3 YEAR OLDS ROUTE ON THE DIRT AT WINCHESTER PARK DAY IN OKLAHOMA
This weekend is Winchester Park day at Oklahoma Racetrack and the 15th race on the card is the second Graded feature on this big race day. A full field of 14 have passed the entry box for this race, The Grade II Winchester Park Derby, which will go 9 furlongs on the fast dirt track and offer a purse of $250,000.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)ALL FLAGS GOLD(KY)—6/1—muchalucha sends this colt out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 8-5-1-0 and lifetime earnings of $325,100. This 27th divisional ranked colt races out of the CR Racers club who can be found chatting in the chat room at various times during the week. This colt broke quickly out of the gate by winning his first 4 lifetime starts including the last in that streak, The Big Apple Dandy Stakes in New York. He then tried the derby trail and while not eligible for the Bluegrass he did start in The Grade I Middle Jewel where he ended up in 9th place. He posted his lifetime best 110 speed rating and became a Graded stakes winner in his last start while winning The Grade III Colorado Sophomore Classic. This colt is a closer who sits midpack early in his races and he is a previous winner at today’s 9 furlong distance. The jockey for today’s race will be Wendorff (17.4%) who recently went over the $2,000,000 mark in earnings for the season.
2)WESTERN GLORY(ENG)—9/1—sksutton sends this colt out of SAHKEE with a record of 13-4-3-3 and lifetime earnings of $154,296. This 82nd divisional ranked colt runs for the ozsteve stables based in Ireland. This colt closed out his 2 year old season with 3 straight allowance wins and then joined the stakes trail in the 2007 season. While always close and knocking at the door he did not pick up his first win of the season until his last start where he won The Rickety S. Special Stakes in Maryland. He posted his lifetime best speed rating 2 starts back in the 8 furlong The Texan Roo Cap Stakes in Athens where he posted a 106 speed rating. This colt is a speed frontrunner who likes to get a quick jump on the field when the gate opens but I am not sure today’s 9 furlong distance is his favorite as he tends to tire in the late stretch. He will have to be rated well and hope for some easy fractions if he want to steal this one on the front end today. The jockey for today’s race will be Newberry (9.4%).
3)DEGOLDENSTORM(KY)—7/1—tenpin4 sends this colt out of DEHERE with a record of 16-9-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $1,774,840. He is out of the mare STORM DANCE who was 1/5 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including 2 Graded stakes winners. This 3rd divisional ranked colt runs for the Great Plains division of RockRiver racing that is overseen by computer whiz JimJ. This 6 time stakes winner of which 4 were Graded stakes winners was the Breeders Bowl Juvenile winner in 2006. He started this year off with a bang by winning both The Grade III Giant Slayer Derby and the Grade II Fountain of Ute but then seemed to tire when he went to the Florida Derby and Bluegrass Derby. He was experimented on the turf in a restricted allowance where he won over a minimum 4 horse field but his speed rating was poor so he returned to the dirt. He posted his lifetime best speed rating of 110 two starts back when he won the 8.5 furlong Grade III Hoover Handicap in Louisiana but then was never a factor last time out while racing in a Grade I Smackdown III event. This colt runs best as a stalker/pace presser but it should be noted that he has never fared well in his 2 races at 9 furlongs or longer albeit they were against the best in the division. The rider for today’s race will be Bussey (7.3%).
4)KING OF ALL MEDIA(FL)—11/1—moneymaker sends this colt out of MASS MEDIA with a record of 21-7-3-2 and lifetime earinings of $805,560. He is out of the he mare CATS THUNDER who was 2/42 at the track and who through the amazing techniques developed at the Simulated Sports Equine clinic was able to foal this fine colt. This 7th divisional ranked colt races for the Fortune500 racing organization. This colt was a 2 time stakes winner in his 2 year old season. He then went on the bluegrass derby trail earlier this year and ended up a respectable 4th in the big race. He failed to match that result in the other 2 legs of the tripe crown but came up big as a 10/1 shot in Ontario while winning The Grade I Princess Cup and posting his lifetime best 104 speed rating over the 10 furlong race. He has appeared fairly flat in his last 2 starts both 6 place finishes and cuts back to 9 furlongs for today’s race. This colt races best as a closer and usually makes a huge field passing stretch drive move when he is on his game. The rider for today’s race will be Cahill (22.2%) who is the leading rider at the meet so far this season.
5)LARRY BOY(KY)—56/1—inzy5 sends this colt out of HARLAN’S HOLIDAY with a record of 16-4-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $137,460. He is out of the mare DERAZO who was 5/30 at the track and who has 2 foals on record of which 1 is a stakes winner. This 116th divisional ranked colt runs for the Flurgen Stables based over with the chatty bunch at CR Racers. This colt won an overnite stakes in Hong Kong in his 2 year old season and will be making his Graded stakes race debut in today’s race. He posted his lifetime best 95 speed rating while finishing 4th in a NW4Y allowance race in Idaho and this mark will need to be drastically improved upon if this colt wants any piece of today’s purse. This colt runs best as a closer and will be running at today’s 9 furlong distance for the 1st time in his career having won previously at 8 furlongs last year. The rider for today’s race will be Lewis (8.9%).
6)XMAST PAST(KY)—7/1—pbcash sends this colt out of GHOSTZAPPER with a record of 12-5-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $173,625. He is out of the mare XMAS MORNING who was 4/18 at the track and who has 2 foals on record of which 1 is a stakes winner. This 103rd divisional ranked colt races for Lenny Evil Empire Racing Group based over at the GR Simsters. This colt picked up his only stakes win earlier this year when he won the 8 furlong The Tale of Two Places Challenge Stakes in Missori. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating last time out while finishing 2nd in The Finger Lakes Mile Stakes in Upper New York. This colt is a front end speed runner who usually gives up ground late in the race and with this his 9 furlong debut, he will have to prove he has the stamina to stay the distance. The rider for today’s race will be Alexander (9.5%).
7)IRONSIDE(KY)—12/1—bigspruce sends this 3 year old colt out of POLISH NAVY with a record of 19-5-2-6 and lifetime earnings of $195,520. He is out of the mare LULA MAE who was 3/35 at the track and who has 2 foals on record, both winners including 1 stakes winner. This 59th divisional ranked colt runs for the Jeffsbarn stables that are supporters of the State Tag Racing Series This colt just missed being a stakes winner in his 2 year old season coming so close a couple of times but finally got the monkey of his back this year when he won The Walter Door Handicap stakes over 10 furlongs in Louisiana earlier this year. He has come back with back to back top 3 finished in Graded stakes events including a third place finish in The Grade II Buckeye Derby two starts back where he posted his lifetime best 105 speed rating over the 9 furlong contest. This colt is another front running speed horse and while he has wired a field at the 10 furlong distance he has given up ground late in his last 2 starts, both 9 furlong Graded stakes events. He will have company on the front end today and that will not help this ones chances today. The rider for today’s race will be Lewis (9.2%).
8)MR.EKO(IRE)—5/1—pointe sends this colt out of STREET CRY(IRE) with a record of 21-10-0-2 and lifetime earnings of $1,115,710. He is out of the mare JUNGFRAU who was 3/57 at the track and this is the only foal on record. This 5th divisional ranked colt runs for the unafilliated TMP stables. This colt was a 3 times stakes winner in his 2 year old season. He picked up another overnite stakes and then won The Grade II Texas Derby before extending out in distance and trying the Bluegrass Derby. He was unable to handle that race and was quickly cut back in distance for his next starts. He became a Grade I winner 2 starts back when he won The Grade I It’s My Birthday And I’ll Cry If I Want To Stakes in Kentucky where he wired a 7 horse field over 9 furlongs. He came back last time out for Sim History Day where he posted his lifetime best 107 speed rating in The 8 furlong Supertoy’s Raceout Classic in Louisiana. While this colt did show speed in his Grade I win earlier this year I would expect with the abundance of speed in this race that he will revert to his usual stalking style and sit just off the leaders and then make a move down the stretch. He has won at the 9 furlong distance already in his career. The rider for today’s race will be Calloway (8.8%).
9)CHANGE YOUR MIND(KY)—12/1—slowhand sends this colt out of CONSOLIDATOR who has a record of 7-2-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $144,934. This 97th divisional ranked colt is a stablemate of #6 XMAS PAST over at Lenny’s Evil Empire Stables based at the GR Simsters. This colt was unraced at 2 and will be looking for his 1st stakes win of his career today. In his last start he finished 2nd in The Grade II Mountainous Derby in West Virginia wheer he posted his lifetime best 106 speed rating. He has cashed a minor cheque in all 4 of his lifetime stakes starts. He is a closer who sits back early and there will be alot of speed to chase down in this race today. He showed a big improvement when stretched out to 9 furlongs last time out and with only 7 starts so far under his belt it is expected that this colt’s best runs are still ahead of him. The rider for today’s race will be Moore (10.8%).
10)IF YOU DARE(KY)—12/1—bigmoose3 sends this colt out of TOUCH GOLD with a record of 9-3-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $105,800. This 135th divisional ranked colt races for my fellow BTB reporter Squirrel, in the GR Simsters division of her Squirrel Stables. This colt won his MSW race in his 3rd try and debut race in his 3 year old season. He has added 2 more wins including a win in The Prospector Paunchi Cap Stakes in Wyoming over 9.5 furlongs. He posted his lifetime best 102 speed rating 2 starts back when finishing 3rd in The Grade III Hollywoods Knights Classic overseas in Germany. In her last start she represented the GR Simsters in Smackdown III but he could not overcome the 42 day layoff and the overseas travel and finished a flat 6th. Today’s race will be another 42 day layoff and it is hoped that his connections kept him fit on the training track leading up to this race. This colt runs best as a closer who starts making his mover early in the far turn and with the expected fast pace today should have some speed to run at here today. He is a 3 time winner in the 9-9.5 furlong distance so that should not be a factor today. The rider for today’s race will be Clay (8.1%).
11)EUROTRASH(KY)—5/1—roberto sends this colt out of EUROSILVER with a record of 17-7-1-5 and lifetime earnings of $570,792. He is out of the mare DEAR STORM who was 7/33 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 3 are winners including 1 Graded stakes winner. This 52nd divisional ranked colt runs for the Queensland division of Theatrical’s Stables. This colt began his career on the dirt winning 3 straight overnite stakes races to close out his 2 year old campaign. After failing to improve when debuting this year his connections switched this colt to the turf. He has posted 6 triple digit speed ratings in 8 starts since and is a multiple Graded winner on the grass having won The Grade II Ascot Mile and The Grade II Bean Sprout Turf Cup earlier this year. He posted his lifetime best 107 speed rating while finishing 3rd in a Smackdown III competion race over 8 furlongs on the turf. In his last start he finished well back and was never a factor in a Grade II 8 furlong turf stakes which has prompted his connections to make a surface change to the dirt here today. He takes on some extra distance here today and his only other career race this long to date was a poor effort earlier this year. A lot of question marks come with this horse but with over a half million in the bank and a stakes winner on both surfaces you have to respect this one’s abilities. His best races are run in a stalking style. The jockey for today’s race will be Mosebar (11.6%).
12)ATOWNCALLEDBEDROCK(KY)—18/1—wfstables3 sends this colt out of ROCK HARD TEN with a record of 8-3-2-1 and lifetime earnings of $302,770. He is out of the he mare THE EVANATOR G who was 1/36 at the track and who received the patented “Yesterday I was a stallion, today I am a mare” surgery at the Simulated Sports Equine Clinic under the care of the intuitive Dr M Wallace. This 46th divisional ranked colt races over at the GR Simster racing orgainization. This colt broke his maiden in the slop as a 2 year old and has picked up a pair of allowance wins so far this year. While this colt will be looking for his first stakes win here today he has picked up a pair of 2nd place finishes in black type races including a 2nd place finish in The Grade I Florida Derby earlier this year where he posted a 96 speed rating, just one off his lifetime best mark. While he has made the most of his starts he will need to be faster to match others in this race today. He does have a win at today’s distance already but will have to contend with several other speedy frontrunners that should make for a lively pace in this race today. The rider for today’s race will be Schell (12.4%).
13)GOGO GIZMO(NY)—20/1—congaree2 sends this colt out of MIDAS EYES with a record of 18-4-0-3 and lifetime earnings of $160,448. This 76th divisional ranked colt races for the Demoney Racing Stables based over at the GR Simsters. This colt was a stakes winner in his 2 year old season and picked up a Graded stakes win early this year. Unfortunately he was not able to live up to his promise as he did not cash a cheque in his next 6 starts albeit against some of the best horses in the division. He came back last time out to wire a NW2N allowance field posting his lifetime best 102 speed rating over the 7 furlong sprint on the dirt. With his best races being on the front end and the abundance of speed here today and with his inability to carry his speed this far it will be a tall task to ask of this colt today. The rider for today’s race will be Riggs (9.4%).
14)SHEEBAH’S GOLD(KY)—20/1—rharfbeam2 sends this colt out of STEPHEN GOT EVEN with a record of 10-3-2-2 and lifetime earnings of $169,977. He is out of the mare BARELY THE SUGAR who was 3/13 at the track and who has 3 foals on record of which 2 are winners including 1 stakes winner. This 133rd divisional ranked colt races for the Rharfo stables based over at the CR Racers racing club. This colt broke his maiden at 2 and became a stakes winner earlier this year when winning The Jay’s Slew Challenge Stakes in New York over 9.5 furlongs on the dirt. He posted his lifetime best 100 speed rating in the 3rd leg of the triple crown, The Grade I New Yorker where he finished 4th albeit over 10 lengths of the lead. He took a 6 week break after that race and then finished 6th in a Smackdown Grade I dirt route and 5 weeks later is entered in today’s race. All 3 of his wins have come at the 8-9.5 furlong distance suggesting he may be more comfortable with today’s distance. He is also a closer who will have plenty of speed to chase here today and perhaps may be the price horse to include in your exotic wagering today. The rider for today’s race will be Ward (7.1%).
Well the name of today’s race is Winchester and the pace will be as fast as a speeding bullet as many here will be looking to get there noses out front early in today’s race. While this race could set up for the favortie MR.EKO(KY) I am going to lean another way and go with #1 ALL FLAGS GOLD(KY) and hope he stays sharp of his last start and takes advantage of the quick pace to show his late strong move here today.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO