Cronus(IRE), Conspirator, Andy’s Choice get Hyperactive(G3)
Maine– The older horse turf sprint division rocks this week with a pair of Grade 3’s. Minnesota hosts one and the other is here at Maine with the Grade 3 $125,000 Hyperactive Handicap. And we’ve got a pretty nice little field too with the two higly-regarded commodities from chilcoat and super stables: Cronus(IRE) and Conspirator. They’re both 4yo colts who’ve made some recent splashes in the division. This reporter though is sky-high over bigkev’s Andy’s Choice — he’s the ’06 2,000 Guineas hero who recently returned to grass sprints. The colt’s a perfect 4-for-4 around one-turn — been waiting to see Andy’s Choice challenge this division for a long time.
Eight other horses (including racemare Follow The Path) tackle the Hyperactive’s seven mighty furlongs. Gonna be an explaosive matchup, so batten down the hatches, hold onto your butts, and get ready for sprint spectacularism!
The Faves
The bookies mark chilcoat’s Cronus(IRE) at 4-and-a-half on the dollar for his 24th carrer start. We saw Cronus(IRE) of course take a whip-rousing runner-up spot in the Generals Pals(G1) last February. Sprint fab Northern Pirate outran Cronus(IRE) to the wire, but Chilcoat still had to have been tickled pink with her colt’s 111 SP#. Mmhmm.
The Giant’s Causeway(IRE) son was one of the hot belly-boys in that test of titans — Cronus cruised in there on a two-race win streak, including a Grade 2 prior. The General’s Pals was a smokin’ hot final time and the effort in hindsight took a bit out of poor Cronus. He tossed a clinker when asked to run back three weeks later in Night’s Desire’s Mr Anderson Special(G3). Chilcoat then gave Cronus a 5 week skipper — she brought him back to a 4th place jumpup in a listed Newmarket stakes. No worries, folks. Cronus should be fit as a fiddle on 5 weeks again. He loves the 7f trail but of course needs pace up front to zero in on. Hotsy-totsy for your exotics and dangerous for the score.
And rival Conspirator (5/1) is in the same the boat. A Grade 2 winner versus sophomore sprinter last season, Conspirator looked much the part for a break-on-through 4yo season. The Supers got the Lemon Drop Kid colt started out right. Conspirator snazzily decorated the Florida Turf Express in his ’07 opener with a midpack 105 SP# thunder rumble. The colt measured slickly alongside Cronus in the General’s Pals(G1) starting gate. Unfortunately, while Cronus showed up, Conspirator was nowhere to be found, chugalugging home a hot-n-dirty 12th of 14.
But you can’t keep conspiracies under wraps for long and Conspirator has been edging very close to the winner’s circle since. He’s got a pair of 4ths, including a 104 SP# LTO in the Simon & Simon(G3). Could he be rounding back into graceful form? This guy’s due for a big race — something to prove that his Grade 2 Snowphantm Appreciation(G2) score last year was no fluke. Wheel him from midpack.
And now we come to the Guineas eye-catcher. Andy’s Choice (5/1) has been ever so talented throughout his career. I recall that the Rainbow Quest son was in a bit of a funk prior to the Guineas last season, but surprisingly ran big, turning his year around in the big race. He’s kept to those Monster Miles ever since, perppering in an extra furlong or so every now and then. While he throws his fair share of solid speed figures, the colt just hasn’t been able to sizzle over the top, presenting just 2 wins from 17 route tries.
But, low and behold, Andy’s Choice shortened up late last month to 7.5f. He was a perfect 3-for-3 around one-turn previously (dating back to his freshman days). The closer perked right up in that Illinois listed — he seized the winner’s circle sensationally with a late rallying 105 SP# score. Undefeated around one-turn. Yeah! Boy, if Andy’s Choice does well with a score or board finish here, I’m gonna hit Bigkev over the head if he enters the colt back over a mile! Try to best in the sprint division next!!! My pick to break on through. 🙂
In The Wings
What a grand ol’ mare we have here in Follow The Path (6/1)! She’s won her share of races and has really blossomed recently, picking up one-turn stakes events. Ordinarily a stalker, Follow The Path was full of run versus the boys in last month’s Simon & Simon Cap(G3). She ran as brave as can be too, making papa Sadler’s Wells proud, with a 3rd place finish by just a half-length. Trainer woodhead must’ve been esctatic over Follow The Path’s bold 107 SP#.
Follow The Path was a decent 4th back versus listed company LTO. She can sure kick up her feet when the going gets tough. The mare faces competitiion for the pace, but if she can relax a bit, we just might find her with a lioness’ share of the purse. Filly liberation!
Lowlands Loft (7/1) breaks from the far outside for lieut60. The Cryptoclearance 5yo has won or placed in 17 of 27 lifetime outings. He apprecaites one-turn over the green most of all and brings 4 victories from his past 7 sprint starts to the table. The big boy enjoys a pacesetters fight as much as an off pace charge.
Lowlands Loft faces much toougher competition this time around than normal ALW fare. Still, don’t discount this old boy — he brings solid speed figures to the bruhaha and oddsmakers seemed to appreciate that plenty. Factor for a minor share and if the faves fall, just might be spoiling for a ripe upset.
Out of post 10, johnno4 sends out Mr.Spur(AUS) (8/1). While many of our contenders today bring plenty of experience, MR.Spur is still a little guy learning the ropes. He’s got 16 starts in the bank though and, boy, he sure fired up thensome in the Simon & Simon(G3) LTO. The Flying Spur son made the most of his late break, passing horses to pocket a 3rd-place cheque.
Mr. Spur had exhausted his conditions previously with a win in listed stakes company over Saturday’s distance. Rallying from the back of the pack, the 4yo colt made up ground in due time, posting a catchy 103 SP# with room to spare under the wire. I think he’s well-spotted here and, now that he has a grade under his belt, should improve off the effort. As fresh as a summer breeze too with 6 weeks rest. Keep an eye on him.
Our pacesetter Saturday should be Cheese (8/1). No recent starts at Wisconsin for this 5yo, but he sure tours around the states and Canada too earning his breakfast feed. The modestly-bred Alysheba horse specializes in this division’s listed level. He was smokin’ hot with peppery spunk LTO in a 7.5f stakes contest. The big boy munched up the field with hunger, recording a 105 SP# wire-to-wire.
Cheese makes his benchmark 40th career call to the post. What a memorable race it would be indeed too if he could steal this one on the lead for hoofbeats stable. Possible since this group is loaded with closers for the most part. Jockey N Matthews must crawl early and save the best Cheese for the final drive.
The Longshots
Lost Empire (9/1) hasn’t won in quite a spell for sallygee stable. The Cape Town son has won over a half-million sprinting over the dirt. Indeed, the 4yo colt has never even attempted a route experiment through 29 starts. Recently, Lost Empire galloped over the green stuff. He was pretty good too with fine speed figures, earning some ALW dough. The midpacker relaly didn’t handle a short field stakes LTO though. Worth a try at the lesser grade, but he’s in for a rough time perhaps.
Topicount invokes the forces of Arthurian legend with Tintagel (10/1). By Came Home, Tintagel spent his first 12 lifetime starts over the main track where he was pretty good, exhausting his ALW conditions promisingly. Lots of talent in this sassy 4yo colt — he switched over to the turf and won 2 of 4, including a short field stakes race. Sometimes a speedster, and sometimes a stalker, Tintagel needs to build his numbers in a hurry. We’ll probably see him press Cheese and Follow The Path. Good spot, but maybe a cut below these at this point. Would prefer to see him throw greater speed figs, before selecting him in this kind of race.
An Arch 4yo colt come sout of the 2-hole. TJ Jesse (12/1) sure has been around a block or two — Saturday will be his 30th lifetime trip. Lebori stable got a stakes victory out of this guy three back. It was a handy 101 SP# score around six panels. The colt’s consistent and at times ferocious in numbers. He’ll likely sit a bit forward Saturday, maybe about 4th 5th in the early going. Unfortunately, TJ Jesse’s a bit “off and on” to warant much of factor-status here. Worth a shot though, because he’s so solid and experienced at the listed level. We’ll see if she shows up with his running shoes on.
Finally, Moonlight Mile (24/1) from the 1i2 stable steps up in class. The E Dubai 4yo has 18 lifetime starts in the bank — he’s only won 3 of them though and, frankly, he looks a bit mismatched. He specializes in 7f of late though and manges some minor shares. Talented colt, but there are much flashier and proven closers in this group. Outside chance at best.
Snowchief’s Picks:
This is a pretty wide-open contest. The top 3 choices are evenly matched. But even the in the wings runners have merit to play spoilers. I love Andy’s Choice a lot though around one-turn and think this will be his moment to convince his trainer! Ha! I’m gonna take him outrunning fellow closer Cronus. Follow The Path, Cheese, and Tintagel could easily pick up the show spot or money positions. I’ll toss in another closer in Mr.Spur for the show.
Win: Andy’s Choice
Place: Cronus
Show: Mr. Spur
Good luck to all!