Open Field to Contest Sparkling Wine – GP1
Saturday sees an exciting day of racing in New York with the running of three Group One races, the first of these is the Flower Pot Stakes – GP1 where Cold Storage is hoping to win his 8th Group One race. From there we watch the champion Sunnybak Memorial as he tried to add to his eighteen Group One race victiories in the Classic Turf Stakes – GP1, and finish the day with the running of the Sparkling Wines Stakes – GP1 for two -year-olds.
The Sparkiling Wine Stakes – GP1 dates back to 1999 and this Saturday will be the 8th running, the inaugural winner was Lord Wavering (NZ). Other noted winners are the 2000 winner Danger Zone who went on to collect three Group One’s and the 2002 winner Kayla House who twice saluted at the elite level. Linning-up in this years event is a very open field of promising two-year-olds.
PP1 Florida Zapper 2die4 (23%) A.Williams (11.1%) 8/1
Comes into this with a first-up win in a two-year-old maiden before two starts at allowance level resulting in a win and a second. Last start stepped up to graded level in the Camel Juvenile – GP2 where he finished a half-length second over 8 furlongs on dirt. Sired by freshman sire Ghostzapper who is currently ranked number two on the first-season sire listing, but is yet to get his first graded winner; out of the two times stakes winning he-mare Hurricane Ivan. Likes to lead or race handy in his races and if can handle the extra distance is in this with a real shot.
PP2 Miss Me Yet metfield (18%) B.Child (13.9%) 10/1
Impressively won on debut when recorded a 78 speed rating when winning two-year-old maiden over 6 furlongs on dirt. Followed that win with a second in the High Roller Juvenile – GP2 before failing at graded level when finishing eleventh in the Horsehead Juvenile – GP1. Much improved effort last start when, taking ground of the leader, to finish second in the Happy Labor Day – GP1 over eight furlongs on dirt. Did run an 89 speed rating last start and the extra distance looks as it will suit on that performance.
PP3 Achaemenes tbgifted (13%) B.Cecil (7.4%) 12/1
Comes into this with only two starts under his belt, at first start finished second at stakes level when made ground late to record a 83 speed rating. Last start released a powerful finishing sprint to make a ton of ground late to finish fourth in the Camel Juvenile – GP2. Sired by Birdstone who is yet to get his first graded winner, out of the stakes winning mare Your Launches who has produced a graded placed and two stakes placed from four attempts. Have been finishing races nicely and the extra distance should suit, may lack a little experience of the others.
PP4 Literary God taffy (9%) P.Davis (10.5%) 8/1
Won two-year-old maiden at second attempt before winning at stakes level at third start. Followed that with a disappointing run a graded level when finished 9th in the Faber College Juvenile – GP2, made amends at very next start when won the Sir Prince Memorial Stakes. Last start recorded career best speed rating of 88 in winning the Dell Computer Futurity – GP2 when caught the leaders on the line. Sired by the promising first-season sire Roman Ruler out of the lightly raced mare Legible. With four wins from six starts and comes into this as one of the more experienced enteries and will appreciate the extra distance.
PP5 Psychotic Gold super12 (15%) L.Gunn (10.1%) 12/1
Opened career with a third and a win in two-year-old maiden before running second at allowance level. Speed ratings improved dramatically when stepped-up to 8 furlongs when recorded second career win at allowance level. Last start stepped-up to graded level and finished third when flying home late in the Buckeye Juvenile – GP3 over 8.5 furlongs on dirt. By the Storm Cat sire Freud who has only produced one graded winner in five seasons at stud, out of the successful mare Niner Niner. Has finished last couple impressively but may need to improve a fraction to take this out.
PP6 Meridian Court (IRE) yang (10%) J.Dundey (7.6%) 13/1
Won two-year-old maiden at third attempt before running second at allowance level over 8 furlongs on dirt. Last start recorded an impressive speed rating of 91 when stepped up to stakes level in winning the Top Paul Cap Stakes over 7.5 furlongs on dirt. Homebred sired by Street Cry (IRE) who has produced three Group One winners including The Ninja (IRE) who won the G.S.R Diamond – GP1 as a two-year-old. Comes into this off an impressive run last start and if he can reproduce that effort will be there at the end.
PP7 Winter is Coming sunshin34 (16%) N.Painter (10.6%) 10/1
Failed at first graded starts when finished ninth in the Vermont BB Juvenile – GP2 before going on to win his last two. Last start ran a career best speed rating of 88 in wining the Saratoga Stud Special Stakes over 8.5 furlongs on dirt. Sired by More Than Ready who has the Group One winning two-year-old Pony Express II to his credit, out of the race mare Broad Project who has produced two stakes winners from four starters. Has improved at each start but would need to improve further to take this out.
PP8 Why Marry graywolf (11%) N.Lawson (22.2%) 10/1
Last four of eight have all been at graded level resulting in two placings at Group One level, two starts back ran second in the Horesehead Juvenile – GP1 before last start’s third in the Happy Labour Day – GP1. Another by a first-season sire in Medallist who is yet to get his first graded or stakes winner, out of the race mare Never Get Married who’s all routes wins were on turf. Has proven to be competitive at this level and gets his chance to break through with the extra distance.
PP9 Tree Huggin’ Hippy jockeymax4 (18%) R.Haffner (9.8%) 7/1
Four starts have resulted in two seconds and two wins including last starts win at stakes level in the H.A Superette Special Stakes. Likes to race handy and was stepping-up to route distance for the first time last start and produced career best speed rating. Homebred sired by Forest Wildcat who has four Group One winners including two-year-old Hollywood Catfight, through the Green Desert dam-sire line who has a two-year-old graded winner over this distance and surface. Comes into this as race favourite who will race handy and will need to be at his best to hang on to win this.
PP10 Elite Groom Ted tempstable (8%) G.Smith (4.2%) 8/1
Opened career with a third at stakes level before winning the Vermont BB Juvenile – GP2 at second start. Followed that with a second in the Faber College Juvenile – GP2 before a disappointing tenth in the KY Horeman Juvenile – GP1 when tried over route distance the first time. Was even throughout when only plodded to the line last start when finished sixth in the Dell Computer Futurity Stakes – GP2 over seven furlongs. Homebred sired by Gone West who has produced many Group One winners including Champion I Seek U and four two-year-old Group One winners. Has been struggling last couple and is not helped by the poor jockey selection, may be more suited over a shorter distance.
PP11 Roi De Soleil ranulff (13%) L.Hoskins (13.7%) 13/1
Won owner restricted two-year-old maiden at second start before finishing third at first stakes attempt in the Virtuous Wingo Special Stakes over 6 furlongs. Followed with first stakes win in the Rick’s Canoes Bonanza Stakes before recording career best speed rating of 88 when nose second in the Dell Computer Futurity Stakes – GP2. Homebred sired by Louis Quatore who is yet to produce a graded winner in five seasons at stud. Has taken the early lead in each of his races and was just caught last start over 7 furlongs. The extra distance is a concern and will not get is own way in front against this field.
PP12 Nagasaki (IRE) casino (15%) K.Jantzen (8.6%) 8/1
Opened career with a third in two-year-old maiden before going on to break maiden status at his second start. Followed with two wins at stakes level before recording career best speed rating of 91 when winning the Little Tree Stakes – GP3 over 6 furlongs. Sired by the very successful Giant Causeway (IRE), who amongst his many Group One winners include the Breeders Bowl Juvenile – GP1 winner Cader Ydris (IRE). Having first route start in this but the way he has been finishing his races suggests that the distance should suit.
PP13 Thrill Ride super30 (15%) R.Forester (7.6%) 18/1
Won two-year-old maiden at third attempt after being placed second at previous two, last start won the Dancer Bluegrass Special Stakes over 8 furlongs. Sired by the freshman sire Eddington out of the two times stakes winning mare Miss Seventy Six, who is yet to produce a graded winner from five foals. Is having his acid test here and will need to improve on recent efforts to be a contender.
PP14 Larry Boy inzy5 (12%) N.Gibson (4.4%) 11/1
Won on debut and has since been mixing form, put it all together last two with a win a allowance level before winning the Out of the Affair Stakes last start. Sired by Harlan’s Holiday, who also has the Group One winning two-year-old Apache Sunrise in this current crop of two-year-olds; out of the Gone West mare Derazo who’s five race wins were all on turf. Has made a big improvement since distances have increased to route but will need to improve further to win this.
1st – Nagasaki (IRE) 2nd Literary God 3rd Tree Huggin Hippy