MINNESOTA’S BEST CLASH IN THE INNAUGURAL MINNY CLASSIC
A new era in horseracing begins at Minnesota Down racetrack this Saturday with the 6th running of the Minnesota Festival Day of Racing. 1600 brand new shiny slot machines have been running for the past several months and the added revenue has allowed the track to boost it’s purse levels for the big day of racing at the track. This addition of the festival kicks off the first Minnesota Champions races as well as the many returning allowance races so that all of the local barns can showcase their best runners. Minnesota Downs is proud to offer it’s first ever million dollar purses in two races today starting with The 1st Minnesota Classic. 15 horses will be going 11/4 miles on the main track vieing for the $600,000 winners share of the purse.
Let’s take a look at today’s field,
1)LATENITE DREAM—Local trainer Fred sends out this 4YO colt hoping to repeat his success from his only stakes victory in an owner restricted sprint stake earlier this year. This race is also a restricted stake and a lifetime best 101 speed rating was achieved in the previous race won this year. While this one has been strictly running sprints until a mile run in his last start he does show some closing abilities and may end up liking the extra ground. This horse was available for a 50k tag earlier this year and class may end up being a problem in this race here today.
2)STONYBROOK GOLD—this is one of two that chuckrock sends out in the classic today. He hopes to rebound after a 17th place finish last year in The Minnesota Test of Champions race on Festival day. This one’s most success is running on the front end and he should be out cutting the early pace here today. Another one who was available for a 25k tag not to long ago albeit the claim ended up being a conglomorate horse exchange and if any of today’s purse can be won the owner will be very glad it stayed in the home group of stables. Has posted 4 triple digit speed ratings this year and has wired allowance fields at 9 furlongs—can he do it at 10??–that may be the question today.
3)SON OF RABBIT—In essence this is really the defending champion coming back to try and repeat as this is the race that has come out of the previous Minnesota Race of Champions that was run in last year’s Festival of Racing. Richgins has this one perfectly tuned for a big run posting a 105 speed rating with a perfectly timed stretch run to win by over 3 lengths. The big question mark here today is how well he will run 3rd start back from what appears to have been an injury sustained in an allowance race in Utah. He prepped well last time out winning a sprint allowance in Washington and now will go back out in the classic distance. This one has not looked the same since a gruelling equinics race earlier this year but if anyone can get a horse back to top form trainer Richgins can. It should be noted that this horse has 7 lifetime stakes wins which is not bad considering this one was a 2K claim in it’s 3 year old season.
4)CONFERENCE CALL—one of two entries for trainer Dundey today, this one finished 9th in last years Race of Champions outing. This horse has been a steady allowance router this year with 3 wins and 2 other top 3 finishes and has a good closing kick in the lane. Has 2 triple digit speed ratings this year but is still looking for his first top 3 finish in a stakes race.
5)MON WEST—One half of Randy’s entry here today. This one is co-second choice at 7-1 on the morning line. After racing predominantly on the turf in his 2 and 3 year old seasons this one has moved to the dirt this year and did manage back to back wins in 9 furlong allowance races in mid year. Horse has earned a check in 10 of 13 starts this year and is a consistant purse money earner. Only lifetime stakes victory was a turf race at 3 but this one has put up two 104 speed ratings in races this year. Another closer who did have a 2nd place finish at Minnesota in an allowance already this year. A finish in the money is not out of the question today.
6)RAVAGE—After basically taking the year off due to his racetrack management company duties, the founding director of Minnesota Downs has just begun to run his stock again and has entered many in today’s festival races. The Minnesota Derby winner of 3 years ago has only started twice this year and was outrun badly in his last start. That being, many of the 2nd off a layoff players will be closely monitering this one in the paddock as a big payoff could come if this one bounces back to form and surprises here.
7)SEATTLE DEPUTY—Current track manager Theo sends out this one as part of his entry in the Classic today. This was Theo’s first ever career stakes winning horse when he captured the NA Tolerable Threes restricted stakes last year and has also won a starter allowance and 3 allowances since being claimed for 13.5k last season. Has posted 5 triple digit speed ratings this year and is a late running closer and after a lite racing schedule this summer, Theo is hoping to have this one peak in the big race today.
8)TASTE OF VICTORY—The scottish connection at Minnesota, The Pict sends out this entry trying to turn 5k into a 600k winning prize. Claimed two starts ago and prepped with a 5th place finish in an 8 furlong allowance this one is truly the meaning of a long shot. At 65/1 one would figure that this one is here for the showmanship of the big day and to earn some valued experience, but will probably be better suited to win at a reduced level in the future. Then again this is Minnesota where the strange and unusual has happened before.
9)SEEKING THE BRAVE—This 7 year old million dollar winner is the second half of Randy’s entry in this race today. In last years Race of Champions he tried to press the pace but could never reach the front and ended up fading to a 9th place finish. This one has 3 allowance victories so far this year as well as 4 triple digit speed ratings but one has to wonder if the best races are now behind as the speed has been slowly slowing down over the last 1 1/2 years. Still this one showed a nice prep in his last race and if some of the back class is displayed here this horse could end up a factor in the outcome.
10)MYLEDES(IRE)—The second entry for track manager Theo is a puzzling one to make out. This one started his career on the turf and switched to the dirt partway thru his 3 year old campaign. He won a stakes race that year and then ended up in a 20k claiming race a few months ago. Theo immediatly put a claim in the box and took over the training for this runner. He is entering this race off back to back allowance scores with the last a 107 speed rating over a mile. Did he peak to soon or is there another improvement instore for this one today—that is the question. This one has been closed to the pace in recent starts and should be up near the front today. Has gone from 20k claimer to co-morning line favorite in $1,000,000 race in a short period of time.
11)LIVIN’ LODGE(GB)—The other half of Fred’s entry is making his stakes debut in today’s race. This race marks the 19th start of the year for the lodge who has switched to the main track midway this year after mostly racing on the turf. While racing many times at this distance, the competition may be a little tough in here today but experienced earned running here will probably be put to good use in future upcoming races.
12)BIRD STONED—Chuckrock’s second entry is this 3 year old colt. Another who has not won in the stakes ranks looking for a huge payday today. While best suited near the front, this one seems to favor the 8.5-9 furlong distance and will have to dig in deep to last the final furlong in today’s race. The 104 speed rating in Florida a few starts ago raised the eyes of Chuckrock with regards to this one’s talent and he is probably hoping for a repeat performance today in order to surprise the expected large crowd to be in the stands for Festival Day.
13)I.P. NATIVE—Dundeys second entry is trying to repeat on last year’s success of finishing 3rd in the Race of Champions. His lone win this year was a 16 furlong marathon allowance victory and he finished 5th in his prep for this race here today. This horse was a late starter who did not debut until a 4 year old but his multi stakes winning season and his success in the festival race last year make this one a possible long shot play with the exotic wagers today.
14)PERSECUTED—Local veteran trainer Bigrick sends out this 3 year old against the older horses today for the fist time in his career. A winner of 5 races this year, this Classic race will be the stakes debut for this colt and the 105 speed rating over 8.5 furlongs 2 starts ago is probably what earned him the trip here today. He failed miserably in his prep race in Ontario last time out getting caught in a speed duel before tiring in the stretch and Bigrick is hoping the services of local top jockey Friar will lead to a better trip today.
15)DEHERE’S VICE—Minnesota trainer JKJ sends out this 4 year old colt as co-favorite in today’s race. This colt has been running mainly in sprints with the odd 8.5 fulong race thrown in every now and then and this will mark the first time extending out to 10 furlongs. His closing style points to him liking the distance and there is alot of speed to run at here today. A 107 speed rating was earned in a stakes victory earlier this year and he did win his prep, a 6 furlong allowance sprint in Ohio last time out. A prime player in this race today.
All in all an interesting race and being I have 2 entries here today I will take a shot with a 10-7 exactor. LOL.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL IN THE FESTIVAL RACES
THEO
MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENT MANAGER