Francua Chronicles: Win% Rises and ITM % Decreases

This week brought us some of my more interesting runners, such as the bounce victim that was MACGREGOR and the promising UNION GONE WILD. It was also a fun week that saw some new additions come to the barn as Kody, Davarto, and SJMeola all gifted me some runners.

Results this week were different than any week of the past as for the first time I ended with more victories than 2^nd or 3^rd place finishes. So while it’s a good thing that the win% is increasing it was kind of crappy that my overall ITM % was down by about 10% in comparison to the season. If this week has taught me anything it’s that I’, clearly expecting way too much out of some of the less talented ones in my barn. Next week I take a shot at graded company with TURN EM’ LOOSE and an interesting 2-year old by the name of JESTER’S DANCE attempts a mile against winners after breaking the maiden at first asking.

 

Weekly Record -41-6-4-1

Weekly Win % = 14.6%

ITM % = 26.8%

 

Last Weeks’ Watch List:

UNION GONE WILD (UNION RAGS x WILD AGAIN x A.P. INDY) – After the lack luster performance in the G3 Bashford Manor I decided to stretch him out and let him run two turns. He ran in an 8 furlong 67K allowance race that saw him stalk and close to second place and post up an 88 speed fig. 88 is by far the highest any of my 2-year olds have posted this year and the only horse that got by him was a monster that goes by the name of MARIA’S BORREGO (91 speed fig) who had a little more experience then him at two turns. A mile seems to be his sweet spot so I’ll more than likely keep him here in his next.

 

MACGREGOR (MACLEAN’S MUSIC x HARLAN’S HOLIDAY x GALILEO) – He didn’t improve much on that 60 bounce figure as he ended up catching a sloppy track and would finish 11^th by 7 lengths putting up a 66 speed fig. I’ll continue to cut the distance in hopes that it helps him out.

 

SILENT MOTIVE (CREATIVE CAUSE x SUNDAY SILENCE x ECLIPTICAL) – He was given a surface switch to dirt and ran much better posting a 75 speed fig. Problem is that 75 was only good enough for 5^th place leading me to believe he wants less than 6.5 furlongs.

 

SPEARMINT POLO (PIONEEROF THE NILE x RAINBOW QUEST x HIGH TOP) –  I got a little too ambitious with this one stretching her out from 10 furlongs to 14 and she didn’t really do much running. She’d finish a distant 6^th and pretty much walked to the finish line. A cut back is most certainly in her future.

 

ZAPP DADDY (GHOSTZAPPER x SCAT DADDY x TAPIT) – I should’ve gone with my gut, as my original thoughts were that he wants a mile. This guy ran his 7 furlongs and finished 4^th by 4 lengths. Speed fig improved slightly but he seems to be screaming at me for distance.

 

Studs:

HELMET HAIR (HELMET (AUS) x POINT GIVEN x GONE WEST) – Since claiming her for 15K he’s steadily moved up the ranks winning against NW4L 40K claimers last month I gave her a shot this week at 19K allowance NW1x’s. She won this one with relative ease closing from 7 lengths off the pace to get the 8.25 furlongs in 1:39 and 3. He ran a 99 in this one so I’ll bump her up again and hope for the best.

 

GRAB ME ONE (I’LL HAVE ANOTHER x STORM CAT x HILAL (IRE) –  A huge improvement on the switch to turf that saw the speed figs bump up from 60 to 76.  She ran 5.5 furlongs this week and stalked the pace before running away with the victory in a 10 horse field. Up next we will try allowance NW2L’s on the turf to see how she handles things.

 

HOLIDAY ROYALE (VERRAZANO  x WILD AGAIN x SIR IVOR) – This 2 year old gelding out of VERRAZANO came back in a big way after his 2^nd place debut. He sat 6^th lengths off the pace at 2^nd call before making his move and passing everyone for the victory.  He posted an 81 in the victory and will get a crack at allowance runners in his next.

 

CAIRO ROAD (CAIRO PRINCE x QUALITY ROAD x DANEHILL DANCER) – Out of REDEEMING DOLLARS this gelding was given a shot at 8.5 furlongs on the dirt and ran well in the debut. He’d finish 3^rd by 3 lengths. REDEEMING DOLLARS did her best work going 10 furlongs or longer so I’d imagine he’ll get better with some additional distance.

 

FREE DYNOMITE (FREE EAGLE (IRE) x DYNAFORMER x ARENA) – Since getting claimed back in March she’s been a fun little filly that’s had her ups and downs. This week was an up as she posted a career high 96 speed fig and came away victorious against 30K NW3L claimers. We’ve tried allowance in the past and to no avail so I’ll more than likely stick with the claiming ranks for now.

 

AWKS ON FIRE (PYRO x CALEB’S POSSE x HARD SPUN) – Only ran in a 4 horse field this go around but had a much better performance finishing 2^nd by about 2 lengths against Starter Allowance 17K’s. Hoping she turns out to be a solid little earner for me.

 

SKY DIVEN NAKED (MOSLER x FORTY NINER x TOPSIDER) – He had a good performance running 6 furlongs on the dirt that saw him post a 75 speed fig in a 2^nd place finish which gave me reason to bring him back under those same conditions this week. He basically ran the same race scoring a 75 speed fig but only got up for 3^rd place. The plan is to stretch him out to 7 in his next.

 

NAMMY GLOPPER (FRAC DADDY x FROST GIANT x MIDSHIPMAN) – 2 Year old Light gray colt out of the  mare FROST DANCE who ran very well in the debut finishing 2^nd by 2 lengths. I actually bred this one to run in local events in Canada but couldn’t find a spot for him. I came away pleasantly surprised that he ran as well as he did in open company. I’ll give him some more distance to run at in his next to see if that puts him over the hump.

 

BREATHINGLIGHTNING (NORMANDY INVASION x THUNDER GULCH x CANDY RIDE) – After 3 tries against special weights I finally got this girl over the hump by cutting her distance to 4.5 furlongs and moving her into 75K claimers. She’d go on to run a 65 speed fig and win by about a length. Not sure where we are going with her next, but it’s nice to get her a victory.

 

NO SWEARING (MR SPEAKER x ROSES IN MAY x MR. GREELEY) – Out of Sjmeola’s Stakes Winning GREELEY GOOD, he was expected to be pure speed and that he was. He sat less than a length off the pace for the first two calls before making his move and running away from the rest of the field to get the victory by a length and a quarter.

 

 

Duds:

DECORATED CHIEF (PIONEEROF THE NILE X PULPIT x NUREYEV) – Third try was not the charm for this guy as he lost ground in the stretch yet again. The only thing he consistently does is finish 5^th as this week’s race resulted in 3^rd 5^th place performance in as many tries. He’s getting a switch to turf in hopes that he improves in the stretch.

 

SNITZELLIAN (SNITZEL x MACHIAVELIAN x KRIS) – Where do I start? Turf didn’t work in his first two tries, so we gave him a shot on the dirt and while he ran better going 5.5 furlongs it’s pretty evident he wants to go even shorter than that. This week’s race saw him try to run with the leaders but as they hit the turn he’d lose ground and finish 5^th by about 5 lengths.

 

SYDNEY RAIN OS (MANHATTAN RAIN x LONHRO x DYNAFORMER) – After her 3^rd place finish in the debut I thought she wanted more distance and tuned her up a couple of furlongs. I ended up being incorrect and she’d go on to finish 5^th by 7 lengths running 8 furlongs on the turf.

 

DARING PHANTOM – (OPERA HOUSE x STRATUM x STORM CREEK) – She’s out of a filly I had by the name of KIWI STRATUM and after her 2^nd place finish in her debut going 7.5 furlongs I thought she’d enjoy going the 8 furlongs. Turns out she did not as she posted a 72 speed fig and finished 4^th by 9 lengths.

 

SKULLY (HELMET x SYMBOLI KRIS S x FERDINAND) – I’m at a loss with this guy. He ran a 72 in his debut, then bounced to a 53 and just dropped again to a 48 in this week’s race. He’s been getting about 6-7 weeks of rest between races and seems to be coming back worse and worse. I’m going to make a surface switch to dirt in his next but anyone have any ideas on what exactly happened here?

 

A LOT OF CATS (MORNING LINE x NUMEROUS x STORM CAT) – He’s out of the G3 winning mare NUMEROUS II and ran nothing like his momma in the debut. He finished 10^th by 13 lengths going 7 furlongs on the turf. Based on his siblings I’m going to assume he’ll improve with additional distance.

 

ORB OR NOTHING (ORB x END SWEEP x DEPUTY MINISTER) – We tried running 8 furlongs on the dirt in the debut and it did not go well.  He posted up a 56 speed fig and finished dead least by 16.5 lengths. He’s out of WEEPING KY who was a G1 winner so I’m confident he’ll get things figured out at some point.

 

Watch List:

HONORED SOCIETY (CALIFORNIA CHROME x DUNKIRK x MACHIAVELLIAN) – Did much better on the stretch to 7.5 furlongs but still didn’t do enough in the stretch to get up for the victory as he finished 2^nd. He gets an increase in distance to 8.5 furlongs next week.

 

JESTER’S DANCE (DAIWA MAJOR x DANEHILL DANCER x SMART STRIKE) – Ran a 81 in the debut going 7.5 furlongs on the turf. His first crack at winners will be going 8 furlongs on the turf.

 

CHEST CANDY (CANDY RIDE x HENNESSY x SEEKING THE GOLD) – Ran good enough for 2^nd in the most recent posting a 71 speed fig. Will get to stretch her legs a bit as she’ll go 7 on the dirt.

 

TURN EM’ LOOSE (CARAVAGGIO x WRITTEN TYCOON x KINGMAMBO) – Came away with a good looking victory going 7.5 furlongs on the turf in his last. He seems to improve with distance so I’m giving him a shot to run in the G2 Royal Dodge.

 

WAR MAESTRO (WAR FRONT x SMART STRIKE x UNBRIDLED’S SONG) – Comes back to try a mile after the attempt at sprinting 7 furlongs in the debut got him a 2^nd place finish.

 

QUALITY RAGS (ELSUIVE QUALITY x UNION RAGS x STORM CAT) – Since entering the barn back in April she’s been running fantastic posting a record of 5-2-1-1. Most recently she beat 150K NW4L claimers going 7.5 furlongs and posted a 105 speed fig. I decided I’d bump her up a level which means she’ll go against 29K allowance NW1x’s.