Lawn Party in the Desert
Hello race fans and welcome to this weeks addition of Hoof Beats coming to you from majestic Dubai for coverage of The Obnoxious Neighbor Sprint – G2 over 7 furlongs of firm turf . A full field is no surprise this time of year as all the top trainers are accumulating stakes points for a berth in the annual Breeders Bowl races and it’s down to crunch time . A win today and the lion’s share of $ 250,000 can be an the edge needed for such an appearance . Ancient customs abound in this land but multiple stakes winning filly Pye is Everywhere cares not for local customs as she gears up to take on the colts in today’s graded event .
On the rail with J. Montana aboard is Muadib 8 / 1 ( War Chant x Theatrical (IRE) x Forty Niner ) from the Eddielegg stables . This season has been busy with 7 starts in stakes or better company , 5 triple digit speed efforts and he has won 1 of his last 3 races posting a 105 SP in The Bait Sparky Handicap -Stk over 6.5 furlongs . He makes his return to the 7 furlong distance in this race and should do well .
In post 2 at 10 / 1 is the Notturna1 trained Gingobell ( Pine Bluff x Silver Ghost x Gulch ) with jockey sensation H . Harzheim in the irons . A multiple stakes winner on both surfaces he switched to the grass mid 3 yo season and has racked up multiple graded wins .. primarily at 1 mile . He’s had quite a busy year with 14 starts , 6 triple digit SP finishes and has won at 7 furlongs in The Pleasant Cozzene Memorial -Stk with a 103 SP effort . He’s had some trouble of late and i’m wondering if the wear and tear has finally caught up with him .
In post 3 with V . Byrd aboard is the Bmracing11 trained colt Nottingham 14 / 1 ( Sky Mesa x Gallant Man x Pretense ) With 11 starts on the season this handsome colt makes his turf stakes debut today due to a career effort last time out over 7 furlongs in Finland with a winning 104 SP effort . The time has come to test what he is made of and all questions will be answered today .
In post 4 representing Peeps1 stable is Fantasy Trip 11 / 1 ( Fantastic Light x Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Secreto ) , Journeyman G . Ayso gets the nod . This year has been a roller coaster ride for this fellah and he is still looking for that elusive first stakes win . With 6 straight stakes starts he seems to be gaining proper form and should give a good accounting of himself today .
In post 5 with Dubai’s leading rider SL. Ledwith at the helm is the spirited Otto Vasher 11 / 1 ( Seeking the Gold x Unfuwain x Darshaan (ENG) ) from the Baracoon stable . The 2006 racing season has seen this colt on both surfaces and he has seen great success winning his last 3 starts including his last start over 7.5 furlongs in The Western Academy Special -Stk and a career best 104 SP . He keeps improving and might just surprise a few people this week .
In post 6 wearing the Zewango silks is favorite Once Wylde 6 / 1 ( Touch Gold x Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Thunder Gulch ) with veteran G . Harmon in charge . If you like stats then chew on these : 9 starts , 4 wins and 6 triple digit efforts ; his last win coming in The War Gordon(GB) Special -Stk . He made the switch from dirt to turf mid season last year and has been steadily improving , a win today will put him at a 50% win stat for the year .. impressive .
In lucky 7 post is Moonlight Serenade (IRE) 7 / 1 ( Moon Ballad (IRE) x Danzig x Majestic Light ) from the Bachand2 stable . Last season saw this colt go 8 races winning 3 and in the money in all but 1 . This season he’s won 2 of his last 4 and in the money every run including his win in The Prospect Duck Memorial -Stk at 7 furlongs . Jockey A . Lyles is in the saddle today and hoping to keep this colts streak alive .
In post 8 at 10 / 1 is the lady of the field Pye is Everywhere ( Rock Slide x Sadler’s Wells x Northern Dancer ) Youngster Y . Jones gets the assignment from trainer Lordpye . This multiple stakes winning filly answers ” Yes Please ” when offered grass , winning her first stakes 2yo season in her fourth start . Her 3 yo season saw 6 starts with 2 stakes wins against the girls , this seasons 7th start saw her break into triple digit SP and Lordpye called for a test against the boys . Form and function meet this weekend for this filly and she might just tease them all the way to the wire .
In post 9 representing Vermacht Stable is the big long shot Lazy Hoss 32 / 1 ( Williamstown x Gold Lust x Ajdal ) and journeyman W . Bayless gets the nod . It’s been a long year for this 5 yo horse , changing hands 5 times before going on a hot streak including his last race in The Ice and Slice Challenge -Stk in sunny spain 2 weeks ago . He”s had success in the past at 7 furlongs and trainer Vermacht had his lucky penny mounted to his lucky rabbits foot for the event .
Wearing number 10 in Pg45 colors is the irish bred Vinado (IRE) 11 / 1( Sinndar (IRE) x Pientre Celebre (IRE) x Machiavellian ) with veteran jockey Q . Cassell in the irons . This unassuming colt has won 2 of his last 5 races including The Our Flights Stakes -Stk . He seems to be maturing this year , breaking into the triple digit category and showing great determination to win .
In post 11 is the cleverly named Moelarrycurly G 12 / 1 ( Forty Niner x Forestry x Common Grounds(GB) ) representing Ngng stable and carrying veteran Z . Edwards . This colts last 5 starts have been among stakes company and has shown up each time ; but has yet to break into the triple digit neighborhood in his career . Perhaps this is the weekend for a career effort .
In post 12 with the crafty B . Friedrich in the irons is the burly brown colt Massacre 7 / 1 ( ) representing trainer Lenny14 . This colt is versatile and likes both surfaces . This season he has been sticking to turf and has won his last race with a triple digit effort over 7 furlongs in preparation for today’s race . His last stakes win was way back during week 2769 in SC at The Away theFamily Bonanza -Stk where he matched his last races 104 SP over the same distance .. 7 furlongs . Trainer Lenny14 feels the distaqnce suits his charge and is looking for a big effort in todays match .
In post 13 at 7 / 1 is Surgeon Tubes ( Rousillon x Be my Guest x Never so Bold (IRE) )saddled by trainer Bigrama and ridden by journeyman M . Links . With 9 starts this year this fiery horse is known more for his Classic route running than sprinting . His last win coming over 12 furlongs in the Smackdown II -Stk in Kentucky . As a side note he did have a 2nd place finish last year at this distance and certainly can make a big effort today .
On the outside in post 14 is Lavers Hill 21 / 1 ( War Chant x Spinning World x Belong to Me ) trained by ossy3 and ridden by veteran H . Eisen . This 5 yo warhorse has been busy this season with 10 starts. The sharp eyed Ossy3 saw the talent in this fellah and laid down the big 100k to acquire ownership papers earlier this year . He has made some nice BP’s for him and makes it into the field today … the Cinderella story perhaps and wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake .
Kingman