Brown Fields Handicap Grade 3
7th Annual
Brown Fields Handicap
Grade III
A mile and one eighth
Firm Turf
$200,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
Festive spirits are in the air for this year’s running of the Brown Fields Handicap G-3. This race is ran in conjunction each year with the Oroville Salmon Festival and who doesn’t think of spawning fish when they think horse racing? We’ve managed to put together a very tough field including three of the top twenty horses in the division. Each of our ten entrants will be looking for a share of the $200,000 purse but top three choices on the board still seems like the best bet. Redsadky, Mannart Tornado and Rise To KLP have already proved themselves at this level and it seems that we have several others still trying to prove their worth at this level. However, we still have several of the others who have the tools to upset these three and I would have to venture that a trifecta spoiler is waiting in one of them.
Maverick’s Money Pick: I’ll have to go against the urge to box the top three so I’m going to throw in a long shot or two for you.
Tri-wheel: 1,4/1,3,4,6/1,3,4,6,9
PP 1
5/2 REDSADKY
(RED RANSOM x SADLER’S WELLS x NIJINSKY II)
Trainer: sherwood
J White ( 580 – 123 – 108 – 90 – 21% )
The lightly raced Redsadky opens up our morning line odds betting at 5/2. This Red Ransom colt and current #8 ranked horse bursted on to the scene last year with wins in both the Nijinsky Handicap-G1 and the Panhandle Derby-G3. He has since followed that up with a win this past April in the Slowness Stakes-G3. What’s even more amazing is that Redsadky only finished off the board once in his first 14 starts and it wasn’t until his last two races that he started to show some vulnerabilities. To his credits though, he still ran tough as ever but was simply outgunned and perhaps sent a bit too far. He really has the looks of a true miler and he should show better at today’s distance. He has to figure on your trifecta box/wheel somewhere.
PP 2
6/1 KING OF KILMORE(AUS)
(LONHRO (AUS) x SNURGE(IRE) x NOACTOR)
Trainer: deyoto3
T McGriggs ( 410 – 39 – 50 – 66 – 10% )
King Of Kilmore(AUS) starts out with decent odds of 6/1. This Lonhro colt of Australian decent (not to be confused with New Zeland or “Kiwinese”) has cashed his share of checks this year by hitting the board in his last five races but failing to find the winner’s circle. The highlight of his career was earlier this year where he ran a very close second in the Port Marshua Handicap-G3 with a 102 SR career high mark. It seems that he’s been placed in the right races to remain competitive but looks like he may have to toughen up some here as he seems to have a bit tougher competition to deal with. He prefers to sit mid-pack through the first half of the race so the pace may determine his chances more than anything. He’ll need to get a good jump but not let too much distance get between him and the leaders if he’s to have a chance.
PP 3
9/2 MANNART TORNADO
(STORM CAT x A.P. INDY x SILVER DEPUTY)
Trainer: ashworth
C Winter ( 573 – 119 – 94 – 86 – 21% )
Mannart Tornado has shown vast improvements this year since turning four. As one of those classic “late developers” you read so much about he definitely has the looks of a colt with more to prove. He’s scored three times this year in graded events including the Grade 1 Turf Invaders Stakes-G1 and the King George BB Stakes-G3 where he posted a career high 113 SR. In fact, he managed a very well deserved win over morning line favorite Redsadky in the Turf Invaders. He does have a few weaknesses though as he sometimes comes to the track perhaps not at 100% and he has shown signs of it in some of his running times. He will likely press the leader throughout and gains veteran jockey C Winter who is in see-saw battle for top spot with jockey J White who has got the call aboard Redsadky. Only four wins separate these two jockeys and it should prove a great race to see who has the best instincts in today’s match.
PP 4
9/2 RISE TO KLP
(CAPOTE x NUREYEV x FAPPIANO)
Trainer: mccoy
M Peters ( 258 – 34 – 28 – 33 – 13% )
Breaking out of gate #4, Rise To KLP with trainer mccoy hopes to break into the top 10 with a good showing here today. Currently ranked #11 he really made a name for himself with recent wins in the Fivestarnick Handicap-G2 and the Keg of Guinness-G1. It’s hard to believe that this horse won 14 listed stakes before finally cracking that graded maiden. In all, he’s has 17 stake victories on his resume and we may see #18 here today as he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in the last three years. This horse is the classic example of durability and resolve. He has a late closing kick and will allow the leaders to get out to 9-14 length lead before heading the calvary charge. The pace seems to set up well for him here and even at 9/2 he’ll bring back a good return.
PP 5
7/1 SING PHYL SING(GB)
(OPERA HOUSE(GB) x SEATTLE SLEW x DAMASCUS)
Trainer: sam
K Dodds ( 86 – 13 – 11 – 8 – 15% )
Sing Phyl Sing(GB) has some interesting stats that might just make you look twice before discarding him at 7/1. Raced almost exclusively last year as an allowance runner, trainer sam has been trying very hard this year to make this horse competitive in stakes company. He finally got the coveted stakes win earlier this year in The HE’S A GAY DEVIL Special-Stk but so far it’s the only one. He does have some good showings at this level though. He finished a very determined second in The Queen Sam-G2 and a very ranked third in the Turf Invaders Stakes-G1 where he finished just ahead of today’s morning line favorite Redsadky. What has me puzzled a bit is this grueling race schedule that trainer sam has chosen for his colt. This is his 17th start of the season and he’s well on his way to pace for 25 starts this year. This has got to be rough on any horse and especially one at this level. I’d love to see what he can show if given some time off away from the track as he’s shown some signs of blinding speed .
PP 6
11/1 LOWLANDS LOUNGE
(SAKHEE x POLISH NUMBERS x SALLUST(ENG))
Trainer: wonder1
S Takahashi ( 91 – 5 – 6 – 13 – 5% )
Up until this horse’s last race, trainer wonder1 was riding high off a three race win streak that was capped off with a victory in The HERMITZ’S PROJECTS Stakes-Stk. Ran mainly in allowance races, Lowlands Lounge really didn’t come around until this year and after a 105 SR allowance win and the aforementioned stakes victory it was no surprise to see him enter in his first graded event. That race, which was his last start, in the Spirals G-2 had to be devastating as he finished next to last 15 lengths off the winner. He looks for redemption here as perhaps he didn’t have his “A” game that day or maybe a minor injury or bug might have been the cause. At any rate, wonder1 has to see some promise to run him back again. He makes two turns for the first time in three starts and I like that move as his best race have come at a mile or over. I’m not quite ready to place him on my top three list but I’ll keep one eye peeled on his colors.
PP 7
56/1 MONEYS ROCK
(PALACE MUSIC x DON’T FRISK ME NOW x GANDAY)
Trainer: deeprock
V Everett ( 66 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 6% )
At 56/1, Moneys Rock brings up the rear as our longest shot on the board. As our only three year old in the race and the only female, trainer deeprock just seems determined to prove this filly’s worth against older horses. Today will make her 7th start against older horses 13th against the boys. Other than a maiden claiming and owner restricted allowance wins, she hasn’t shown that this is the best strategy for her. Her times seem decent for her age but looks better suited racing against other fillies her age in the allowance or high claiming ranks. A valiant try but I’ll have to pass.
PP 8
9/1 EXPOSURE
(STORM CAT x PRIVATE ACCOUNT x ROUND TABLE)
Trainer: polandfarm
G White ( 90 – 12 – 8 – 8 – 13% )
Perhaps not liking the weather in British Columbia, Exposure ships south to Northern California hoping for better results. This Storm Cat colt has seen some moderate success in listed stakes this year hitting the board three times so far in 2006. However, he’s yet to win at that level and the move up to a Grade 3 seems suspect. It’s unsure still though if he’s got more than what he’s shown so far. He seems either on the brink of a break out race or showing signs of max out his potential. He’s flirted with victories twice so far but I would still like for him to show me more before taking on the big boys. I think that he can still be a player here though as he has proved that he has the speed to compete. I wouldn’t rule out a placement on the back end of a tri-wheel of some type.
PP 9
13/1 ARTIFICIAL CRISIS
(MACHIAVELLIAN x SILVER HAWK x PLEASANT COLONY)
Trainer: nowitsdark
L McNeil ( 210 – 30 – 23 – 21 – 14% )
Dropping down in distance today, the lightly raced Artificial Crisis hopes to improve a bit for trainer nowitsdark. He ships across the Pacific from Japan to enter here on four weeks rest and seems ready for the challenge. Blessed with decent speed, it seems that this Machiavellian colt is still looking for his niche and I tend to agree with the move down in distance. He’s had some good showings at this level but only one listed stake win in The READY WHATSON Challenge-Stk where he waited patiently mid-pack before wearing down the leaders. His last race came on a yielding turf track so you can toss that one out. Again, the jury is still out on his abilities and best distance but at 13/1 he might turn in a signer for you if you figure him somewhere on your trifecta ticket.
PP 10
9/1 HUGE MON
(MARIA’S MON x ATTICUS x ALYDAR)
Trainer: ezpimpin
E Schell ( 69 – 7 – 12 – 5 – 10% )
From low level claimer to stakes winner; Huge Mon has done that all this season. Claimed earlier this year for the rock bottom price of $5,000, this horse has really turned his career around under the direction of trainer ezpimpin. After proving himself in allowance races he won in his first stakes start in The PRINCE’S BOLD Stakes-Stk where he saved ground before making a late charge down the lane. This is his second attempt at this level and was crushed by the field in that one graded start in the High Lady Cup-G3. He’s given two brilliant performance thus far and has matched a 105 SR twice so you know he has the legs for the race. However, he seems off form lately and his trainer is hoping for a rebound. It may just be that he’s been outclassed at this level as we’ve all seen horses that can put up some awesome times but fail to fire when asked at higher levels.