A Marathon is Cooking in Texas
The big race this Saturday in the
Let’s look at the field of 8.
ANNETTE HANSHAW (5-1) This 5 year old mare comes to try the boys. The stable of ocalafarms sends her out after a solid allowance win in which she ran a 94 speed figure. She jumps into a tough stakes race off that win and will have her hands full on Saturday. She does have a solid 102 speed figure two back but the big question is how well she will handle two miles against the boys.
KRIS NOIA (8-1) This 5 year old horse enters from the stable of noia. Last out, over 12 furlongs, he finished 3rd in tough allowance company with a speed figure of 93. This year has shown some inconsistent races but late last year he won a two mile stakes race with a figure of 92. That one stakes win shows that he can produce at this distance but he will have to regain that form or better to win this one.
COUNCIL OF WAR (7-1) Stable bdog01 sends this 5 year old horse in off an easy allowance win at 14 furlongs. He managed a 90 speed figure that day and was not pushed down the stretch. This one has finished in the top three in eleven straight races. That is an outstanding feat. Two back, he finished 2nd in the Prospector Dancing Handicap and ran a quick 94 speed figure. He is surely a contender in this race with some class and solid speed figures.
BLINDING (10-1) Another lady comes to town to take on the boys. This 4 year old mare out of the migman11 stable is here for the party. She comes in lightly raced and rising up the ladder quickly. Last out, she won the Gold Serum Memorial over this distance with a very special 96 speed figure. Adding to that, she has won four in a row and all three of her dirt tries. This lady looks like she can be something special at these marathon distances. We can expect her to make the boys work hard on Saturday.
FOR TERESA (2-1) This 4 year old colt trained by layequada enjoys the Rock’s Series so much he is coming back to try and grab the top prize this time. Last out, he ran in the 12 furlong version of this race and finished a solid 2nd with a tasty 103 speed figure. This pure front runner, with three straight 100+ speed figures has a shot at taking the top prize Saturday. He has run in ten straight stakes races and has been competitive in every one. If he gets the lead alone against this bunch he may be hard to catch.
CITIFAN (10-1) This 4 year old cold jumps up in class to try stakes competition for the first time on Saturday. Trainer easterlyii is looking to see what this lightly raced horse can do off two straight allowance wins. One of those came over Saturday’s distance but the speed figure was just an 85. He did run a solid 96 figure last out but that was over a much shorter distance. The task of running a 90+ figure over two miles may be too much for this one.
UPSTAGER(IRE) (4-1) This 4 year old colt loves to win, credit trainer knowlton for finding him excellent spots to race in. Last out, he won an allowance race over 14 furlongs with an impressive 98 speed figure. The speed figure is so impressive because he won so easily. He has tried the stakes before and did not do well. This horse has improved drastically since then. Once he turned 4, allowance horses cannot run with him anymore. This move to stakes comes at an excellent time and this one has a solid shot to win.
SLEWJINSKY (5-1) Another 4 year old colt will come to run his best this Saturday. Trained by exclusive, he has one stakes race at the two mile distance in which he ran 3rd with a speed figure of 92. Late in his 3 year old season, he was moved to distance races and has done well in allowance company. The negative is the fact that he has not shown much versus stakes competition yet. He deserves respect but my feeling is that the two miles against this caliber of competition may be too much distance for him to make an impact.
My take: The favorite FOR TERESA should be in the mix but I worry about the fact that he needs to lead and there is some other early speed in this one. I am thinking he will get a piece but not the top prize. COUNCIL OF WAR is just a horse that loves the money. Just the fact that he has been in the money for eleven straight makes him a top three pick. UPSTAGER is my top choice. He is improving rapidly and there is no reason for him to slow down here. His last few races have been easy wins over very tough allowance competition. My feeling is he comes into this stakes race on top form and his amazing closing kick will get him to the front at the wire.