The ESR Gives Thanks Special

I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all the great people that play this game, grateful for the friends I have made during my tenure, and especially grateful for this great game where I can find solace during trying times.  Wishing all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving…

I am also reminded of the astute words of American Humorist Dylan Brody –

You know that just before that first Thanksgiving dinner there was one wise, old Native American woman saying, “Don’t feed them. If you feed them, they’ll never leave

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A field of fourteen two year old’s will enter the starting gate in New York for the One Mile ESR Give Thanks Special.  The race will be run over the Dirt Course with a purse 0f 56k.

1 – FRATELLO JOE – the ruffian trained son of Tale of Ekati has shown plenty of early speed in his four starts but it wasn’t until his last race, where he stretched out for the first time, that he asserted himself as a serious contender.  The scratch-bred colt carried a 4 length lead coming for home in the mile and one sixteenth encounter only to get caught in the final strides.  The KY bred colt might find the flat mile more to his liking and should once again be the controlling speed breaking from the rail…fast and fit

2- GENERAL ASCOT – the Canadian bred son of Wando has been feeling his way around the racetrack making 3 turf starts and 2 dirt starts in his 5 race career.  While his speeds are not quite up to the level projected for this race, the mrawesome trained 2 year old has done his best racing on the dirt.  Bred from a mare that has done her best racing in sprints, the Bay colt will have to overcome a disappointing outing in a Hot race his last start over the Turf Course to be a factor today…must show more

3 – ZIP FILE – is a frankster trained colt out of top sire City Zip from the Stakes Placed mare TEARDROPPER who did her best racing sprinting on the turf while winless going around two turns.  The 2 year old KY bred has followed suit and does his best racing over the turf course showing an affinity for the front in his recent starts while stretching out.  Although this capable colt’s last start was very good, he is going to have to compete for the lead with FRATELLO JOE while going two turns over the dirt course, an equation that just doesn’t a add up in his pedigree…might surprise

4 – THE BIG AL – the lamphet trained WAL bred colt out of Bach(IRE) will be making his racing debut in the ESR feature.  Bred to travel a distance of ground, he is making his debut over the Dirt Course; a contrast to his turf pedigree.  Bred from a sire that has produced 76% starters over the Turf Course and a mare that did her best running over the green, the Local Bred could be doing a once over in this field  before switching to a more desirable racing surface…not today

5 – FABRICATED BARGAIN – the nicely bred son of Tiz Wonderful out of the Stakes Placed Deputy Minister mare AMY’S GIRL, Dam of the stakes winning WHEEL IN THE SKY and TIME TO ROLL, is making his third career start while stretching out to a more favorable distance for the first time. Already displaying the versatility of his Dam, it is important to know that both of his stakes winning siblings have stakes wins going around two turns.  While I anticipate this well-bred hartack trained colt to improve with the added distance, I expect his best running will come in February when the races stretch out to nine furlongs…eligible to improve

6 – TIZIFER – the Tiznow colt hailing from the tonyalb farm is coming off an impressive outing last time out when turning in turning in a 3^rd place finish while going two-turns for the first time.  Hard pressed throughout, the tenacious 2 year old battled gamely through the stretch faltering in the final strides.  First foal from a one for thirty-one lifetime mare, this promising KY bred has already shown great heart and should be a pace factor in this ESR feature…chance off best

7 – FORTY BRUSH – the NY bred son of Forty Tales has been racing in top form over his last three starts, but the pointguard trained local bred was somewhat of a disappointment in his last start, when he may have been the victim of a bounce, finishing 4^th behind two claimers in a State Bred affair after turning in a brilliant performance in open company in his previous start.  Last was certainly a regression and should raise the red flag , but 2 year olds are unpredictable, so the question is what FORTY BRUSH will we see today…your call

8 – DE WAR – the jastables trained son of LOPE DE VEGA(IRE) out of the Stakes placed War Front mare RAISED IN WAR and is making his two-turn debut.  While the IRE bred colts sire suggests Turf, his Dam did her best racing at a flat mile on the dirt, and her lone stakes placing came over the Dirt Course.  Closed steadily in last and should move up with the added distance laying the groundwork for an upset possibility…chance at a price

9 – MICHIGAN SPEIGHTS – hard to believe this Speightstown filly, hailing from the mnmracing stables,  has not visited the winners circle to this point, finishing in the money in her last five starts losing by a combined 7 lengths in those 5 starts.  Turning in a pair of 82 speed figures in her last two starts, both going a mile and one sixteenth, this hard-luck filly will hope to shed the bridesmaid gown racing against the boys this week, a task that just might leave her fate unchanged…chance in exotics

10 – MARCEAU’S EMPIRE – the Union Rags colt out of the G3 winning SOPHIE MARCEAU is making his second start around two-turns.  The casino trained colt exits a California MSW mile where he closed gradually finishing a lackluster 7^th while turning in a respectable 80 speed figure after turning in a solid effort going 7 furlongs in his previous start.  One should note that while his Dam did her best racing as an older mare going 9 furlongs and greater, her lone graded win came as a 2 year old going 6 furlongs.  Another that should benefit from the longer distances in February…benefits from fast pace

11 – CADET IN THE CITY – the cadet trained Super Saver colt is also making his two-turn debut coming off a solid effort over the Turf Course in his last start.  Another that prefers to do his bidding on the front end, he will have to contend with the inside speed here and although he could be the fastest of the fast, his pedigree suggests he can be reeled in down the stretch…must not falter

12 – MALSTORM – making his racing debut is the balata trained Malibu Moon colt is out of the very successful stakes winning Broodmare ALBERTA STORM, Dam of the G3 winning PROVISIONAL, the G1 winning MEGASTORM, and the G3 winning SENSTORM.  While winning a debut around two turns is never an easy task, there is no denying that this colt has the family history to get the job done…dangerous

13 – SUNSET ON FIRE – the kingab trained Awesome Again colt is the first foal out of the G3 mare STEP ASIDE PLEASE.  Dazzled in his debut when he finished a fast closing 3rd going 8 panels and registering an eye-catching 86 speed figure, just 2 lengths back to repeat winner AGGRANDIZER. While I expect this talented KY bred to do his best running when the races stretch out in February, he has to be considered a major player in this one coming off that stellar debut…one to beat

14 – THE SANCTUS – making his two year old debut is the KY bred son of Arch trained by the trotter1 stables.  Bred to go a distance of ground, the two year old hopeful will have his work cut out for him exiting the 14 post in his first start.  Whiles connections are very optimistic about this colt’s future, the reality is that he is facing a huge task in his inauguration…might need a race