Cronus(IRE), My Township in competitive Capital Spring Sprint(G3)
Sweden– Skoll, baby! Or cheers, mates … and all you Dancing Queens out there! The older horse turf sprint division makes a pitstop in Sweden this week for the Grade 3 $125,000 Capital Spring Sprint. We got a delightful field of 10 colts and horses plus 1 feisty filly too for a six furlong battle-royale……….
And chilcoat’s Cronus(IRE) leads the way with chalky status at 7/2. The 4yo son of Giant’s Causeway(IRE) proudly checks in with a #11 ranking in the division (the highest in this field). Turf sprinter fans know Cronus from his Grade 2 Sheik Yerbouti score earlier this season. The colt used the win as a springboard to test the very best in the division in his very next start: March’s Generals Pals Sprint Show(G1). Cronus impressed the heck out of this reporter in that race, running a runner-up 111 SP# to Northern Pirate. The sky seemed the limit when Chilcoat led Cronus back to the barn after the race.
However, Cronus has had mixed results since. The colt went 0-for-4 before finally bagging a listed stakes sprint. He did finish 4th and 2nd respectively in a pair of graded sprint contests. Solid speed figures throughout, Cronus just seems to have trouble holding the lead after a late rally down the stretch. In this spot, he’s pure class and has the credentials to bag a fine score.
The Swedish oddsmakers next tab jeffdrew’s My Township at 5/1. We haven’t heard of this 5yo horse on the turf sprint circuit and that’s because he races on the main track! My Township is a puzzling entry to say the least. He’s a bargain baby by Delaware Township who just won the Middle Of Nowhere(G3) over this distance on the dirt. He even scored a 107 SP# in the photo finish — what a rags to riches story for the former $7500 claimer.
But alas, Saturday will be My Township’s 2nd lifetime start over the lawn. He did try the green stuff two years ago for jeffdrew and was well beaten in ALW company. Why put a horse going his lifetime best over one surface to another surface? I can’t help but think that maybe jeffdrew accidentally misread the race conditions here. LOL! The closer’s is going great — will form trump surface experience?
We have a zippy quartet of stakes winners at 6/1 and 7/1:
- Givelovetheboot (6/1) from safbred stable adores six panels and can still pick up his feet with 40+ starts in the bank. The 5yo son of Storm Boot won at the listed level a few starts ago with a big 107 SP#. He’s been in the thick of the ranks since, often close down the lane and just a whisker away from the major money. Givelovetheboot hasn’t much graded experience, but he did make an appearance at the graded level back in January’s Everclear(G2). That wasa tough race and this is much softer company Saturday. Good sleeper if he can run back to those early summer speed figures.
- I like johnno’s Mr.Spur(AUS) (7/1) a lot in this spot. The Flying Spur(AUS) 4yo colt rallied well in time early last month to bag a seven-furlong stakes. Matter of fact, the colt bookended a pair of listed scores around two graded stakes appearances. Mr.Spur ran well for the Simon and Simon Cap(G3) show to eventual Rising Sun Sprint Cup(G1) winner Mr Devious. Unfortunately, he couldn’t sustain that momentum and finished well-beaten in the Hyperactive(G3). This is a pretty good colt — I’d like to see higher speed figures, but I think he’s improved to the point where he can more than snare all the marbles here. Excellent shot.
- Moonlight Mile (7/1) rides reams of form into Saturday too. The 4yo son of E Dubai has won three in a row since finishing an honst 5th in the Hyperactive(G3). Trainer 1i2 dropped the colt back to the ALW ranks and was promptly rewarded with a sweet score. Moonlight Mile then took two straight stakes races, progressing with 101 and then 112 speed figures. You can’t argue with that form at all. This textbook stuff where a horse dominates the listed ranks, then tries the Grade 3 level. Bravo! Look for Moonlight Mile neaar the back of the pack. This guy might be the one to beat.
- But hold your horses — check out Tree Guest House (6/1) from anymore stable. The 4yo Forestry colt scored a brazen 110 SP# in a seven furlong thrashing last month. The colt sure has been coming of age of late. He’s 5-for-15 lifetime and soaks up the listed ranks with competitive spirit. You gotta love the solid speed figures by this colt. He’s definitely more than ready for a shot at the grades and what a perfect spot for him to step into the limelight here. More of a midpacker than a closer. Great shot, but don’t be discouraged if he only grabs a minor share in this schooling attempt.
We saw Brego (8/1) from claymore stable back in May in the KY Horsemen Elixir(G1). The 4yo son of Rainbow Quest caught our eye since he had just won a 102 SP# turf stakes. The colt was green though and ran a bit stinky, finishing 9th in the Elixir. The downtown closer dropped back to the listed and ALW level where he picked a win and placing before Smackdown III day. And that Smackdown race was very hot — Brego ran solidly for 6th place to Northern Pirate. It was a nice bounce back 104 SP#. He should improve off that effort. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of speed in this group and Brego loves to run from downtown. Should be in the mix and has possibilities to show up the flashy SP# stakes winners for a breakout score.
Fresh off of a 103 SP# turf sprint victory, Fantasy Trip (10/1) from peeps stables also needs some pace up front. The downtown closer by Fantastic Light mostly pays his dues at the ALW and listed level, but did make a graded appearance in the Sydney Sprint(G1) back in May. With a 7-for-36 lifetime record, Fantasy Trip has had a solid career and is well worth another shot at the grades. The Sydney race was pretty tough and this is a lighter spot, but still tough too. The 5yo needs to bring his A-game.
Pulpit son Suited And Booted (10/1) also checks in with loads of experience. The 4yo presents a 7-for-34 lifetime record. The colt’s been on and off the turf though throughout his career. He did manage a recent ALW win over the lawn, but his speed figures are mostly in the upper 90s. That’s not gonna make a huge impression here. Solid racehorse from midpack or thereabouts, but he’s a bit inconsistent to really turn heads in this spot. A bit of a reach. Races for andysakmar stable.
Our longest shot on the board Commander Tex (96/1) races for tjstables. The 10yo old-timer by Alysheba doesn’t have any shot in this race. We’ll see him up front for a whisper and soon backtracking after that. This is too high of a class level for the horse. At his age, he belongs in a $2k to $10k claiming race. Try 6f on the dirt in a $25k or highesr claiming tag race. =)
Finally, we have the sharood’s filly Jonestown (14/1). The Seeking The Gold daughter debuted over the lawn LTO with a nice 103 SP# 6.5f victory. It was her 17th career start — she’s been ALW quality around one-turn for the most part. Bold move leaping her up over the regualr stakes ranks all the way to a Grade 3. On the bright side, she’s likely to wrangle the pace for herself over the 96/1 shot. I believe Moonlight Mile and a couple other stalkers might have something to say about that. We’ll see how good Joenstown is. If she can bound away to a big lead, then she could shock the boys. I’ll give her a smidgeon of a shot — odds are good it can go the either way, but ya never know how the race scenario will develop.
Snowchief’s Picks:
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of lead Jonestown gets. However I like Moonlight Mile, Mr.Spur and Tree Guest House alot. I do think Brego and Cronus have a lot of talent and have the best black type on paper at this point.
I’m gonna go with Moonlight Mile at 4-in-a-row over Mr.Spur and Cronus. Tree Guest House up for 4th and Brego in 5th. Good luck!