2 BLUEGRASS CONTENDERS DO BATTLE AT THE FELIPE ALOU
FELIPE ALOU STAKES
An interesting group of eleven 3-year olds has gathered in California for this years’ running of the Grade 2 stakes. It will be contested on the dirt over a distance of a Mile and a Sixteenth (8.5 F) with a total purse of $375,000. The start time will be 2:30 pm EST on Sunday, March 11, 2018.
We have a pair of Bluegrass Derby contenders ( SHADY RIDE & CRACKERJACK RIDE ), only 1 Graded Stakes winner ( SHADY RIDE ), another pair with less than 5 races ( NOMADS 3 & SO YOU SEE 4 ), two horses sired by CANDY RIDE ( SHADY RIDE & NOMADS ), stockswami has 2 entries ( GHOST OF CURLIN & PIONEER IS AWESOME ), and 3 runners making their Graded Stakes debuts ( NOMADS, PIONEER IS AWESOME & DISTINCTLY NATIVE ).
Now the Post Parade:
1- BERN A MELODY (5-1) lsumark La. Ferguson
ROCK HARD TEN x BERNARDINI out of STARLITE MELODY.
Has made 2 starts already this year both hitting triple digit SP’s. Last outing ran third in the G2- SLEEPY FAN STAKES and in January won the LONG BOMBER DIRT MILE with Ferguson in the saddle posting a 103 SP. Has 4 career wins and only failed to hit the board twice in 7 starts. Likes to settle mid pack before making his run.
2- NOMADS (8-1) derekcarlson O.A. Haack
CANDY RIDE x STORM CAT x DYNAFORMER.
Comes in with only 3 career races, but has a win and a second. Finished 5th in only race as a 2-year-old the URC BREEDERS CHAMPIONSHIPS JUVENILE. Broke his Maiden in January at 8 ¼ f. Ran second in the WALLYS COUNT DIRT MILE in February at Idaho posting a 98 SP. Likes to come from off the pace.
3- GHOST OF CURLIN (12-1) stockswami F. Gossett
CURLIN x GHOSTZAPPER out of GHOSTZAPPER’S GAL.
Will be making his 3-year-old debut after finishing in 13th in the December G1- MOVIELAND FUTURITY. Has made 5 Graded starts with a second in the G2- CHARCOAL BREEDERS CUP. Last win was in July NW2L allowance for KY breds. Likes to run up front, Gossett back aboard first time since first race.
4- CRACKERJACK RIDE (5-1) tfon J. Benisz
RIDE ON CURLIN x STORMY ATLANTIC out of CRACKERJACK BOX.
The BLUEGRASS DERBY contender comes in off a second in the G1- VERMONT IS 4 LOVERS posting a best 104 SP with Benisz holding the reins. In January disappointed at G3- LEGOLAND finishing in 7th. His last win came in the BITE THE PILLOW DIRT JUVENILE in December. Had 5 wins in 10 starts in his 2-year-old season. Likes to come from off the pace with a big finish.
5- SMART SHOOTER (8-1) kobras B. Child
NYQUIST x SMART STRIKE out of SMART MONEY CAT.
Will be make his third start of the year, all here at California after finishing second in the G2- SAINT VINCENT last month posting a 98 SP with Child having the mount. Closed out his 2-year-old campaign with a 7th in the G3- PLEASURE STAKES at Idaho. Likes to come from off the pace or at least settle in around mid-pack.
6- DISTINCTLY NATIVE (25-1) silversun B. Oston
GHOSTZAPPER x DYNAFORMER out of COPTIC.
Came home 5th in a field of 6 in only 2018 race a 14k NW3x allowance at Minnesota. Has hit the board in 4 of his 6 career starts but has no stakes or Graded experience under his belt. Has a career high SP of 89, but I really like his pedigree. Will be a true wild card in this race. Does his best when running out in front.
7- SO YOU SEE (8-1) vkstables K. Ebner
MEDAGLIA D’ORO x SMART STRIKE out of SMART AMY.
Had his 3-race winning streak broken in the G3- THE SCAM in February by finishing second putting up a 99 SP in his only Graded start. Has only 4 career races but has never failed to hit the board with 3 victories. Has made all 4 of his previous starts here on the California dirt track. Looks like he prefers to be on the lead but has a win from off the pace.
8- PIONEER IS AWESOME (13-1) stockswami L. Radzinski
PIONEEROF THE NILE x AWESOME AGAIN out of AWESOME KINGMAMBO.
Started out 2018 with a 3rd in January at the FRANCO INVASION DIRT ROUTE at Minnesota. Will be making his Graded Stakes debut here. Has had the misfortune of getting an off track in 3 of 6 lifetime starts, although did break Maiden and posted best SP of 94 over a sloppy Florida track. Has hit the board in 3 out 4 route distance races. Likes to be out in the front.
9- TACTICAL BOX (8-1) nycowboy F. Oxon
UNCLE MO x SCAT DADDY out of SWAPSCO KITTY.
In February he faded to finish 12th in the G1- VERMONT IS 4 LOVERS, but he opened 2018 with a victory in the KILLERZANDGLITTERZ DIRT CHALLENGE at Colorado tying his best 94 SP. Has made only 6 starts but has visited the winners’ circle 3 times. Likes to settle in mid pack. Has made 2 previous Graded starts.
10- SHADY RIDE (9/2) knightmare M. Brown
CANDY RIDE x A.P. INDY out of SHADES OF BLACK.
The ML favorite is the only Graded Stakes winner in the field. Comes in with a 2-race win streak, the last being the G3- RISEN STAR STAKES a month ago. Has hit the board in all but 1 of his 7 career starts. The BLUEGRASS DERBY contender posted a 102 SP in a January allowance at New York. Likes to run out front with all 4 career wins coming in wire to wire fashion. Brown has previous rides resulting in 3 victories.
11- MUSICFOR THEFALLEN (6-1) pointblank M. Clooch
MACLEAN’S MUSIC x AWESOME AGAIN out of THREE FORTY THREE.
Started 2018 with a 10th place finish in the G3- THE SCAM. Posted a 99 SP in last race of 2017 the G1- MOVIELAND FUTURITY with Clooch in the stirrups coming home in third. Has made his last 4 starts here on the California dirt and have been Graded Stakes. Last win came back in August in a 48k NW2L allowance. Likes coming from off the pace.
MY SELECTIONS :
4- CRACKERJACK RIDE
11- MUSICFOR THEFALLEN
1- BERN A MELODY
Nice write up as usual!!! Let’s go Nomads!!!
Nice article!