THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—3042
This weeks feature race at Minnesota Downs is THE SKILLFULLY JAM MEMORIAL STAKES for 2 year olds going 7.5f on the turf. A purse of $50,000 is up for grabs. SKILLFULLY JAM was sired by RED RANSOM and ended up with 5 wins in 53 lifetime starts including one stakes victory and $172,053 in lifetime earning. He was a turf sprinter and is being honored at the track here today.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)HOTFLEET KILL BILL—9/2—hotfleet has this FRENCH ENVOY colt in today’s race with a record of 5-1-2-1 and $52,665 in the bank. This front end speedster drops back to 7.5 furlongs after going one mile in all 5 lifetime starts. He has never finished worse than 4th in a race. He has consitantly posted mid to upper 70’s speed ratings. He faded at the wire in his latest so the distance change could help here today. Saaverda (7.2%) gets the call in the irons today.
2)KING HIT KING—10/1—glrobbo has this MONARCHOS colt in today’s race with a record of 4-1-0-0 and $20,600 in earnings. After a poor lifetime debut on the dirt he scored in his 2nd lifetime start sprinting on the turf in a MSW race with a super closing run. Tried a stakes at 8 furlongs and was always outrun then went bakc to sprinting in a allowance NW2L and closed to be 4th with an 80 speed rating. Inconsistant runner will need to find his A game to win here today. Boothroy (9.5%) will be the jockey aboard today.
3)CHRISTMAS JOY—5/2—empirez has this KITTEN’S JOY colt in today’s race with a record of 7-4-1-0 and $155,100 in earnings and is the top race winner and money winner in this race today. The morning line favorite has 2 stakes wins already, both sprinting on the turf. Both those wins had this one close to the pace and finishing well in the stretch. In his last 2 starts, both stakes, one at 8 furlongs and another at 6.5 furlongs he has been further back in the field and not able to get up at the wire. Needs to be closer to the pace and others in here have similar speed ratings so maybe better value can be found on the oddsboard elsewhere. One advantage is top jockey Friar (19.5%) is piloting this one today.
4)BEL AIR(AUS)—6/1—greyghost has this BEL ESPIRIT(AUS) colt in today’s race with a record of 8-1-2-2 and $38,695 in earnings. This colt ran his first 4 lifetime starts on the dirt, winning his 3rd start over 5 furlongs. His last 4 races have been on the turf and he has run close to the pace with the last 3 races being stakes starts. The low 70’s speed ratings this one has so far posted will most likely need to be improved on to win this race today. He did fade in the stretch to finish last in a short 4 horse field last time out. High percentage jockey Bowen (19.2%) is aboard today.
5)REDOUTE’S SON(AUS)—9/2—tip2no has this REDOUTE’S CHOICE(AUS) colt in today with a record of 3-2-0-1 and $25,720 in the bank. Has finished in the money in all 3 lifetime starts with his speed ratings displaying the positive trend of improving with each start. This colt stalked the field in his first 2 starts but came back to wire a NW2L allowance field in last which earned him a start in this stakes race today. Envisioning the continued improvement in speed ratings for this race, this cold gets my nod for the winner today. Goodson (6.2%) is the rider for the race.
6)MEGAHIT(IRE)—3/1—toplight has this THEATRICAL(IRE) colt in with a record of 4-1-1-1 and $28,975 in the bank for today’s race. This colt broke his maiden in 3rd lifetime start at 7 furlongs after running a mile in first 2 starts. He is another stalker who closes well in the stretch. Was displaying rising speed ratings in his first 3 lifetime starts but regressed in his last start, an 8.5 furlong stake run, while fading in the stretch. If this one proves to prefer the shorter distance of the race today he could end up being a serious factor in the outcome. Stinson (12.4%) is aboard today.
7)AFLEET BOOYAH—5/1—madmoney has this SAINT AFLEET colt entered with a record of 7-1-2-2 and $26,248 in earnings. His first 5 starts were dirt sprints where he did manage to break his maiden, but speed ratings were alway’s in the mid to upper 60’s. He switched to the turf 2 starts ago and finished 3rd and displayed a good closing finshing 2nd with an 80 speed rating in his last start. If the closing style is used again today this cold will probably enjoy the added ground in this race today. Speed ratings have improved with every start. Could be scary in this one today. Klein (5.7%) is riding this one today.
A competitive field today with my choice being #5–REDOUTE’S SON(AUS)
WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE MINNESOTA RESIDENCE THIS WEEK
Cothill’s EMAN stable and Richgins STACEYLG stable share the lead in the trainers contest after 5 weeks.
The no mercy contest final is on this weekend with Cothill and Randy squaring off their handicapping skills in the 12th race at Minnesota Downs.
Fred continues to hold onto a $8 lead in the Mountains of Money contest.
The Minnesota Cup contest regular season ended last week. Theo, Bigrick, Cothill and Randy earned byes into the 2nd round of the playoffs. The best 2/3 opening round of the playoffs starts this week with the following matchups—Dundey vs Rharfo, Desperado vs Chuckrock, Species48 vs Citation and Richgins vs Silverny99.
The residence’s big Minnesota Festival Day at the races will be held on Saturday December 23,06—Week 3077.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO
MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENT MANAGER