardal did not get much support from the odds-makers, getting tagged as the race’s biggest longshot at 22/1. The odds don’t run on the track though. Bullettheblue is largely untested, but has been successful, running just four times as a 2-year-old and finishing in the money ever time, with three wins. The last time out he won by three quarters of a length in the listed stakes Eh Team Timbit, posting a 100 speed figure. That was the only stakes competition of any sort. There are unknowns here due to lack of elite competition and the fact that his last race was his only on dirt. With that said, it was also his best, and there’s reason to believe he may permanently take to the dusty surface. He’s gone the distance well. The odds say he’s not ready to step up to this level of competition, but I’m not sure the distance between Bullettheblue and the other horses in the field are what the bettors may think; he may need more time in open stakes right now though. Another of the stalkers in the group.

 

 

 

11) Blue Gatorade                                           STAY THIRSTY X MEDAGLIA D’ORO X PETIONVILLE
Resume: 9-4-1-1                                               G Wendorff                        dochman5                                           7/1

 

 

Blue Gatorade began with a bang, posting an 80 speed figure as a 2-year-old in March, but despite some improvement he failed to explode the rest of the year. He now comes into 2015 still looking for a stakes victory of any kind. He did finish in the money twice in listed sprints in the first half of 2014, and was coming on strong in the Grade III Pea Patch Juvenile in August. After that it was all allowance success and a non-factor run in the Grade I Sparkling Wine.  Why do the odds-makers like him a lot? This son of Stay Thirsty, out of the most successful on-track mare of the group, did run a 101 with juice to spare in a breezy NW4L allowance win last time out. He has seen some tough competition. It may be that a busy nine-race schedule kept him from quite peaking; his good run in the Pea Patch came off his longest break of the year (6 weeks). He’s coming off another nice break now and has matured a year and will look to win from a stalking position a couple of lengths off the lead.

 

 

 

12) Be The Same                                              HARRY THE HAT X INDIAN RIDGE X ALYDAR
Resume: 7-5-1-1                                               M Olsen                               driver5000                                           7/1

 

Five wins in seven career runs is not too shabby, but Be The Same is still looking for a breakthrough victory. This son of Harry The Hat opened his career as a 2-year-old with four straight wins, climbing the allowance ladder, before testing himself against listed stakes competition. That resulted in a second-place finish (Tunaman Dirt Juvenile) and a third-place result (Gulliver Dirt Juvenile). Both were competitive runs. His people at Driver5000 Stables decided to run him out early as a 3-year-old, so, unlike others in this field, Be The Same has already got a chance to run in 2015. He won that open homebred allowance by two lengths with a 94 speed figure. His career high is 100. Be The Same was on the brink as a 2-year-old, but this will be a step up. Another product of a bargain-level sire, he’s already paid for himself. Is there enough in the tank to take things up a notch? In a field of horses who want to be just off the lead, he is another.

 

 

 

13) Hippin                                                            CORINTHIAN X DEHERE X GONE WEST
Resume: 7-3-0-1                                               D Hogin                                                kauffmac1                                           15/1

 

One would characterize Hippin as good but not great as a 2-year-old. His owners would satisfied to have him steadily raise his game, and he did that, not always winning but generally being competitive; and when he won there was no doubt. He’s coming off a career-high speed figure of 99 in a two and a quarter length victory against NW3L allowance company in December. His only stakes run came in the open Rhibus Dirt Juvenile — won by LV Distorted Itch — and he finished nearly six lengths off the pace in fifth. That won’t be good enough here, but it’s clear he enjoys the mile distance (no surprise from a son of Corinthian) and he’ll have a chance to grow as a 3-year-old. He may not have what it takes today, but may grow into this level. Expect Hippin right near the lead out of the gate.

 

 

 

14) Ronny Rockhead                                       GIO PONTI X ROCK OF GIBRALTAR X MEDAGLIA D’ORO
Resume: 9-4-2-0                                               S Hardinger                         ajhsstable                                           10/1

 

 

Ronny Rockhead had a very good 2-year-old campaign and is one of only four horses in this field to have already won a graded race. He won first time out, and in the month of May was twice the winner of open stakes races — the Ernies Tears Turf Juvenile and the Smooth top Turf Juvenile. That was enough to convince the trainers at Ajhsstable Stables to move him up, and he proceeded to run five straight Grade III races. During that stretch he won the Bens College Fund in late September, running by the field down the stretch and posting a 97 speed figure. That was his best showing during a string of runs that sometimes were competitive and sometimes were not. His last time out, in November, was the least competitive run of his career. The son of Gio Ponti has since been resting though, and could benefit from the break and a year of maturation. The big question is surface and distance. He won the Bens College Fund over a mile, but otherwise has just a runner-up finish over the distance…or out of the money. He also did not move to dirt until that aforementioned major victory, and his follow up race in the Show Me Your Lightning Bolt was underwhelming. Which is the real Ronny Rockhead? The one who impressed in September or the one who wilted in November. Since moving to dirt has regularly run as a deeper closer.

 

 

 

Where does all that leave us? I would say virtually all of the horses have the ability to be competitive in this race, which should make for a pretty wide open run. There’s no overwhelming favorite, and even the long shots have more to do with question marks than inability.

 

The fact that so many horses in the race could potentially push the pace also muddies the waters a little bit, as there is the potential for things to set up well for a closer, of which there are few.

 

 

I’ll take my shot in the dark and say The Collaborator, followed by The Dream’s Over, followed by Ronny Rockhead. I’ll also predict that Bullettheblue will run better than his odds and finish in the top five.

 

 

Good luck to all the competitors and enjoy the race.