Eight look to take the Crock of Gold at the end of the rainbow
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Is there any better way to spend it then being in Ireland, drinking a pint(s) of Guinness, and watching a horse race? Some questions need no answers. The only logical question of the day is, who will win the Crock of Gold -G1? A field of eight horses three years old and up will travel a distance of one mile over a firm turf course. Here’s a look at the field.
Drawing the rail is Hollow Sun(GB) 8/1, saddled by favoritejj. This four year old son of Beat Hollow regressed a little following four races in a row firing speed figs at 100 or better. Likes to race near the front which he was unable to do in the past few races. If he is able to do that here and run back to the speed figs of prior runs he should be close at the end.
Delta Groom T (5/1) racing in the highc colors breaks from post two. This handsome son of Gone West is the fourth choice at a very square price. On dirt he went 26-4-5-2, which isn’t bad after banking a little more than 300k. Now look at the turf, 4-3-1-0 210k. Jockey P Michael 22% must have seen the same thing in this horse as his trainer, he loves the green stuff. Another in here who likes to race near the front end and increasing speed figs are what you want to see.(that 5/1 isn’t too shaby either)
Xtremely A Fan (6/1), saddled by jpcrazy is the first of two horses sired by A.P. Indy. This six year old has earnings in excess of 2.9 million dollars. hard to believe he was claimed back in Dec05 for 35k! He appears to be the only closer in this short field which might be the only downfall for him if a speed duel dosen’t form in front of him. The jock hitting at only 4% for the year isn’t what you want to see either.
The other A.P. Indy breed horse is Come On You Blues (7/2) racing out of the amandas stable. LTO this horse ran a 109 in upsetting the field in the G3 Ramblings Stakes. Even the race before look good after running second at 12-1. What stands out at me in both of those races is that they were against full fields of fourteen, something he dosen’t face here. Come On has a lot of speed and if he is able to carry that uncontested down the backstretch he’ll have plenty to put them away with in the end.
Post five belongs to Very Silver (5/2) running for acote. The morning line favorite is a four year old from Silver Ghost, with earnings of more than 1.1 million. Just like Come On You Blues this one shows a lot of speed and likes to stalk the pace. LTO he ran a 112 in the G2 Buddy Boy Mile finishing 1 1/2 lengths back at 8/1. If he is able to get the jump on the horse in post five he could easily win this.
Post six has Profita Tailya (99/1) entered by heathy stables. He is a four year old sired by Dixieland Heat. LTO he ran against claimers nw3l and was a distant 7th. Dixieland Heat hasn’t sired a SW since 2002 and I don’t see it here.
Giant’s Banjo (8/1) is a five year old by Dixieland Band racing for the itsalock stable. Winner of almost 600k shows speed figs in the 90s but will need to duplicate that 108 seven races back to be competitve here. He does like to run near the pace which is good here but will he have enough speed to keep him there.
The second favorite is breaking from the far outside, Hail Cesario (3/1) running in the colors of the cathoula stables. This six year old son of Seeking The Gold has over 1.3 million in earnings. His last three races were in PA and now flies across the ocean to Ireland. His past races on this side of the world were not bad showings at all, winning a couple of G2’s and a G1. LTO ran only a 97 but that could have been expected after running a 110 the race before. Yet another stalker wwith speed who may be there in the lane.
I wish all the trainers good luck….. and may the best horse win