Big Race Preview 3322

There are six grade one events this week. Four of those are covered here in the Big Race Preview. The race of the day has to be the Travelers as the top three year olds square off. A close second to the Travelers is the CA Classic where Ermington Pegasus is set to run after his first loss of the year. Three year old fillies line up in California  and three year old sprinters are set in Texas. Lets get to the races.

Race: 3322.0415 Travelers Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

Top three year old Awesome Force heads a full field of fourteen runners here for the Travelers. Awesome Force, in case you have been sleeping under a rock, is a dual classic winner taking the Middle Jewel and The New Yorker. He followed those wins up with a win in the grade two Swamps last time out in preparation for this race. Awesome Force is a deep closer and when a deep closer gets on a roll like this they can be very hard to beat. Look for him to be flying late.

Derby winner Ataun is the second choice on the morning line. Atuan was fourteen to one when he won the Bluegrass Derby. He would finish second in the Middle Jewel and third in the New Yorker to Awesome Force. He took several weeks off and came back to the track a few weeks ago finishing second in a grade one. He likely needed the race but you almost get the feeling he might be topped out talent wise. He needs to show he can step up and run speed figures near 110 as well as out close Awesome Force to win this.

There are a host of runners all capable listed at odds of nine to one. Ghost Warden is probably the most impressive of that bunch. This is a colt by Rainbow Quest and even though he was running solid on turf he has exploded in his last two starts both on the dirt. Last time out he took the grade two Shiny Gem earning a 112 speed figure. He turns around on just two weeks rest and that could be his down fall but if he runs near that 112 he is a serious contender in this race. He likes to close from down town as well.

Apache Sunrise appears to be the lone speed in a race full of closers. Even though his recent race experience would suggest he might be better suited for shorter distances his one race at this distance was good. Not good enough to win this so he will have to improve off of that effort. He won at the Smackdown last time out at a mile running a 109 speed figure. He is fast enough and alone on the lead could mean he upsets the field.

Race: 3322.0114 CA Classic – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: California
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

Ermington Pegasus shows up and you cannot draw a full field still their ten other runners set to contest Ermington this week. After suffering his first defeat of the year last time out how will Ermington respond? He only lost by a half a length in a race where he just was not his best. He was probably due a clunker, can you say clunker when you run a 105 speed figure and lose by half a length in a grade one? I would expect him to rebound and be on his game again for this effort which is bad news for the rest of the field.

Solar Song is the second favorite as he has found a that high level of speed figures in his last three races. In his last three he has run 110,110, and 118. That 118 was last time out in a super impressive win at the Smackdown. The question is can the old veteran keep this up because he will likely need another 110+ speed figure to take down the Pegasus. Solar Song will be rolling late but should have a slight jump on Ermington Pegasus. He will be looking to turn the tables on Pegasus who has beaten him a couple of times this year.

Alina Dancer is a runner that is a threat to win this race. He ran a very impressive 113 speed figure at thirteen furlongs last time out. He has a 115 speed figure at this distance a few races back so there is no doubt he is fast enough to compete with the top two. He too is a deep closer just like the other top two so will have to close with them. He seems to be poised to take a serious run at Ermington Pegasus.

The number one mare will take a run at the boys. I really do like mares taking on a group of boys like this. There is not much to gain and a whole lot to lose with the Breeders Bowl around the corner. The one thing that could be to her advantage is she looks like the speed of the race and all the contenders are closers. Still she has not run at this exact distance in her career. Her best races have been at a mile and an eighth or a flat mile where she did win against the boys last December. If left alone she could get brave enough and while she is classy she has never ever faced this caliber of horse. 

Race: 3322.0115 Del Webb Oaks – Grade I – $350,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

The Edge is the morning line favorite in a full field of three year old fillies trying to prove themselves on the turf. The Edge was runner up in this years 1000 Guineas back in May. She has all kinds of stamina in her pedigree so there is a change she will just be getting warmed up at a mile and an eighth. She was an impressive winner last time out in the grade two Pioneer Boulevard Cup by almost two lengths. She has a pair of 100+ speed figures already and looks like a very solid favorite here.

Kneel before Zod would easily be the favorite here in a race with more distance. She ran last time out in the Smackdown and ran a huge 106 speed figure at a mile and a half. She won the grade one Adelaide Oaks in May so she is probably the most accomplished runner in the field. She should be every bit as good at this shorter distance than at the longer distances but sometimes a runner like this runs up against a runner better suited to the distance. Kneel before Zod is a deep, deep closer look for her late.

Tupungato is a long shot here at twelve to one. She is one of the few speed horses in the field. Early this year she ran a really good race at a mile and three sixteenths winning a stakes. She would not do well against Kneel before Zod at the Adelaide Oaks but she ran a good one last time out in the grade two Crumble Classic at a mile and a quarter. She set the pace there getting caught late finishing third earning a 100 speed figure. She has been away from the track since then about seven weeks. The layoff may not effect her at all so watch for her on the front end of this race.   

Race: 3322.1015 Prince’s Knight Stakes – Grade I – $300,000
Track: Texas
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt

A full field of three year olds are lined up in Texas for the Prince’s Knight Stakes. The morning line favorite is Mad Dropper at five to one. Mad Dropper has won back to back races in allowance company posting solid speed figures. He is a grade three winner taking the seven furlong grade three Dallas BB Stakes over this very course. Mad Dropper is usually in mid pack and makes his move through the stretch. He is turning around on two weeks rest but those allowance races probably did not take much out of him.

I love my Grandma puts his eight race win streak on the line. He has three listed stakes wins during that win streak and is running good speed figures. He is a speedster getting the lead in all his races so expect him to be on the lead here. The question will be can he carry the extra furlong? Earlier in the year he won at seven and a half furlongs so I do not think the distance will be a problem unless he receives a lot of pressure.

Boulder Road has been racing at or around this distance in all of his recent efforts. His last for races have scene him put up strong speed figures of 103,102,106 and 107. He only has one win in those last four races but there is no doubt he is fast enough to win this race. He is a stalker type and should be the first in line to pick up the pieces if the pace horses fall apart.

There are several contenders coming into this race off of very nice speed figures. Mooseopia earned a 108 last time out and a 105 before that placing in stakes races pressing the pace. E Buda earned a 108 speed figure last time out winning a listed stakes stalking the pace. Corey’s Bullet earned a 104 speed figure winning a listed stakes race last time out. Extra Even ran a 108 take a third level allowance race. Belisario is a horse to watch that is cutting back in distance. He has put up several nice speed figure in mile events and drops back to sprints where he should improve. This should be a very exciting race.