Off Track Could Change Results in New York.

The REDHEAD MIKE Bonanza Stakes
Six and a half furlongs on Yielding Turf
$85,000
All horses, 2 years old
Standing along the rail in Saratoga in Autumn. What more can you ask for? Perhaps sunnier skies as the weatherman says we may get rain this weekend. We are getting set to run down The REDHEAD MIKE Bonanza Stakes Race named for a virtually unknown mare who didn’t do much on the race track and hasn’t really been much of a breeder either. She has a chance to make a name for herself by lending her moniker to this great New York race though as it promises to be a good one! We’ve got a nice looking bunch of young colts so let’s take a look:

#1 HERE A KITTY, trainer – OldNagFarm, ( 6/5), Jockey – R.Michaels (12%), Avg Sp # (N/A)
Sometimes you just need to take a step back and it looks like this is just what trainer OldNagFarms did with this chestnut colt. After struggling in a couple of Stakes races he dropped down to an allowance and regained his confidence blowing away the field with a sizzling 84 SPF. That kind of speed should be more than enough for jockey Michaels to bring home a winner.

#2 THE SINGING BONE, trainer – KSparrow2, (3/1), Jockey – P.Davis (10%), Avg Sp # (72.8)
This T M OPERA O offspring keeps on improving and won his maiden last time out after taking a rather interesting road to get there. Trainer KSparrow2 who sure knows how to saddle them up started him in a Stakes his first race with a narrow miss then went to a GI. He moved back to a maiden last time and won with a last minute lunge. If he keeps on his improvement, he could contend here.

#3 EL GUIRERO, trainer – Guirero, ( 4/1), Jockey – W.Dishman (10%), Avg Sp # (68.7)
I know from experience that you have special feelings when you name a horse after yourself and trainer Guirero has to be happy with this namesake who already has a Stakes win to his credit. He stumbled a bit last time out at a mile but is back at sprint range and seems to love an off track where he posted his best SPF. That may work to his advantage here. May be your winner.

#4 OAKRIDGE BOY(AUS), trainer – Liams, ( 5/1), Jockey – N.Painter (11%), Avg Sp # (75.1)
Trainer Liams may have been following the weather this weekend as his colt seems to like playing in the mud. He won his last time out on an off track with a nice 75 SPF and actually was pulling away at the end. He should figure prominently here with that experience if the rain shows up as expected. Jockey Painter is quite capable with these youngsters and this could be a tough team to beat.

#5 BOOMS ROCK, trainer – DeepRock8, (18/1), Jockey – G.Smith (4%), Avg Sp # (62.7)
At first glance, this chestnut colt may look overmatched here but the big thing to look at is that his best two races were on off tracks and you never know how the other youngsters will react to their first time playing in the mud. Good job by trainer DeepRock8 in searching out the best place for his young colt to run. He will have to overcome jockey Smith who has really been struggling this year.

#6 BEVERLY(IRE), trainer – Kaleigh, ( 5/1), Jockey – N.Lawton (22%), Avg Sp # (69.0)
This SWAIN colt took a step back in his first Stakes race last time out after winning his first race. Trainer Kaleigh will have to figure out the reasoning behind that big drop in speed and intensity from his young colt. He has the tracks best jockey in the leather so that may help as Lawton could guide a lame mule to a top three finish if he had to. It will be interesting to see how the colt reacts.