THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—WEEK 3133
A field of 8 are entered in this week’s 10th race feature at Minnesota Downs, THE PARIVOR CHALLENGE STAKES, to be run 7.5 furlongs on the turf for 4YO+ and offering a purse of $40,000. The race is named after PHARIVOR from the MrLuck stables who earned $195,257 in his career winning 7 of 47 lifetime starts including 5 stakes wins with two of them being Grade II events.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)SLIPSAN(GB)–6/1–kona sends out this 4YO colt out of SLIP ANCHOR(GB) into the race with a 25-6-5-3 lifetime record and $91,674 in earnings. He was recently purchased at the auction for a whopping $1,400,000 and it will remain to be seen if that investment will ever be recovered. This buy seems a bit pricey, especially if you tally the fact that he was available for a $13,500 tag last year in his 3YO campaign. All of his wins have been in either restricted allowance or claiming races and this colt has an 0/6 recored in stakes races including 2 in his 4YO campaign. He usually posts mid 90 speed ratings and has only 1 triple digit speed rating to date in his career. Sanford(6.7%) gets the nod in the irons today.
2)TWISTED BOOTS–9/2–stupor2 sends out this 4YO colt out of STORM BOOT into the race with a 11-3-4-1 lifetime record and $57,055 in earnings. He started his career on the dirt and switched to the turf in his 3YO campaign last year and showed good improvement with the switch. He posted 1 win and 2 seconds with a career high 106 speed rating on the turf. His lone start so far this year was a little degress with the average run but he may have needed that start to prepare for this start. He has one 2nd place finish in 2 stakes start so far lifetime. Urhausen (8.4%) is the rider.
3)ARAGON RANSOMED–8/1–andycapper sends out this 5YO horse out of REAL QUIET with a 36-7-0-3 lifetime record and $151,561 in earnings. He did post 3 wins last year at 4, all of which were allowance races. He has raced for as low as a $12,500 tag, at 3 and was in fact a $100,000 claim by the current owner in his 3 year old season. He tried the dirt last time out with no success so goes back to the turf today. He usually posts high 80’s or low 90’s speed ratings and has never finished in the money in 7 lifetime stakes races to date. Pickel (10.4%) is today’s jockey.
4)GIANT’S BANJO–7/2–itsalock send out this 5YO horse out of DIXIELAND BAND with a 26-5-2-2 lifetime record and $579,240 in earnings. This stable belongs to Minnesota Downs local trainer Randy who is trying to somehow get this horse to refind the magic that made him so good at 2 and in the early parts of his 3 year old campaign. He does have 4 lifetime stakes wins including 1 Grade I and 1 Grade III victory but his last win was at 3YO in week 2524. Since that time he has gone 0/18 and is hoping to break the elongated losing streak today. He tried the dirt last time out with no success and hoped the dirt to turf angle works out here, as he is a very good closer when sharp. Crafty veteran rider Upertoy(10.0%) gets the call today.
5)TREE GUEST HOUSE–11/1–anymore sends out this 4YO colt out of FORESTRY with a 8-2-2-0 lifetime record and $36,247 in earnings. A stablemate to Giant’s Banjo as local horseman Randy sends out 2 in this race today. This colt was unraced at 2 and started career on the dirt. He switched to the turf midway last year at 3 and amassed 2 wins and 2 second place finishes with the season finale allowance score posting a 100 speed rating. Came back this year in an 8.5 furlong allowance and ran flat so he is running at a shorter distance today. This horse closes well when sharp but may prefer the 8 furlong distance. The colorfull jockey Ritorto(10.0%) is up in the saddle today.
6)BEST BLUFF–3/1–phoebejoys sends out this 5YO horse out of BESTYOUCANBE with a 28-7-5-3 lifetime record and $205,296 in earnings. The morning line favorite was a $25,000 claim in 2005 and has turned out to be a great pickup. Since the claim he has won 4 allowance races and 2 stakes races all on the turf. This horse is an effective stalker who likes to chase just behind the early speed and posted 6 100+ speed ratings last season. His debut race this year was very flat and one hopes it was just a workout and that he can return to form in today’s feature race. Green (10.9%) is up in the irons for this race.
7)WILDFORESTCREATURE–5/1–spelunker sends out this 4YO colt out of FORESTRY with a 14-4-3-1 lifetime record and $125,395 in earnings. This colt started career on dirt and showed great improvement when switched to the green surface. Posted 2 allowance and 1 stakes victory last year on the turf. His 4 year old debut saw him closing well to finish 2nd in an Allowance race posting a lifetime best 102 speed rating. Top jockey Friar (17.4%) will have this one vying for the win at the wire today.
8)MOONLIGHT MILE–7/1–1i2 sends out this 4YO colt out of E DUBAI with a 16-3-4-0 lifetime record and $93,760 in earnings. This colt won lifetime debut on the dirt and has 2 allowance victories on the turf as a 3YO. He has 2 second place finishes in 11 lifetime stake starts and is a versatile runner having success at both speed and closing efforts. The one problem is do you get an 80, or a 90 or a 100 speed rating effort. Perhaps only jockey Bowen (16.5%) will have the answer to that question.
A solid field for todays feature and I am going to go with #7 WILDFORESTCREATURE to continue to improve and post the win here today.
WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCY THIS WEEK
Fernando won last weeks speed rating contest with VALDESKING who posted a 105 speed rating and that was worth 100 credits.
No winner in the Minnesota Pick4 contest so the jackpot is now above 2600 credits.
The semi finals in the Minnesota Cup contest ended and Desperado and Cothill begin the Minnesota Cup Finals this week in a best 4 out of 7 series.
Next week is the REZ CHALLENGE 07 match between The Minnesota Downs residency and The Pasture of Green residency with 4 races being held at both Minnesota and Vermont. Good Luck to all the horsemen involved.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO
MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENT MANAGER