Albuquerque Favored In Nomofpo

Albuquerque Favored In Nomofpo

North Korea – Due to my hectic schedule I missed out on the graded stakes this week and since I was leaving for vacation next week I thought I would just stick my hand in the hat and ‘pick’ a couple of stakes to cover this week.  The first one I drew is North Korea and the The Nomofopo Memorial.  This is a two mile affair over the main track and the expected sunny weather drew a field of six 3 YO’s running for a $65,000 purse.  Here is the field by post position.

On the fence will be Oxymoronic (9/2) a son of Montjue owned and trained by Theleague.  He has only won three of his 23 starts, the last of which was an allowance race two back.  He comes into this race off a 12 furlong effort where he tired badly to finish 4^th.  He should be fitter this time and that might help.

Post two will hold a colt by Rahy, Chaotic World (2/1).  Trained by Ups this former $3,500 claimer has won seven races and has been in the money 18 of 22 starts.  Not too shabby!  He is a winner at a mile but is another that tired to finish second after leading by as much as seven going 12 furlongs and that is still a half mile less than he will have to go on Saturday.

Rats In The Cellar (5/1) is an interestingly named colt by Crafty Prospector.  Trained by Sdmfclaim,s this colt has won at both 10 and 12 furlongs and has won two of ten starts.  He didn’t care for the off track last time out and should be just fine on Saturday if he can get the distance.

Jdawg11 will also send out a former claimer by Shovhog….who????  Called Ermington Shovhog (24/1), this colt has two wins from 16 starts and must be a puzzle to his trainer.  He hasn’t done badly sprinting but the two times that he tried a mile he didn’t like it.  Maybe he will just gallop along on cruise for the extra mile to get part of it.

Transwarp Conduit (7/2) looks like it might be his race to lose.  He has six wins from 19 starts and is ranked # 27 in the long dirt division.  The Indigo2 trainee is by Opera House and is a winner of four of his last eight including The Cozzaurus and The Light Pan Special both a 12 furlongs.  Both times he led by as much as 10 lengths but was stopping fast, so the distance is still a question.

The final horse is Albuquerque (9/5) a son of Ballingarry and one of my favorite towns.  Trained by Isolde, this colt has won six of 14 but his last four wins were at the allowance level.  Since most of this field can barely make a case for that distinction, it shouldn’t matter.  He has never gone beyond 9 1/2 furlongs but has the breeding to do so and he has the best speed figures in the race.

None of these horses seems to want to go long but some one will have to win and it could be anyone of them.  I think they will have to catch Transwarp Condiut who may get such a long lead they can’t catch up.  Good Luck to all.