Full Field In Middle Ground Mile
This week in North Dakota will be the running of the Grade II Middle Gournd Mile on the dirt course for all horses of three years of age and older. For the past week the rain has been pooring into North Dakota and thouth it has let up the past few days and is expected to cease by this coming weekend it is unlikely that the track will be completely dry for Saturday’s running. Look for the track to be potentially listed as good. Despite the threat of a slightly-off track a full filed of fourteen horses has drawn into Saturday’s running, lets take a glance at each of the competitors.
Drawing the rail is the early favorite for Saturday’s race, Journeyman (Seeking The Gold x A.P. Indy x Deputy Minister) and is owned and trained by kiri The six year old homebred has been lightly raced with a total of twenty-four lifetime starts, nineteen of which have resulted in finishes on the board and earned the horse career earnings ammassing to almost two million dollars. The horses last start, also on good dirt, was the Grade II Prim’s Memorial where he won by a length over the rest of the field and posted a speed figure of one hundred fourteen.
In the number two slot is General K. Mambo (Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells x Smarten) and is out of the stakes-running dam General’s Daughter. This five year old horse (trained and owned by general ) has a total of thirty career starts with eight of them being wins. The horses most recent start came just a short distance away in an allowance caliber race in South Dakota where he fnished second, two and one-fourth lengths behind the winner. The horses most recent win however, was just the race prior in The Turpentine Boot Memorial where he held on to the win by half a length and recorded a speed figure of one hundred and six.
Longshot in Saturday’s race will be slowracers owned Clan Of The Cat (Mountain Cat x Danzig x Secretariat) and is out of the race winning dam Oak Clan. This three year old chestnut colt is one of the lesser experienced horses in the field in terms of number of starts with a lucky thirteen to his name, of which three were wins. The colts most recent start was in an allowance caliber race, on the turf, in South Carolina where the colt finished second, beaten by two and three-fourths lengths when he ran out of ground. The colts last win was his last race of the 2005 season in The Willyam 13 Are You Ready Special, where he won by two lengths and set a speed rating of niney-two.
Next is Sagatector (FR) (Sagamix (FR) x Mr. Prospector x Silent Screen) and is out of the dam Prospect Blush. This three year old colt is trained by ruby9 and has a total of seventeen lifetime starts, with nine finishes on the board. The colts most recent start came in the Grade II Shiny Gem Stakes which he went on to win by a head and post a speed figure of one hundred.
Following will be Arno Hollandia (Lycius x Storm Bird x Darby Creek Road) and is out of the race-winning dam Ignorantly Take. This four year old colt is owned and trained by tofe and has a total of twenty-four lifetime starts with six wins, five places and four shows to his name. The colts most rencet race was in The Colonial Elk (IRE) Challenge in Ontario where he finished just in the money in fifth, nine and one-fourth lengths pace off the victor. His most recent victory came three starts before in The Your Hunks Memoral where he emerged victorious by one and three-fourth lengths with a speed fgure and one hundred five.
In the number six slot is Crafty Victory (Victory Gallop x Crafty Prospector x Eastern Echo) and is trained and owned by funstar , who bout the horse in July of this year . This four year old homebred has a total of thirty-three career starts with seventeen finishes on the board and lifetime earnings of just over the one million dollar mark. The colts last start was in the Grade I CA Classic where he finished just in the money in fifth, four lengths behind the winner. His last win came near the end of the 2005 racing season in the Grade II Winchester Park Derby where he rallied to win by half a length and post a speed figure of one hundred six.
Next is slowhand trained and owned Upper Management (Miswaki x Polish Numbers x Affirmed) and is out of the race winning dam Ixworth. This four year old homebred colt has a total of twnety-five career starts with five wins and earnings that could soon place him over the one million dollar threshold. The colts most recent start was in Louisiana during The Exciting Sal Challenge where he finished a disappointing tenth place finish, nine and three-fourths length off the pace. His most recent victory came earlier this year during an allowance caliber race in New Jersey where he won by three and three-fourths lengths and posted a speed figure of one hundred and seven.
Following will be King Of Dance (Kingmambo x Seattle Slew x Nureyev) and is owned by coolk . The four year old chestnut colt has a total of twenty-three career starts with eight wins, five places and a show. The most recent start came in Arazona during The Edison Cap where he finished a heartbreaking second, just one-fourth length back. His most recent win was only two races prior, during The Regal Deputy Cap where he won by a length and a half and recorded a speed rating of one hundred and seven.
In the nine slot is Scotian Kid (Lemon Drop Kid x Unfuwain x Mr. Prospector) and is trained by dougiec5 . The four year old colt has five wins, five places and three shows, his number of starts adding up to twenty-three total. His most recent start was in The Ant Limit Special where he fnished a disappointing eighth, seven and three-fourths lengths back. His most recent victory however was just two races before in Texas during the Rock’s Texas Cooking Serieswhere he won by three and one-fourth lengths and posted an impressive speed rating of one hundred twelve.
Next is Crown Me King (Hold That Tiger x Seeking The Gold x Dynaformer) and is out of the dam Seeking D’Music. The four year old bay colt is owned and trained by thebear20 and has been lightly raced with a total of seventeen starts, of which five have resulted in wins. The colts most recent start came in The Kong Hope Memorial where he finished just in the money in fifth, seven and three-fourths back from the winner. His most recent vicotry was just the race before that, in The Epic Conquest Special where he stalked the entire race and charged up at the last few strides to win by a nose and record a speed rating of one hundred six.
Following will be Caer To Dance (Cozzene x Careleon x Sadler’s Wells) and is trained and owned by beefcake10 . This six year old roan homebred has had a total of twenty-seven career starts with an outstanding seventeen of them resulting in finishes on the board. The horses most recent rce came in Puerto Rico during the For Old Times Sake Special in which he finished just out of the money in sixth, five and three-fourth lengths back. His most recent win came three races before in an allowance caliber race in Italy which the horse won, leading most of the way, by two and one-fourth lengths and recorded a speed rating of one hundred one.
In the twelve post position is Uncle Rico (Deputy Minister x Forty Niner x Fit To Fight) and is owned by pbcash . The four year old colt has also been lightly raced with sixteen lifetime strts, with a lucky thirteen finishes on the board. The four year olds most recent start came on the good dirt in the Grade I Brokeback Mountain where he finished third, back by five lengths. His most recent win came three starts prior in an allowance caliber race in New York where he won by a length and one-fourth with a recorded speed figure of one hundred five.
Next will be Cat Of The Tail (Tale Of The Cat x Danehill x Proud Truth) and is out of the race-winning dam Stormtar. The four year old chestnut is trained by graywolf3 . The colt has a total of thirty-eight career races to date, six of which have resulted in victories. The colts mot recent start came on the good dirt in the Grade I Brokeback Mountain where he finished a disappointing ninth, thirteen and three-fourths lengths back. His most recetn win came five races prior to that in The U. Bull Memorial where he won by a length and recorded a speed figure of one hundred eight.
Breaking from the far outside post position will be Mountain Dance (Mountain Cat x Halo x Native Dancer) and is owned and trained by hayoulost . The four year old light grey colt has been lightly raced with only eleven lifetime starts, and by that aspect is the most inexpereinced horse in the field. Of those eleven starts four were wins along with one place and two shows. The colts most recent start was in The No Reception SQ Cap where he finished a fast closing second, one and three-fourth lengths behind the winner. His most recent win was his last race of the 2005 season, an allowance caliber race in Louisiana where he won by a length and a half and posted a speed rating of one hundred six for the race.