Arkansas hosts the Colonial General Turf, 9.5 Furlongs for 3 year olds.
Colonial General Turf Route
Arkansas, 9.5 Furlong Turf. Stakes Purse: $100,000 Restricted to 3 Year Olds.
I saw this nice Stakes race and it was in Arkansas where I lived for many years so I thought I would take a trip back there today to check out the nice group of 3 year old colts in the Colonial General Turf Route. This race running on what will be a Firm Turf track at 9.5 furlongs. Post time is 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 1, 2018. It looks to be a scorcher at post time as temperatures sore into the 90’s with high humidity. The morning line odds and post positions are listed. Let’s take a preview of the nice looking 3 year old colts that will be entered to contend in the Colonial General Turf.
Horse/Odds Owner Jockey
1. Sardina Chef 7/1 chono C Marts
He had a nice Grade three win in The Scam Stakes back in February of this year where he came from way back to close at the wire and pick off the field to win by a ½ length at the wire. This win came on the dirt where he has shown his best performances. Since that Grade 3 win he has struggled to fire and make a big closing move. He comes back to the turf today on a surface of which he has never cashed a check. He could contend here today if his jockey can get him to fire.
2. Jutlandia Jesus 16/1 alabasta8 R Alonso
He finds little respect today from the morning line handicappers who have made him the long shot in the crowd today. He has never gotten a stakes placing yet, but it is not due to the lack of trying. He has been close many times. He grabs a familiar jockey today, but which did him no favors back in December of last year. His most recent outing came on 07/14/2018 in a $39,000 Allowance here in Arkansas where he came in 3rd some 3 ¼ lengths back. He tends to like running just off the pace in his best performances.
3. He’s Slippin’ 6/1 eminc N Wilks
In his last two outing he took on Stakes company and fared well in doing so and showed he can compete. His last outing was in the Rockland Turf Mile in Louisiana at 8 furlongs where he found his way to 3rd and was 2 ¼ lengths back at the wire. I note that he did not care so much running at 9 furlongs of which he has only had one outing at that distance. This 9.5 furlong run may not be to his liking. He is coming off a nice long layoff so he should be well rested and ready here today. He will need that advantage.
4. French Tap 8/1 deeprock55 T Quila
In his most recent outing he found disappointment in the Grade 3 The Gordy Stakes going 12 furlongs where he came in 11th and was 20 lengths back. He takes a reduction in class here today which should help him. I think the distance is good for him and he should fare much better than in his last outing. Tends to come just off the pace so be looking for him in the rear view mirror.
5. Barbara Treatment 5/1 muscles2 C Garber
This colt sired by Galileo comes in impressively after his last outing in the Pompous Project Turf Route which ran at 9 furlongs over in Turkey. He came in 2nd in that race, but the huge jump in speed he had will make him a contender to keep an eye on here today. He gets a small ding for the long travel and coming to unfamiliar ground. He very well could be a factor here today and should not be taken lightly.
6. Kia’s Celebration 15/1 romans E Cotlen
He too comes in as a long shot today according to the morning line handicappers which I feel kind of gave him a snub. He had a very nice outing on 06/23/2018 in the Cad Crop Turf Stakes in Louisiana of which he finished second but had 21 point jump in his speed rating and hit a 104. If he can repeat that again or improve he should contend in this race. This Irish bred is familiar with the track here in Arkansas and he picks up a nice jockey who rode him well in that last outing in Louisiana. He likes to travel up front which is where I will expect to see him today.
7. Head To Port 3/1 bonusbaby J Hughes
This stakes winner sired by Duporth is nice Australian bred. He comes into this race today with multiple stakes runs and is the top money winner in this field today. I think the distance for him looks good and in his last outing he hit the triple digit speed mark of 101. He last ran in Louisiana at 10 furlongs in the Rizzo G Turf Route where he finished 3rd and 2 ¾ off the leader. I look for him to contend well again today.
8. Edgefield Journey 9/2 scorehobby M Chreky
He has only ran once on the turf in his seven career starts, but he did it with success in his last outing in a $39,000 Allowance race in West Virginia going 9 furlongs where he best the field by 3 lengths with a nice 108 speed. He does have a stakes placing to his credit on the dirt at 10 furlongs from back in April where he ran in the Virtuoso Dirt Route in Brazil. If he can repeat that nice speed again at the Stakes level on the turf he could very well be a horse to watch.
9. President Kash 4/1 kashbred6 L Molinero
A scratch bred horse by Awesome Again. But we will have to see how awesome he can be today when he takes to the turf for the first time. He has consistently run triple digit speed ratings on the dirt in his last three Stakes outings. If he can bring that to the grass he should be a contender here. Look for him coming from the back of the pack if he runs his normal style here today.
Good luck to all horses and all owners of this race. Most importantly have fun!!!
Skippy’s Picks
1. Kia’s Celebration: I don’t usually pick many long shots to win, but I am today. Comes in well rested.
2. Barbara Treatment: Will be there if he can handle the travel from Turkey.
3. President Kash: Can he bring it to the turf? I am going to give him the nod and cross my fingers.
Tarton’s Long Shot
Kia’s Celebration: My long shot of the day is in my top 3 and I am sticking with him. He comes in well rested and has a favorite jockey that rode him well in his last outing.