Juveniles colts invade Maryland for the Grade 2 High Roller

This weekends two year old spotlight race “The High Roller Juvenile“, Grade 2 for a stake 375,000 will bring together a solid group of young colts who’s connections are still trying to see what is above and below the shoulders of their talented youngsters. This time of year it’s always a guessing game whether to send them against the best in their division at such a young age. Looking for soft spots for talented two year old’s with good race spacing can leave a little in the tank for the fall. Some take the approach that if they show the talent then challenge them with the best competition to toughen them up for the big races in the fall. Whatever way the connections choose to attack the early months of their steeds two year old season can have lasting repercussions which will either catapult them to stardom or leave them struggling in the claiming ranks in a few short months. It’s the time of year that everyone can dream for what may come in the next year of racing. Here’s hoping that all horses come back healthy and that the connections get the questions they are asking answered.

1.) Run Saquon Run , 2-0-1-1 22,650 (Speightstown X Distorted Humor) This stakes placed colt, (URC Spring Stake at 6.5 Firlongs) out of Alw winner Seattle Humor winner of over 275,000 dollars has shown a lot of promise in his two starts. His first start at 5 F resulted in a hard fought 2nd place finish beaten by 1 length after contending the pace holding off all of the other pacesetters while the winner tracked closely and kicked on to win. After running second as the favorite in his first start he was entered in the URC Spring Fling (100 K) where his connection chose the settle back and make a big run with the added distance. The strategy almost paid off with a heated pace up front it looked like it may fall into his lap but the pacesetter dug in and held sway down the lane. Today Run Saquon Run will cut back in distance and again climb the class latter which may be a tall order against this bunch. He drew the inside rail which may force his connections to pull him off the pace and try to circle. If trainer abcde chooses to send the race for him could be decided out of the gate. His price at 7-1 may be a little short with his post draw.

2.) Wild Boss , (4-2-1-0) 54,360 (Wild Desert X Street Boss) Son of Grade GP mare Boss Of The City scored first at 40 K open claiming, he has one win in three tries against alw runners with a place . Today he will be looking to make his mare a stakes winner, the first out of four foals. Although the connections graywolf19 kind of took a unorthodox way of guiding Wild Boss to his first stakes start he is without question capable of getting a piece of the pie with another step forward and a great trip. The line at 18-1 seems pretty fair to me. The Graywolf connections already have one star two year old and look to add another.

3.) Johnny Z (3-1-2-0) 41,300 , (Mr. Z X Smart Strike) stakes placed son of Grade 3 winning mare, Johnny Bustball. This will be Johnny Z’s first go at graded competition after a game second place finish to the speedy Z Ready in the 100 K , URC Spring Fling. This colt likes to stay close to the pace which may open up the inside or the outside for him with a good trip. He’s very honest and has yet to take a step back from the competition.  Connections of babies7 should have a lot of say in how this race plays out. The price of 11-1 is also a very square price on a horse with this foundation.

4.) Coming Like Thunder (2-1-1-0) 46,500, (Cinco Charlie X Johannesburg X Street Cry) , out of Alw winning mare Joey Street. This young colt has really shown a quality turn of foot at both 4.5 and 5 furlong distances. His last start resulted in a huge run that almost resulted in a grade 3 win for his babies8 connections. Tracking well back early, he kicked home missing by 3/4 of a length. He again will probably need to get a great trip to get up against this bunch. He also may pad the pockets of his supporters being sent off at 11-1….

5.) All Cat No Hattle (3-3-0-0) 152,940 (Tale OF The Cat X Bernardini) , Son of Gr1 winning and Graded Stakes producing mare mare (Third Degree Bern). This grade 3 winner of prfctdrift stables has all the boxes ticked for eminent stardom. Bloodlines, connections and ability. Another that likes to settle in but not let them get to far away. The extra furlong should only help him tick another box. Already ranked 3rd as a sprinter will only climb the ranks with distance. The odds are set at 5-1 which would cause TVG to go on tilt if you know what I mean. Make your bets early!

6. Sky Harder (3-1-1-0) 58,720 (Sky Kingdom X Rock Hard Ten) son of mare SP Rock Hard Eleven, producer of to stakes placed foals out of seven starters. Coming out of the same Gr 3 Television Stakes race some of the other heavy hitters came out of Sky Harder looks to up against it in here. It is not impossible but highly improbable. If he could get the trip he got in the 100 K Sugar Burden Dirt Juvenile where he sprouted wings sailing by 11 horses to get up for second place in a 5F race ran in 59 flat he may get a slice at a big price of 22-1. The connection of wyndaway12 will be looking for a little magic down the stretch to score.

7.) Ready For A Forty (2-1-1-0) 85,000 (More Than Ready X Street Cry) Out of the Stakes winning mare Sipping On A Forty , producer of four foals, all stakes winners, 3 graded . Another settle and run late types that looks to only get better with distance of ground. Only with two starts in 100 K stakes races resulting in two solid runs. Today’s winner in my opinion will probably need a 82 or 83 speed rating which is withing this guys reach with another improved effort. I just don’t like the short 5-1 odds with a horse sporting only two starts. I think he could easily hit the boards and even win the race with that female background. Right now I just think “All Cat No Cattle” is farther along in his development. Whatever happens desimster6 has a budding star on his or her hands.

8.) Keen For Love(2-2-0-0) 39,300 (Keen Ice X Songandaprayer) out SP mare Property Of Love, producer of three winners. This lightly raced son of Keen Ice is another in the asfarms collection of budding two year old’s looking to score at a huge price of 20-1. Keen For Love’s female side is a little speed oriented and also a little to inbred for my liking, ( can you hear the banjo’s in the background) but I digress. He has shown ability winning in his first asking and then shipping into CA and winning another Alw race against a classier bunch. I would still be very shocked if this colt hit the board. Can’t love them all.

9. Forestrike (3-2-1-0) 73,000 (Forestry X Smart Strike) out SW mare Honor and Glory, producer of 5 foals all winners, one Stakes winner two Stakes placed. Forestrike started his career in early January, breaking his maiden wire to wire. He returned a month later and scored again against alw horses. The with a two month rest he again returned against stakes company just falling short in 5F Dash. I look for another step in his progression but he may be one start away from a stakes score. The odds are set at 9-1 which I think are a little short for a horse who’s speed rating have not really jumped. Just maybe kmracing2 will surprise me by having this colt cranked up a race earlier than I expect.

10.) Pound The Rock (4-2-1-0) (No Nay Never X Flat Out) out the mare D Flat Minor , winner and producer of one foal, stakes winner Pound The Rock. With four races and a stakes win under belt, his connection nycowboy313 has to be beaming with confidence. His last race, Elite Groom Ted Dirt Juvenile was simply spectacular. I know a race like that is hard to ignore and it’s really hard to reign them in a bit, especially if they are knocking down the stalls. I’m going to put a line through this horse only because after such a huge race and coming back with less than a month of rest I believe it may be asking to much. I just hope it don’t put him on tilt. Hey, how can you handle him any different with a name like “Pound The Rock” . Good luck with a horse that looks to have a bright future.

11.) Comeback Fulham (3-1-0-1) 38,100 (First Samurai X Curlin) out mare Comeback As A Star, producer of one foal. This colt is in probably a little too deep. Having only three races all with speeds of less than 70 it would be a monumental upset if he were to even hit the board with this group. The breeding can get possibly a stakes win in the future for calle7 but not this weekend in my opinion. The odds at 17-1 seem rather low to me. More like 45-1

12.) All The Lights On (2-1-1-0) 52,000 (Into Mischief X Speightstown) out of Grade 1 winning mare Fusionist, producer of 5 foals all winners, two stakes winners. The connections eminc11 thought enough of this horses maturity that they started him in a stakes race first out in Feb. finishing a great 2nd followed by a Mdn win two months later. I think this horse is ready for a big run. His mare won a Gr1 at two and he’s shown the same precocity. Love the spacing between races which I think will leave something in the tank. Pace makes the race and this guy will give them plenty of that. I think the 7-1 odds are fair.

13.) URC Ransom (4-3-0-0) 65,520 (Lion’s Ransom X Crafty Shaw) out of Shawl winner of over 250,000, producer of one foal. Winner of 3 of 4 races two of which were claimers really says a lot about URC Ransom. Last time out perky3 connection decided to take a stab in a loaded grade 3 sprint he probably had no business in. The horse did not really embarrass himself finishing tenth beaten by a little over 3 lengths but does that deserve a step up into grade 2 competition? Here’s another in the race who I’m going to put a line through. Just in a little tough in my opinion. Odds are 24-1, more like 50-1.

14.) OG Palace Saver (2-1-1-0) 55,360 (Palace Malice X Super Saver) out of SP mare Super Square , her first foal is OG Palace Saver. This two year old star in the making of baffwidow farm is going have a big play in the outcome of this race. Two starts with good spacing. Really like the field he met in April in the Swift Hollandia. The race was loaded with potential stars, four starters ran 80 speed ratings are better at 6 1/2 furlongs to boot. The 10-1 odds are rather long in my opinion. I would list him at 5-1 . Star potential

Picks   5-14-12-7