Roy Rogers Handicap Grade III (Article written by Nickesyd)

Article Written by Nickesyd. 

Today at California you ought to go out to the racetrack, because it’s time for Roy Rogers Handicap Grade III, it’s race fifteen on their card.

PP 1  23/1   EXPECTATIONS(KY)

flickaspad

3 Year Old Colt

(SEEKING THE GOLD x MOUNTAIN CAT x FAPPIANO)
Bred by gboro

This is an interesting entry, Expectations have allready won a stakes on the dirt , but I’m pretty sure the turf suits him better as seems his connections think. He was third last time out in a four horse field, finishing well but not close to the winner. In the start before that he was runner up to noone else than Mambo Wildcat and that is not something to forget in this race . The chance for this one might be if the tempo get’s high up in front ,he will be a fast finisher. His best number at this distance is 89 and he need to get much higher to win this. He have the looks of beeing in need of more distance.

PP 2  7/1   LA DOLCE VITA(KY)

martialis

3 Year Old Colt

(KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT x GREY DAWN II)
Bred by martialis

This one won the The Hulk Car Special Stakes with an impressive final furlong posting 95 after that he went to a grade III Kcousrocek Stakes tried to go wire to wire but it was to tough. Then went on to the Grade II J.P. Losman Derby where he looked dangerous 2 furlongs out, but in the end finished as a beaten fourth. His connections now tried to get him back on a winning streak by going for an allowance he was finishing fast as a runner up right here at our track. He has been racing only two weeks apart lately and even if some horses are suited by this it’s allways an extra?

PP 3  7/2   UNINTENTIONALLY(KY)

pjlracing

3 Year Old Colt

(DIXIELAND BAND x WILD AGAIN x FUSAICHI PEGASUS)
Bred by pjlracing

Todays morning line pick is without a doubt standing with a great chance to win this Grade III he has two recent wins at the distance and one of them in a grade III last numbers posted 97 and 98 in his last seven starts he has not been out of the top two .Nine starts on the turf has resulted in five wins and three seconds that says it all. This is surely the one to beat for the rest of the field . There is a solid jockey booking M. Staples and great form, the only thing that might be the question here is how he likes the CA track.

PP 4   10/1   DOC HOLLIDAY(KY)

buffy9

3 Year Old Colt

(MINGUN x QUIET AMERICAN x TOM ROLFE)
Bred by buffy9

This is a consistent type of horse with 4 wins in 8 starts that’s impressive, he have the looks of a turf sprinter but has done well at up to 7 ½ f , but he has seemed as if the distance might be to far. That beeing said he has a real good start a bit back over 7 ½ furlong when he posted a 93, this is one of the sire Minguns best 3 year olds at the moment. There is an interesting jockeybooking here in R Lombard he doesn’t get many rides but usually does well with the ones he get.

PP 5   20/1  THE LONG JEUNE E(AUS)

cjt3

3 Year Old Colt

(JEUNE (GB) x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE) x NORTHERN DANCER)
Bred by cjt3

Here is a real longshot with only four races one could say a little inexperienced , but he won his first start in great style and that promised more. The last three starts have been in stakes company , but nothing close to that promising first run. Have only been running at 9 furlongs and up and now goes down in distance. Pedigree with Ela-Mana-Mou is screaming turf and distance and there might still be a lot left in the tank of this one.

PP 6  6/1   AWESOME SONG(KY)

goldcity

3 Year Old Colt

(UNBRIDLED’S SONG x AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT)
Bred by goldcity

To me this is the most interesting horse in the race.Coming from a win over 9 ½ furlong showing speed of 95. Has shown that the track suits him since he has won here and the jockey is A. Lewis the one thing that I might be interested in is that M.Staples rode him in that allowance win at this track and he is now on the morning line favourite. I wonder if Staples had the chance to chose here either way this one will be up there when they are close to the line. Awesome song is after Unbridled’s Song there are four 3 year old graded winners by him in the game, can he be the fifth.

PP 7   9/1    CONTRIBUTE(IRE)

floralpark

3 Year Old Colt

(GENEROUS(IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x CONNAUGHT(GB))
Bred by 1stsamurai

Has only 7 starts but won in three , and I’m sure that he will progress more since most horses after Generous are late developers. He has a second place in a grade III over 8 ½ furlong, posted his best speed last outing 92 that was in a grade III over 8f the Kcusrocek Stakes. He has rested since then and even if he doesn’t win I’m sure he will be close. His sire Generous is still waiting for his first graded win amongst the 3 year olds. Could this be the one?

PP 8   25/1   QUEST FOR A STAR(ENG)

binzaman

3 Year Old Colt

(RAINBOW QUEST x DANZIG x MR. PROSPECTOR)
Bred by lawyerron

This one started his carrier on the dirt and made no promises of what might be. After three starts on the dirt and one on the turf as a 2 year old it changed owner and trainer. And the new owner new what he did. After a decent fifth in his first start for the new trainer this frontrunner started to pay back some. He has won one stakes over 8 1/2f , might be suited by the shorter trip today and as one of the few frontrunners here he might try to steal the race, the biggest threat for the lead is the outside post Colichemarde

PP 9   10/1    BEELZA CA(NZ)

adamson

3 Year Old Colt

(ZABEEL(NZ) x MR. PROSPECTOR x DANCE BID)
Bred by adamson

Looks to be as good on turf as on the dirt, might even be better at the dirt. Started his carrier with two straight wins was then beaten in a stakes , but in the fourth start he was a grade III winner when he won the Sprinklers Are Broke Again Stakes. Has tried in some graded races after that with no luck a fourth as best. But showed great form in his last outing here at California over todays distance when he won in comfortable style and that makes him a contender in this race. He has done three starts here and won them all will it be four out of four.

PP 10   14/1    ALPHA GRAY(KY)

crandyiii

3 Year Old Colt

(ALPHABET SOUP x MUTAMARKIZ (IRE) x THE MINSTREL)
Bred by crandyiii

This is the sire Alphabet Soups only winner this far any age and he has done it very well for his connections. He looks like he still is maturing and only getting better and better posted carrier high two starts ago with 92 over todays distance. Might also try for the lead, he has got the early speed but he’s not the only one i think he can’t take it from Quest of a Star and Colichemarde.

PP 11   8/1   WARCHILD(KY)

tihsho

3 Year Old Colt

(MINESHAFT x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x FORTY NINER)
Bred by afc

Wonder what will turn up here this is another of those interesting runners that are in this field totally untried on the turf. He has been trying for the Kentucky Derby last two outing running against the best but with no success, this time it’s somewhat an easier field.

If the surface doesn’t bother him this might be the one to have a gamble on this is the longshot of the race. His sire Mineshaft only have one graded winner of his 3 year olds that was the winner of the California Derby maybe this will be his second graded winner.

PP 12   12/1  WAR RULER(KY)

H D Hicks ( 26 – 1 – 1 – 5 – 4% )

bytornv

3 Year Old Colt

(WAR CHANT x GONE WEST x BOLD RULER)
Bred by bytornv

This is a lightly raced but late developing three year old. Looks to get better and better and might be suited by further than a mile, the form looks solid posted 91 personal best last start. He has tried four times on the turf only one time out of the placings. H D Hicks that’s in the irons have not been in any great shape this far but has an interesting ride here.

PP 13    13/1     SUPER SLAM(IRE)

allwins

3 Year Old Colt

(EL PRADO(IRE) x GRAND SLAM x RAINBOW QUEST)
Bred by allwins

His sire El Prado has one graded winner of his 3 year olds Zarallana.

It’s allways hard to win from an outside stall and with only one win before this, that’s tough , but it still can be done. Has proved to be a decent performer, but might find some of his opponents to good, has posted some nice numbers lately so the form is there.

PP 14    19/1     COLICHEMARDE(IRE)

cozman19

3 Year Old Colt

(DESERT KING (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x AFFIRMED)
Bred by cozman19

This will be one of the two frontrunners in the race, he has proven to be a late developer with nice numbers lately and great form. This is his first stakes try and from gate 14 it will be hard to get to the front and go wire to wire it will probably cost to much, but I’m pretty sure if he keeps maturing this will be a stakes winner soon. One major problem here might be the jockeys inexperience and that could cause problems.

Picks:  

Unintentionally really looks like a winner, the main threat might be Awesome Song, but the gamble of the race must be Warchild unproven on the turf but if he likes the surface he will be up there and at odds like 8/1 that’s value.