Vermont BB Juvenile Grade II

Vermont BB Juvenile
Grade II
Six furlongs
Fast Dirt
$250,000
All horses, 2 years old

Welcome to the Green Pastures of Vermont for the first of the two Graded races on this week’s card , both for 2 year olds. Some interesting runners here, and being a 2 year old race nothing can really be discounted. Lets take a look at the runners-

QUICK SURGE(SAF) (SURGING RIVER x FORT WAYNE x JAAZEIRO) dragnil

Won his maiden and only start to date with a decent 67sp over todays trip having been up with the pace all the way. A lot of Seattle Slew in the pedigree so he should improve with runs. The 82/1 on the morning line is huge, he’s better than that and should run a decent race.

FLEET DAISY(KY) (AFLEET ALEX x AFFIRMED x NUREYEV) opus

Two wins from two runs but only improved by 1 sp point for his second run. Nice pedigree and will get the longer trip no problem but that lack of any real improvement is a worry. For me some of the others here will be improving past him and he may struggle to make the frame.

PGA GOLD(KY) (SEEKING THE GOLD x NUREYEV x SADLER’S WELLS) mizunomp14

An awful lot of blue blood in that pedigree and it took him two tries to break his maiden. Another who also improved by only 1 sp point from first to second run and again that’s a concern. Decent sp’s of 75 and 76 but he’ll have to run better than that to get in the money.

WILD TO THE TOUCH(KY) (TOUCH GOLD x WILD AGAIN x UNBRIDLED) fortywalt

Well that sp in his only race to date is eyecatching to say the least. By Touch Gold an underatted sire, he would only have to run the same again to get in the money and he would only have to improve a little to get the win. Of course it’s also often the case that big sp’s on debut from 2 year olds are followed by rubbish the next start, so we’ll have to see how he goes but he must be a huge danger to all.

SEATTLE KING TED(KY) (KING CUGAT x SEATTLE SLEW x STRIKE THE ANVIL) skyhigh

By a sire who’s yet to really fulufill his promise in the sim, this guy improved by over 20 sp points from first to second run. His second race 75 is decent but it leaves the question, how much can he improve this time? It would be safe to say that he won’t improve by another 20 points, and indeed it’s often the case where you get a bounce after big improvements and the next race is poor. Even so his 75 from last time may sneak him into the top half if he runs it again.

GHOSTLY SPEED(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x MACHIAVELLIAN x BUCKPASSER) socalman

Another pretty exceptional pedigree but his first two runs were nice but no better and he’ll have to improve by around 20 sp points to win here. That’s asking a lot in a Grade II and I can’t see a win today. He may even struggle to reach the top half of finishers.

GHOST IN A DANCER(KY) (GHOSTZAPPER x STORM CAT x FAPPIANO) triscay

If anything he has an even nicer pedigree than the previous runner and he has two pretty decents runs under his belt too. Nice 75 sp maiden win and a second in the Grade III Television stakes over what was probably too short a trip latest. Should run a big race and will be challenging for a top three place. Another 5 point improvement could even see him get the win.

ELECTRIC STORM(AUS) (ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) x WOODMAN x STORM CAT) murray1

Looks like a turf pedigree to me but has won two from two on dirt with nice sp’s of 70and 74. Good that he’s shown improvement from first to second run and further improvement along the same lines should put him in the shake up here. Would love to see him try the turf though.

BROADWOOD EVENT(CA) (EVENT OF THE YEAR x BROAD BRUSH x WOODMAN) jockster

Is only one from three and even worse, he went backwards from his second to third runs and showed only a small improvement from first to second. Overall that says to me that he’s up against it here and he won’t make the top five.

RANGER’S RING(KY) (ARAGORN (IRE) x DANZIG x FORTY NINER) larrydoyle

Is two from two with two stakes wins and showed nice improvement from first to second run. I love the pedigree and he promises to be as good on turf as he is on dirt. Aragorn should be abn up and coming sire in his first year and this guy could see him start with a bang. More improvement like his last run and he could win. Looks set to be involved in the shake up regardless.

INFRINGEMENT(KY) (GRAND SLAM x STORM CAT x CAPOTE) enforced

Another who’s two from two and did show some improvement from first to second runs but his best remains a 71 and there are too many here who can already beat that. Will have to improve some 10 sp points to figure and that a lot to ask in a Graded race. Not for me today.

FRENCHING(JPN) (FRENCH DEPUTY x LANGFUHR x BRIAN’S TIME) minnesota

Another who’s only one from three and who only showed a small improvement from his races. A 74 sp won’t cut it here and again a 10 point jump will be required just to be competative. Not the mosty exciting pedigree and he looksset to struglle today.

DIXIELAND PRAYERS(KY) (PULPIT x DIXIELAND BAND x ALYDAR) pazthree

Won his maiden nicely but again did not show enough improvement in his next race to be taken seriously here. Would have to improve almoast 20 sp points to make the top three and that’s not going to happen. Will be nearer last than first.

CLASSICAL BRASS ER(KY) (DIXIELAND BAND x BRAHMS x PENTELICUS) erracing

Interesting outsider here, as he has won his first two and although his sp dropped, thatlooked more to do with the drop in trip. Back at a better trip I expect him to resume his upward curve and that would put him right in the frame here. Don’t think he has enough to win but can make the top three.

CONCLUSION- AS typical nightmare of a two year old early season Graded race but fot me it’s WILD TO THE TOUCH, RANGERS’S RING and CLASSICAL BRASS in that order.