The SLEW IN THE TIRES Memorial

A field of eight three year olds and up will head to the post this Saturday at New Jersey’s Garden State Park for the $70000 SLEW IN THE TIRES Memorial.  The 10^th race feature will be run at a distance of one mile over the Turf Course.  Heavy rains have hit the New Jersey area over the past week, but head groundskeeper Will E. Dryer promises to have the Turf Course in good condition for the feature.

Breaking from the rail looking for his first Stakes victory is phillipj’s RED THEATRE(IRE).  The lightly raced 4yo son of Montjeu(IRE) is eight times 1^st or 2^nd with earnings in excess of 100k for his career, while posting triple digits in 4 of his 5 starts this season.  Yet to break through against Stakes competition, his best finish at this level came last year when he was 2^nd in the YOUR RULES Handicap.  Interestingly enough, his Dam, MADYSON’S HI was a winner of over $250k for her career, yet failed to win a Stakes race in 19 appearances finishing ITM in eight of them.  I think a Stakes win is certainly in the future for this promising 4yo, but at 7-2 appears to be an underlay…must show more

Looking for his first Strakes win of the 2005 campaign is crow’s CROW FOOT TED.  The 4yo Strike Smartly progeny is making his 39^th career start and is coming off his first victory this season in Allowance while posting a 103 SP figure for the effort, only the second time he’s reached triple digits in 10 starts this year.  The career of this multi stakes winning colt took off when switched to the turf as a 2yo when he finished 1^st in three of his first Stakes appearance on the green, but since back to back victories in the CHOCOLATE STORM Special and the YOUR RULES Handicap the horse has become an enigma for his connections winning only two races over his next 21 starts.  Did turn in a solid effort in the G-3 Philly Cheese Steak Turf three back, but I am not convinced this guy can catch lightning in a bottle…your call

Looking for his 2^nd consecutive Stakes victory is cobleskill’s CAHILL HARBOR.  The 4yo Chestnut by Boston Harbor was comfortably having a nice career racing on the dirt with 7 wins and over $120k in earnings when connections became impressed with a scheduled workout over the Turf Course at Eastern Kentucky.  Entered into an overnight, connections were quickly rewarded for their bold move when the colt drew away from a field of 11 in open company in an eye catching 1:34 1/5 for the mile.  Realizing they had something here, he was quickly entered back on the Turf finishing 2^nd to Graded Stakes winning SEEKING RANSOM in open Allowance with a 106 SP figure.  All indications pointed to a Stakes appearance on the Turf, and five weeks later he did not disappoint with an impressive win in the BARELY A LA CAPOTE Challenge…dangerous

Making only his 3^rd Stakes appearance in his 13^th career start is dixiepride’s SALUTE DIXIE.  The 3yo Bestyoucanbe homebred is 9 -11 ITM on the Turf including a pair of 3^rd place finishes in his only Stakes appearances, but takes on older rivals for the first time.  Hails from a sharp outfit, and turns back to a distance he is more comfortable with, and while he is on his way up while others in this field are on the way down, I think he may still have too much to do in here as he uses this race as a measuring stick…minor share

Making start number 51 of his career and only his 3^rd start since 2001 is epsom’s BLACK AIR(IRE).  The 10yo Black Tie Affair(IRE) offspring is a multi Graded stakes winner with earnings in excess of over $1.5 million.  The one time dominant veteran had a Cinderella 2001 season winning three Graded Stakes while dominating most of his rivals during that campaign.  Nagging injuries kept him out of action over the next three seasons, but patient handling by connections got this one time star back in training in early March, making his return to the races in an Allowance race in July.  Finished 3^rd in his 2^nd start this year LTO showing speed in the early going before tiring in the final stages and cuts back to a mile today in an attempt to regain those glory days.  While a win here would make for a great story, I just don’t think he is ready for this level, and may be ambitiously placed in Saturday’s feature…look elsewhere

Making his 10^th straight Stakes appearance is ltcamper’s FIDDLERS FOLLY.  The 5yo son of Stravinsky tries the long to short angle again this week as he attempts to duplicate his performance in the RED PETROL Handicap two races back when he finished 2^nd at a mile over a yielding race course setting a career high SP figure of 111 after he was beat soundly at a mile and three eights in his previous start.  Catches the off going again off a similar scenario when beat by 24 at a mile and three eights in his last start…like angles, then you love this one…might surprise

Making his 13^th straight Stakes appearance of the 2005season for the bagur stable is the multi Graded Stakes winner and number 8 ranked Colt of his division SATRUSTEGUI.  The 4yo son of  Forty Niner dominated the racing scene as a 3yo winning 5 of 11 starts including the Grade 1 Canada Mile, and finishing 2^nd in the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Mile.  As impressive as this winner of over $1.5 million 3yo campaign was, his 4yo campaign has been conversely disappointing.  He has shown signs of his old form in recent starts winning his only race this year three back in the SENOR RICK Challenge, then following that up with a 2^nd place finish in the BARELY A LA CAPOTE Challenge before turning in a lackluster performance LTO in the PHAR FROM SEATTLE Memorial.  While you still have to respect what this horse has accomplished in his career, and I hate betting against these kind, it is evident he is not the horse he once was and is beatable at 5-2…chance off best

Breaking from the outside making his first Stakes appearance is jaydiss2’s MY TOMMY BOY.  The 3yo MT. Livermore colt steps out of a pair of Allowance wins against limited winners, where he was never headed.  While it appears that this promising 3yo is ambitiously placed, he could find himself on an uncontested lead, and that is always dangerous.  There is no accounting for experience in races like these, and I think inexperience will eventually be his demise this time around plus the fact that he is taking on older rivals won’t help his cause.  Mark this one down, watch him go through his conditions, and maybe, just maybe you will see a star on the rise…learn more today