Komendatore Turf Sprint in Norway. The grass is green and the sun will shine for these 3 year old colts and geldings.
Komendatore Turf Sprint
After the race last week I decided to hop a flight and head to Norway where a little race caught my eye with a field of seven colts and geldings that are going to hit the turf in the Komendatore Turf Sprint going 7.5 furlongs on what will be a firm track. They will be competing for a purse of $100,000 as they run to see who can get to the wire first and collect the check. The weather is expected to be sunny with temperatures in the mid 70’s at post time. I took a walk around the track and visited with some of the jockeys and trainers. The horses looked good as they had their last workouts for this race. Although the field is relatively small in number, there is still much talent in these contenders. The Morning Line odds are now out, so let us take a closer look at this nice field of colts and geldings coming into this race.
Horse/Odds Owner Jockey
1. I Have A Choice 3/1 punter41 M Sheridan
This horse comes in racing on a fairly consistent monthly schedule with his last outing being the Proper Parade Turf Sprint in Sweden where he came up short placing 5th back 3 ¾ lengths. He has not found the winners circle since his run back on 12/02/2017 where he took the Padres Juvenile going 8.5 furlongs. Since that time he has been close, but no cigar. I feel all he horses that contend today will need to find that triple digit speed rating to compete for the wire.
2. Critahy 13/1 jarrod5 M Mills
This colt has had a rough go of it since breaking his maiden back on 03/17/2018 in Belgium at 7.5 furlongs. He then stepped into a NW2L race in Germany where he found a tough crowd of which he failed to compete at 9.5 furlongs. In his last outing he stepped back down in distance but jumped up in class trying for a stakes win at the Proper Parade Turf Sprint of which he could only find a 6th place finish some 3 ¾ lengths back at the wire. He will need to step up his game to compete with this rough and tumble crowd.
3. Criteria Of Refs 6/1 coagulate4 D Shirley
This lightly raced colt with only 3 lifetime starts began his career pretty sharp. He broke his maiden in Argentina on 03/02/2018. His next outing was a NW4L Allowance in which he showed he could handle the more experience starters although the field had few contenders. On 04/28/2018 he mustarded the courage to head to Germany for the Grade 2 The German 2000 Guineas on the turf going 8 furlongs. He found the travel and another tough crowd of more experienced horses was too much for him as the best he could do was come in 8th some 10 ½ lengths off the leader. He finds more tough company today, but the drop in class should find to be helpful.
4. Equinics Tycoon 4/1 mtkbargoffsprng J Walsh
Here we find another stakes winner in the crowd today. He has had a couple of nice runs his last two outings and I think he has shown he will be able to contend here at the Komendatore. His last win came in a stakes race in the Czech Republic on 03/18/2018 where here best the field by 1 ½ lengths at the wire. His last outing came on 04/21/2018 in the Fields Of Thunder Turf Sprint at 7.5 furlongs where he found himself coming in 2nd some 1 ½ lengths short at the wire. He has shown he can hit speeds in the triple digits of which he will need against this field. I look for him to be a strong contender in this race.
5. Mogard Kansas 21/1 wove C Miller
You have to look back to last November to find his last trip to the winners circle where he ran 4.5 furlongs in a $48700 NW1X Allowance when he ran against a short field of four horses. Since that time he has had a pretty rough go competing in his stakes attempts. In his last outing he ran in the Grade 2 The Cheyenne at 5 furlongs for 3 year olds and up. He came in a disappointing 13th place in which he was bested by 12 ¼ lengths. He has never traveled the distance of 7.5 furlongs before and I think this crowd will be a tough bunch to contend with.
6. Gurkha Gold 6/1 jastables14 G Kehl
In his last outing he stepped up to a Grade 2, The German 2000 Guineas and found a tough time of it making his way around two turns for the first time at 8 furlongs. He comes back down to this 7.5 distance stakes today and the step down in class will not hurt him either. His last win came on 02/27/2018 over in Germany in a NW2L Allowance. After that in his two most recent stakes attempts he has found them to be quite unkind to him. Not going to count this guy out today. He comes in well rested and could be a contender here.
7. Makwi 3/2 omroiwalmo J Jacobsson
In the Morning Line we find him to be the much deserved favorite. He is a prior Grade 1 winner in the Duetoburst Stakes back in October 2017. Has had trouble finding a Grade 1 win again, but still has shown self improvement over time in his races. His last win came in the Grade 3 The Far Lap at 7.5 furlongs of which he went wire to wire to best the field of twelve contenders. He steps down in class today after a disappointing Grade 1 attempt in the 2000 Guineas in Newmarket England. He comes in with some nice races under his belt and I feel he is rightfully the top contender in this field.
Good luck to all horses and all owners of this race. Most importantly have fun!!!
Skippy’s Picks
1. Makwi: Nice racing career in tough races. Top contender in this field.
2. Equinics Tycoon: Last two outings looked good and he has the speed he will need.
3. I Have A Choice: Comes in with experience. Looks good for the distance.
Tarton’s Long Shot
Criteria Of Refs: All though he is going off at 6/1 odds, I think he is the best choice for my long shot in this short field of seven horses.