$1,000,000 CA Classic showdown
Hello race fans and welcome to sunny California for an action packed day of racing.We have a full house today in what’s anticipated to be a memorable running of the California Classic GR1 over a grueling mile and one quarter. Stars rise and fall, hopes and dreams are on the line when those gates open to release a highly talented field of competitors.
The racing conditions are favorable today, the track is a fast one… the betting is heavy. The atmosphere is electric, the horses are on the track so lets take a look at the field.
Post position 1 is Twist of Lemon at 9 / 1 ,trained by Theaxell a 4yo son of Lemon Drop Kid out of a Storm Cat daughter . Winner of $798,000 lifetime boasting a record of 25-10-2-5 . Eight starts this season , three over the 10 furlongs required today running 99 , 101 and 112 in his last start over this distance in GR1 company … a horse to keep an eye on.
Post position 2 is Act of God 10 / 1 , a 4yo son of Empire Maker out of an A.P. Indy Mare X.P. Country Club ; winner of $29,000 lifetime with 3 foals of racing age. Trained by Lenny13 Act of God is a winner of $799,000 lifetime 25-5-7-2 with nine starts this season including three over 10 f 104 , 101 and 95 in his last start over this distance.
Post position 3 is Slither 7 / 1 , a 5yo chestnut son of Deputy Minister out of a Gone West mare . Winner of $ 1,638,000 lifetime 27-9-4-2 with eight starts this season , only his last was over the requisite 10 f in VT posting a 109 for the SMACKDOWN II win and returns to make a stronger run this year in the Classic. Trained by Peeps6
Post position 4 is Silver Canuck 10 / 1 , a 5yo son of Silver Deputy out of a Kingmambo mare : Queen Alice whom has 4 foals of racing age. Silver Canuck is trained by Pher a winner of $ 3,158,000 lifetime 31-9-6-1 with seven starts this season , 4 of which were over 10 f 104 , 108 , 90 and 99 . He returns again this year to make another run at winning this illustrious race.
Post position 5 is Crafty Victory 9 / 1 ,trained by Funster. A 4yo son of Victory Gallop out of a Crafty Prospector mare. Coming into this race with $ 1,075,000 lifetime earnings, he’s looking to double down this weekend. 32-5-6-6 with 11 starts this year , only his last race was over today’s 10 f distance in preparation for the Classic posting 100.
Post position 6 is representing the Elesto stable: Scent from Dubai 13 / 1. This 4yo son from Essence of Dubai is out of an Octagonal (NZ) mare, lifetime earnings of $92,000 22-6-2-3 record he has 11 starts this season only 1 at 10f posting 99 in his victory.
Post position 7 is Especially 14 / 1 , this 5yo chestnut son of Sadler’s Wells is out of the Torrential mare : Sharon LA earner of $118,000 lifetime herself with 3 foals of racing age. Especially comes in a winner of $ 2,086,000 lifetime earnings 36-10-7-6 with 7 starts this season ; only 1 start over the 10f needed today posting a 102. He’s won his last 2 and Trainer illbred is looking for the hat trick.
Post position 8 is Celtic Legend ( FR ) 13 / 1 and trained by Correction . This 7 yo son of Irish River ( FR ) is out of a Caerleon mare , although he is older he is still racing strong with $ 571,000 lifetime earnings 23-10-5-1 with 8 starts this year. His last race saw a career change to dirt in G1 company posting a 102 and a respectable 2nd place. His only other dirt start was in his 3yo year in the Arkansas Juvenile G2 posting a 98 and another 2nd place. He needs to get a cure from seconditis this week.
Post position 9 is Solar Song 9 / 2 . Trained by Squirrel4 this 4yo son of Deputy Minister is out of a Nureyev mare and boasts $ 5,773,000 in lifetime earnings 25-12-5-2. With 8 starts this season he’s put up 8 triple digit efforts , 3 of which were over 10 f 111 , 115 and 108 respectively . He’s looking for payback this week from Slither who beat him last time out.
Post position 10 is Sinaju 10 / 1 and trained by Frosty . A son of Rahy out of a Nijinsky II mare and toting $ 821,000 in lifetime earnings 20-7-2-3 . He’s had 8 starts this season and 4 of them were over 10 f garnering 103 , 109 , 96 and 105 . This guy likes to close so watch for him late .
Post position 11 is Macho Niner 8 / 1 , a Lt. Grey son of Macho Uno out of a Pulpit daughter : French N Bad $ 57,000 lifetime earnings Macho Niner represents her only foal of racing age . With Lifetime earnings of $ 3,114,000 he boasts a record of 31-11-4-3 ; 11 starts this season and 5 being over today’s 10 f : 110 , 105 , 103 , 101 , 106 . Trainer Louisville finds his charge as the morningline 2nd favorite today.
Post position 12 is the races favorite Wonderboy Cougar 5 / 1 . A 5yo son of Barathea ( IRE ) out of a Polar Falcon mare : Buttery Fisherman $ 60,000 lifetime earnings with 4 foals of racing age . Trainer Karlch saddles his charge today with $ 5,308,000 in lifetime earnings 30-11-7-1 for his 7th start this season and 5 th for 10 f this year . This horse really loves today’s distance putting up 108 , 111 , 100 and 112 respectively.
This should be an exciting race to view . I’m looking for Wonderboy Cougar ( IRE ) and Macho Niner to make a punishing pace early on. Watch for Solar Song and Slither resume their late run battle from SMACKDOWN II and I wouldn’t count out Twist of Lemon making his presence felt at the wire. As a side note, I would like to point out that trainer illbred is the only owner not capitalized — this was not an insult but rather a clarification to the spelling as a capital “i” looks like a lower case L so if offended my apologies.
The racing conditions are favorable today, the track is a fast one… the betting is heavy. The atmosphere is electric, the horses are on the track so lets take a look at the field.
Post position 1 is Twist of Lemon at 9 / 1 ,trained by Theaxell a 4yo son of Lemon Drop Kid out of a Storm Cat daughter . Winner of $798,000 lifetime boasting a record of 25-10-2-5 . Eight starts this season , three over the 10 furlongs required today running 99 , 101 and 112 in his last start over this distance in GR1 company … a horse to keep an eye on.
Post position 2 is Act of God 10 / 1 , a 4yo son of Empire Maker out of an A.P. Indy Mare X.P. Country Club ; winner of $29,000 lifetime with 3 foals of racing age. Trained by Lenny13 Act of God is a winner of $799,000 lifetime 25-5-7-2 with nine starts this season including three over 10 f 104 , 101 and 95 in his last start over this distance.
Post position 3 is Slither 7 / 1 , a 5yo chestnut son of Deputy Minister out of a Gone West mare . Winner of $ 1,638,000 lifetime 27-9-4-2 with eight starts this season , only his last was over the requisite 10 f in VT posting a 109 for the SMACKDOWN II win and returns to make a stronger run this year in the Classic. Trained by Peeps6
Post position 4 is Silver Canuck 10 / 1 , a 5yo son of Silver Deputy out of a Kingmambo mare : Queen Alice whom has 4 foals of racing age. Silver Canuck is trained by Pher a winner of $ 3,158,000 lifetime 31-9-6-1 with seven starts this season , 4 of which were over 10 f 104 , 108 , 90 and 99 . He returns again this year to make another run at winning this illustrious race.
Post position 5 is Crafty Victory 9 / 1 ,trained by Funster. A 4yo son of Victory Gallop out of a Crafty Prospector mare. Coming into this race with $ 1,075,000 lifetime earnings, he’s looking to double down this weekend. 32-5-6-6 with 11 starts this year , only his last race was over today’s 10 f distance in preparation for the Classic posting 100.
Post position 6 is representing the Elesto stable: Scent from Dubai 13 / 1. This 4yo son from Essence of Dubai is out of an Octagonal (NZ) mare, lifetime earnings of $92,000 22-6-2-3 record he has 11 starts this season only 1 at 10f posting 99 in his victory.
Post position 7 is Especially 14 / 1 , this 5yo chestnut son of Sadler’s Wells is out of the Torrential mare : Sharon LA earner of $118,000 lifetime herself with 3 foals of racing age. Especially comes in a winner of $ 2,086,000 lifetime earnings 36-10-7-6 with 7 starts this season ; only 1 start over the 10f needed today posting a 102. He’s won his last 2 and Trainer illbred is looking for the hat trick.
Post position 8 is Celtic Legend ( FR ) 13 / 1 and trained by Correction . This 7 yo son of Irish River ( FR ) is out of a Caerleon mare , although he is older he is still racing strong with $ 571,000 lifetime earnings 23-10-5-1 with 8 starts this year. His last race saw a career change to dirt in G1 company posting a 102 and a respectable 2nd place. His only other dirt start was in his 3yo year in the Arkansas Juvenile G2 posting a 98 and another 2nd place. He needs to get a cure from seconditis this week.
Post position 9 is Solar Song 9 / 2 . Trained by Squirrel4 this 4yo son of Deputy Minister is out of a Nureyev mare and boasts $ 5,773,000 in lifetime earnings 25-12-5-2. With 8 starts this season he’s put up 8 triple digit efforts , 3 of which were over 10 f 111 , 115 and 108 respectively . He’s looking for payback this week from Slither who beat him last time out.
Post position 10 is Sinaju 10 / 1 and trained by Frosty . A son of Rahy out of a Nijinsky II mare and toting $ 821,000 in lifetime earnings 20-7-2-3 . He’s had 8 starts this season and 4 of them were over 10 f garnering 103 , 109 , 96 and 105 . This guy likes to close so watch for him late .
Post position 11 is Macho Niner 8 / 1 , a Lt. Grey son of Macho Uno out of a Pulpit daughter : French N Bad $ 57,000 lifetime earnings Macho Niner represents her only foal of racing age . With Lifetime earnings of $ 3,114,000 he boasts a record of 31-11-4-3 ; 11 starts this season and 5 being over today’s 10 f : 110 , 105 , 103 , 101 , 106 . Trainer Louisville finds his charge as the morningline 2nd favorite today.
Post position 12 is the races favorite Wonderboy Cougar 5 / 1 . A 5yo son of Barathea ( IRE ) out of a Polar Falcon mare : Buttery Fisherman $ 60,000 lifetime earnings with 4 foals of racing age . Trainer Karlch saddles his charge today with $ 5,308,000 in lifetime earnings 30-11-7-1 for his 7th start this season and 5 th for 10 f this year . This horse really loves today’s distance putting up 108 , 111 , 100 and 112 respectively.
This should be an exciting race to view . I’m looking for Wonderboy Cougar ( IRE ) and Macho Niner to make a punishing pace early on. Watch for Solar Song and Slither resume their late run battle from SMACKDOWN II and I wouldn’t count out Twist of Lemon making his presence felt at the wire. As a side note, I would like to point out that trainer illbred is the only owner not capitalized — this was not an insult but rather a clarification to the spelling as a capital “i” looks like a lower case L so if offended my apologies.
Kingman