They are Cooking In Texas

The big race this Saturday in the Lone Star State is the Rock’s Texas Cooking Series.  It is to be run over a mile and a half over a fast track.  The purse is a tasty $200,000 and it is the 15^th Race on the card.

Let’s look at the field of 8.

ALINA DANCER (5/2) This 4 year old colt exits the Grade 1 California Handicap with a massive 115 speed figure and a solid 2^nd place finish to boot.  This race is about Cooking and this horse can surely can do that.  Trainer jakematt has guided this colt to a Grade 1 win and over 12 million in earnings in just 12 career starts.  A monster closing move is his signature and he should have some pace to run at here.  He gets a solid jockey in J Chapman and should be flying down the lane late.

PACIFIC AVENUE (4/1) This 4 year old cold comes in off a 1^st place in The A.P. Deputy Memorial Stakes running a speed figure of 104.  He has been ITM in 4 of his last 5 races which were all Stakes races.  Trainer firfight10 has managed this horse very well in his 23 race campaign getting him 7 wins and 9 of 13 ITM in route races.  He gets a solid jockey in J. Turner but may be a tad bit outclassed in this one.

KILLERZANDGLITTERZ (13/1) This 7 year old comes off a handful of lackluster performances.  This is going to be a tough test for trainer killerz and jockey T. Meeks.  This horse has had a solid campaign but will have to run his best to keep up with the competition here.

SINANJU (5/1) This 5 year old colt is coming off a lackluster performance last out.  Trainer frosty knows how to spot him and he has won the Grade 3 Gallant Socks Handicap just 3 races back with a speed figure of 105.  He had very good back class and a talented jockey in J. Webb.  On his top race he may be able to give Alina Dancer a run for the money.

CRAFTY PART (6/1) This 4 year old colt trained by tryarder comes off a loss to Pacific Avenue in his last race.  Prior to that he took to the lead in The Alot From Colony Stakes and posted a nice 104 speed figure.  This one has a shot if he breaks well and takes the lead with top jockey C. Shoemaker riding. 

GEORGE CINQ (11/1) This 5 year old takes on a big task today.  He comes back on two weeks rest from the barn of kelso looking to improve off the 100 speed figure in his last race.  He is going to need a lot of improvement on his past performances to find himself in the winner’s circle today.  M. Brown should give him a solid ride but he also may be a tad bit over his head.

FOR TERESA (6/1) This 4 year old colt just loves the money, credit trainer layequada for finding him excellent spots to race in.  He has finished in the money in 7 of his last 8 stakes race and the only start out of the money was a tough G3 race.  He is early gas in a race without a lot of it so a gate to wire win is not out of the picture.  C. Norton will have him running from the gate and hope that the pace is not too fast to hold off Alina Dancer in the stretch.

STROLL’S QUEST (5/1) Another 4 year old speedster with speed from the gate.  Trained by buffbills, he is going to have to deal with For Teresa and Crafty Part on the lead.  One cannot dismiss his 5 straight 100+ speed figures in looking at this race.  Also, he finished a nice 2^nd in the Grade 2 Ten Furlong Cap just 2 races back.  He has had a wonderful campaign but the pace of this race may force his hand.  R. White will have to make the right decisions to get him home in front in this one.