Sprinters in the feature in Maryland
Sprinting is the name of the game this week in
Kung Fu comes from his first graded win lifetime, a very close score in the Grade 3 Arizona Silver Spoon, taking advantage of a fast track that day. He is fast and now he has proven he can come from close to the pace to win important races. This son of Fusaichi Pegasus is coming into his own at age 5 and trainer siama is hoping for much better tings to come with this horse. He has a great chance if he does not get too involved with an early fight for the lead.
After the Storm should be part of the early pace here, and is coming out of his first loss in his last five starts, in which he came second in The Holy Quibble Special in
The grizzled old veteran Mark of the Sword (IRE) is a six furlong specialist in both turf and dirt. This seven year old out of Sword Dance (IRE) will be sent to the lead by his trainer basscat, who knows him like the palm of his hand, and knows that if he is not on the lead, his chances are slim. But this millionaire Restricted Graded winner should be respected due to that lightning speed out of the gate, although for this race I will pass on him.
Smuggler’s Catch is a Capote product also looking for his first win of the year. Trainer zeplin looks for a much improved effort over his last races, all of them out of the money placings. This horse once ran for a $2,500 tag, his progress from that day is evident, as he last year had an eight race winning streak at some point, but still needs to show he belongs in Graded Stakes Company.
Senorita Si Na Dren is also part of the quick pace that should develop in this race. This lightly raced colt out of Bertollini is stepping up to the graded ranks for the second time. His first try was a rather forgettable one in the Grade II Wicker Sofa, but he has shown progress, especially in his last race, the Senior Storm Challenge, in which he came a solid third after leading almost gate to wire. Trainer bmw is hoping his colt comes into his own for this tough try.
Super Tornado is maybe the freshest horse in this field, but he is already a multiple stakes winner and graded placed. This blue blood colt out of the great A.P. Indy in a
Far Off Centre VSF is another horse which road to the wire is apparently lost, because he has not win in almost a year. This colt out of Demidoff always brings a check to the barn of trainer montalcino, but now he is stepping up to the graded ranks after failing repeatedly in listed company. His effort SF wise have been very competitive, but is very risky to recommend a horse which is “always a bridesmaid, never a bride”.
Gulch Goer goes for the nyrangers barn. This product of Thunder Gulch climbed the graded ranks last time, and turned in a rather lackluster effort in the Grade III Arizona Silver Spoons. His SFs tell us he is a cut short against these, and needs to prove he belongs with these kinds of sprinters. He is the longest shot on the board, and deservedly so.
Seeking to Rule is a product of mega sire Seeking the Gold in a Northern Dancer mare, a royal blue pedigree all over. This is most definitely a much better sprinter than router, and this will be his second try at a graded stake in a sprint distance. In his first try, he just missed in the aptly named for him Grade III Narrowly Missed Stakes. Trainer tenpin8 would have preferred a little bit more ground for his colt, but after a come form behind win three weeks ago in The Senior Storm Challenge in Indiana, he feels confident about his horse’s chances.
Divine Inspiration is a son of Pulpit, one of my favorite sires, running for trainer win. Over the last six months he has been competing in much longer distances and takes a cut back in this race, looking to get back to a winning form. He is the reigning Louisiana Derby winner, but since then he has not tasted victory again. He should come from the middle of the pack and if he encounters a good pace up front, he can return to the winners circle at a nice price.
In the Army Now comes from stable super9. A son of Polish Navy, he is a six furlong specialist, and is already a graded winner at the distance. This is another one who will be coming from the middle of the pack. His last race was his first win in over eight months, a narrow score in The I Can Stakes in
Hennessy Titans is the morning line 5-1 choice, and looking at his past performances, we certainly understand why. This brown horse out of Hennessy is multiple stakes winner, and his consistency is what makes him extremely reliable. He should benefit from the abundance of early speed in this race, has a good starting post and should be coming with a rush at the quarter pole, with a great chance to win for trainer slewbetcha.
Uninhabitable is the mare who takes on the boys in this event. His last race was a dull effort, but trainer phartlap1 is telling us we can throw that race away, as she was not in her best form. This daughter of Capote is another one who should take advantage of the brisk initial fractions that should be posted on the teletimer, and we can expect a much improved performance out of her.
Sly Cat is rather speedy, but the problem is that we have tons of that in this race. Trainer cookl2 is thinking about maybe another strategy with him, taking advantage of the great post he has. This Crafty Prospector colt just won two week ago The Summer Book Stakes in far away Tazmania, in gate to wire fashion. We doubt this will be the case today, but he is in top form and we can not discard him completely.
My picks: After the Storm, Hennessy Titans, Super Tornado