Four for W Va Stakes

The West Virginia beat has been ably covered by beat writer Itch for close to two years now, during which time he has entertained us with his in-depth coverage of many of the colorful characters that make up the racing scene in the Mountain State.

His absence provides the perfect time to tell the story of the stable dog who use to frequent these barns:

No one seems to know just which stable the mutt named Flea really belonged to.  He just seemed to assume he was welcome in every stable and in every stall.  The winless filly Morgan Fairchild, I am told, would not sleep, but rather whinny all night, until she had her visit from the brown and tan mongrel.

One night this past June Flea was crossing the railroad tracks just ahead of an oncoming train.  I hear he paused when he smelled the irresistible scent of a prospective mate in heat.  Unfortunately he had paused barely across the track so a passing freight train cut off the tip of his tail.  Flea whipped around to inspect the damage only to be killed by the next freight car. 

In the memory of Flea, let us remember not to lose our heads chasing a piece of tail.

Meanwhile, the feature race this Saturday in West Virginia is a listed stakes for two year olds.  The November Launch Bonanza is named after a horse who managed four wins in his two-year-old season.  Oddly enough, November Launch spent that season trained by the computer.

This year’s field consists of only four entries.  Here is a look at the field:

1. SAVETHECHEERLEADER(KY)  (VINDICATION x FORTY NINER x STORM CAT)  bred and trained by jpritchett  (13%)  Odds: 5/2

It took six starts for this one to break his maiden, and for most of his career he has not been facing tough company.  A few runners from his first race have gone on to do well, but in his last five races only one horse he faced has gone on to win since.  Expect this one, if he is not used up too early in his career, to get better as he ages, especially if he can find a speed duel where he can sit just off the leaders.

2. ICE AGE LEGACY(KY)  (ORIENTATE x BROAD BRUSH x FUSAICHI PEGASUS)  bred and trained by tigerman(nextbonus) (15%) Odds: 9/5

He won his debut and followed that with a stakes try four weeks ago.  The sixth place he earned there is more impressive than it may seem.  An even effort against a field that contained a stakes winner bodes well for him here.  He’s showing improvement and will be prominent here.

3. KOWALOWSKI(LA)  (GIFT OF GIB x TOMORROW’S COMET x VICE REGENT)  bred by swanny24, trained by tgerk3(Superfly) (10%)  Odds: 8-1

Maybe it’s time to open a new stable.  There is buzz in the message boards that good runners are available in the pool, and this barn was able to pick up a two-year-old with two wins.  The caution here is that the wins have come in an early season maiden claiming race and a track restricted allowance.  The colt has been a longshot since being picked up: first in an even effort against allowance foes and second in another even effort against weak stakes company.  Now he’s the only longshot in this field, the only one never to surpass a 75 speed figure and the most modestly bred.  We have a bias towards longshots, so let’s try to find reason to hope.  The race is named after a computer-trained horse, and this one did well as a computer-trainee.  The distances are getting longer – maybe that’s good news, though sire and dam sire statistics don’t offer much hope.  We are left with this: in a small field anything can happen.

4. BANKING FEVER(TUR)  (STRIKE THE GOLD x BOSTON HARBOR x MARIA’S MON)  bred and trained by Dundy (11%)  Odds: 1-1

How often is an even-money favorite an overlay?  This may count as one.  Fever has two wins past her maiden; the other three combine for one such win.  Fever has a stakes win; the other three have none.  Fever has an 89 speed figure; the others have never surpassed 76.  Throw in her ability to win on the lead and the lack of other early speed and he looks awfully tough.  Only question is why the stable elected to stay with listed stakes – this one looks ready for graded company.