Seven Colts Head to the Gate in The FINANCIAL SLAP Memorial

In only it’s second year, The FINANCIAL SLAP Memorial will see seven colts battle it out over a mile on good dirt for a piece of the $45,000 pie.  The race’s namesake, a horse trained by georgeff for most of his career, won only one stakes race in his career – and that came in his six-year-old season.  Last year’s champion TERRITORIAL T won straight off breaking his maiden, and has had a decent career since.  In the field today DANCE TO DYNAMITE and BATTLE WONDER(FR) are coming off maiden wins – can they create a tradition of successful first-time stakes winners in this race?

Here’s the rest of the field:

THUNDER GOES BOOM – trained by ticketman0 – 5/1

Ticketman0 got unlucky with the jockeys despite the bookies reasonable opinion of this colt’s chances; M Peterson has only won 7.8% of his races this year.  His in the money percentage is pretty decent though, with about 1/3 of his mounts coming fifth or better.  Although the jockey’s credentials are weak, the horse himself looks well prepped for his third stakes race at this distance.  He ran well the last two times out, coming third in both The NIJINSKY SCOOPING Bonanza and The DEDICATED TREASURE Challenge. Speeds in the mid-80’s should put this one back on the podium here.

DANCE TO DYNAMITE – trained by danni2 – 5/1

I’ll admit I’m biased; this one is running for my secondary stable.  To be completely honest he’ll have to rise to the occasion to make the money in this one, he’s run twice in routes with his best time at a mile 1:37 4/5 – to put this in perspective he’ll have to shave off over a second to win this Saturday.  That being said last year’s winner accomplished that task.

ULTIMATE WEAPON – trained by pick6king – 5/2

The bookies liked this one enough to guess he should place in this field, though I’m tempted to disagree.  His last two have been at this level, and he’s run well in both coming first and fourth respectively.  His SP numbers are certainly good enough to keep in the mix here as well.  My concern is the extra ½ furlong pick6king is asking his boy to take on – he was slower over 7.5f last time out, an indication that he may prefer sprinting.  I’d put him in the money again, but not in the winner’s circle.

WINTERNET – trained by australia – 9/1

Tied for the longest odds in the field, the bookies sure didn’t think much of this guys chances.  I hate to agree, but I think the distance may be too much for this one.  His sire FREEFOURINTERNET is a first-year sire so only time will tell whether his progeny can stretch it out, but even his damsire BELONG TO ME has been predominantly a sprint influence.  He may have a shot at a mile in his three-year-old season, but at this point I’d prefer to see him stick around 6.5f (where his best race to date was run) and maybe try the turf.  That being said genes aren’t everything and with a record of 3-2-0-0 I don’t doubt australia knows exactly what his horse is capable of.

ATAUN – trained by palmisland – 2/1

The big-time favourite, this son of GONE WEST out of a SADLER’S WELLS mare comes into this race with a second place finish in The TIMELESS S. Bonanza.  That race was run in the mud, so experience on an off-track may be a factor on Saturday.  His SP’s are right on, and with a top jock like C Capper onboard he’ll be tough to beat.

BATTLE WONDER(FR) – trained by chilimac1 – 9/1

This colt is the second of a pair of newly un-maidened runners.  He won convincingly last time out, gaining 2-1/2 lengths on the second place finisher over the stretch.  This will be a big jump up though; he’ll be facing much faster front-runners and closers in this field.  If he doesn’t fall too far behind in the first 4 furlongs he’ll have an excellent shot at the money.

MELLOWING – trained by deeprock12 – 8/1

This colt has quite a bit of race experience compared to the rest of the field having left the gate seven times this year.  However, five of those races were in the maiden ranks, and the last two in Allowances.  He ran a huge 87SP last time out and a repeat in this company could earn him the win, despite what the bookies think.