Four colts sprint in The ON THE LINE Bonanza

ON THE LINE won six stakes races in his day, including one graded.  He was a successful colt with two stakes wins to end his two-year-old season.  The four colts racing today seek a similar level of success – and their trainers are probably hoping for more.

BRAHMA BULL RYRY trained by ryry – 3/1

I’m not sure what happened last time out, but without changing the distance or surface this horse generally runs on ryry was able to get a much better race out of his horse.  I certainly wouldn’t credit the jockey for it, so I can only guess that this colt out of Bhrams liked the increased competition.  Last time out he improved significantly, coming second in a medium-sized field stakes race.  I think he’ll need to improve again to win this one.  I think he’d really perk up with a little more distance, I’d try 6.5f next time out.

SCARED OF FLYING(AUS) trained by horseshack – Even

This colt has been consistently strong since he began his two-year-old season in week 2860.  He won the GOLD PINE Stakes last time out, pulling away from the second place finisher BRAHMA BULL RYRY (pp 1 above) in the stretch.  The bookies aren’t joking, in this slimmer field this colt should have his photo taken in the winner’s circle.

PINE STREET trained by heffbarn – 3/1

I’m a little surprised with the odds on this one, he doesn’t have the experience of the first two horses and his maiden-breaking effort last time out in the slop only earned him an SP of 70.  Not to say that this horse doesn’t show promise; he did win convincingly leading from the gate and stretching his lead throughout the race, suggesting he can go the extra ½ furling here.  His breeding looks good; FOREST WILDCAT has seven stakes winning progeny this year’s crop, although his dam BARB’S JENNY hasn’t had much success in the breeding shed.  I’m not convinced this one is ready to win.

CLOSET SMOKER trained by goldcity – 5/2

This is another colt that broke his maiden his first time out, a credit to whoever taught this one to leave the gate. Since his lead was beginning to shrink down the stretch, goldcity has opted to try him at a ½ furlong shorter distance.  Although inexperienced and not the most regally bred, this one should be able to stay strong enough in the stretch to show.

Although this race isn’t that competitive – all four colts will be going home with a part of the purse – it should prove to be an interesting study in whether first time maidens can improve enough to win a stakes in their second attempt, or whether experience and not rushing into the stakes ranks pays in the end.

I predict the two first-time stakes runners will battle for the lead in the early going, with the two GOLD PINE Stakes alumni following closely behind.  Around the turn SCARED OF FLYING(AUS) will easily take the lead, with BHRAMA BULL RYRY pulling in behind.  CLOSET SMOKER will just nose out PINE STREET for third.