Thirteen go to the post in the feature in Illinois
The sun is shining this week in
Band Leader has been an ATM for trainer domedriver. This horse out of useful sire Machiavellian has won 11 out of 40 lifetime, and since July of last year, has competed in nothing but stakes races, winning three of them and placing in another two, with earnings of $545,000. He has been a model of consistency, and now he climbs the ladder to face graded ranked horses. He needs to improve somewhat in his most recent efforts, but we cannot say he is an automatic throw out. Last year he ran in this same race, just missing by a neck.
Thunder is a turf specialist who looks to transfer that nice grass form to the main course. The product of War Chant won his first stakes race earlier this year, dominating from gate to wire. Trainer stretch is looking for a hard, fast surface for his horse to try to get an early jump on this field and repeat his feat in the Crassly with Drill (IRE) Challenge. There is speed in this field, so we can not say he will have an easy lead, at least on paper.
Laudum is maybe in the best form of his career. This four year old out of Forestry has two wins and two seconds in his last four races, and all of them were stakes. This week he will be making his debut in a graded race and his SFs tell us he will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in this race. Trainer zoshka, a veteran in this game, is an asset for this horse and should be part of the early pace and has a great chance to win here.
Tunaman is a four year old colt out of the mega sire Woodman. He has earned almost half a million dollars for his trainer togasans, although he is not exactly a winning machine, with only four wins in thirty two lifetime starts. His last win was back in August in the Grade II Brussels Sprout in
Destiny Dance is sort of an incognito. This son of Dubai Destination ended 2006 in a very high note, winning the Grade III Grey Fox from gate to wire. But then two weeks later he was fourth, beaten almost twelve lengths in the Grade III Gallant Socks, and then in the Carden Special he was a non factor, failing miserably. Trainer topicountb is hoping for a big rebound form those last two races. The colt is working well during the mornings and we should expect an improved effort from him.
Another colt who has shown a steady improvement over his last races is Super Chap (IRE). He has not been able to win a stakes race yet, however his last efforts in allowance competition have been worthy enough for his trainer twinoaks to give him the chance here. This colt out of High Chaparral (IRE) likes to lie in the middle of the pack, and although he is a little bit short SF wise, in no way we can discard him completely.
Storming Through comes from the powerful super10 stable. This horse is out of Machiavellian and so far he has been competing exclusively in allowances and listed stakes. It’s very intriguing that his trainer enters him in this race. He definitely knows something we do not know, because if we analyze his past performances, he looks a bit short against these. But coming from this stable, we can not be surprised to see him win at a nice price.
A versatile animal is Socrates LL. The son of War Chant is so far considered a turf specialist, winning 8 out of 16 starts so far, and winning two stakes races over the lawn. But he is no slouch over the main course, winning The Black gene Special last July. There is no doubt this horse is better over the green stuff, but trainer tonydog is pretty confident about his horse’s chances in this race, much more if he can establish a sensible enough pace to guide him to the winners circle gate to wire.
Lightly raced Book Link (IRE) has done well in listed stakes competition, but in his last race he faltered in graded company. This colt out of Noverre (IRE) has raced only eighteen times so far, with six wins, three of them in stakes races. Trainer bjbandit gives his colt another chance at a graded stakes. His SFs before his last race were extremely competitive compared with the best in this field, and at the right price, it can be an interesting betting proposition.
If you want to find a royally bred horse, just take a look at As Wells Mambo. This horse, a product of Saddlers Wells, is bred to run all day, and has shown that the further the distance, the better for him. He was very lightly raced in 2006 by his trainer ruby6, winning a listed stake and placing in two additional. His last three races have been maybe his best lifetime, placing in two graded stakes, knocking at the door to win very soon. He comes from way, way back and is my favorite to win here.
Kowboy comes from the pedroza3 stable. This colt out of the good young sire Empire Maker had a superb 2006, winning three stakes races after being claimed for $150,000, including the Grade I Topicount Special in mid December. 2007 so far has been disappointing for him, but as per his trainer, and judging from his last two races, he is showing some of last year’s form. This is another one who comes from the back of the field, and prefers a strong pace for his late kick to be effective.
The grizzled old veteran of the field is Our Fighter, which seems he thinks is like fine wine; the older, the better. After running for better than five years, he debuted in a listed stakes on his last race, coming in a solid second place finish. There is no doubt that this Western Gentleman son is stepping up in competition for this race, but trainer icequeen has been patient enough with him, and this patience can be rewarded with a win in this race. He will not be the first to be bet in here, but he will be the sentimental favorite for many fans in
Deputy Sec of War is a five year old son of the great Deputy Minister who has claimed back in 2005 for the laughable price of $2,500. Trainer simsters4 has multiplied that claim price almost a hundred times. In his last race he was caught in the wire in the Grade II Carden Special, which was only his second graded try. This horse is obviously a late developer, and if he can escape to an easy uncontested early lead, he can win going wire to wire.
My picks: As Wells Mambo, Socrates LL, Laudum