Great Horses and Great Names in This GII!
Camel Juvenile Stakes
Grade II
One mile on the Fast Dirt Course
$200,000
All horses, 2 years old
Stakes record – 2005 – Half A World Away, 1:36-1/5, SPF 94.195
We have a really interesting field here with some up an comers in the two year old ranks. I love some of the names in this field. Check out the definition of PYRRHIC VICTORY at the end of the preview. It appears that the early speed will all be coming from the last three post positions which always makes things interesting at the break. It could look like sale day on the the Friday after Thanksgiving early. There are some really promising youngsters here so let’s take a look:
1 – GIDEON’S TRUMPET(KY) ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED EARNINGS RANK 5/1 FloralPark 9.1% G.Ayso 346 – 34 – 33 – 32 – 10% 87.29 $76,620 92
(AWESOME AGAIN x FORTY NINER x SECRETARIAT) Former Stakes winner that is getting his second try at both the Graded circuit and the mile on clay. His Stakes victory was at six and a half furlongs and he may like that distance a bit better as he actually took a step back SPF-wise last time out when he finished a respectable fourth in the TRIXY DELIGHTS GIII. Trainer FloralPark has to believe that this nicely bred chestnut colt can handle the extra distance. Jockey Ayso is in the leather and is quite capable with these youngsters. The colt likes to run from off of the pace and you would think he would appreciate the mile distance. This is his chance to show it,
| 2 – DOLLIS HILL(JPN) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | Liam | 12.5% | S.L.Ledwith | 573 – 120 – 98 – 85 – 21% | 85.54 | $140,490 | 91 |
(AFLEET x DEPUTY MINISTER x STORM CAT out of RED DUHLERT) Trainer Liam’s colt has a sister in FLIP WAH who I covered in a GIII last week. Successful Broodmare RED DUHLERT has to be proud of this son who has now won Stakes races on both surfaces. The big colt has never finished lower than fifth and has three wins in just five races. He also has Ledwith holding the reins and the jockey is definitely one of the best at this big time track. This will be the first time at a mile but he handled seven and half so effortlessly last time out that you would think this would be a breeze. He has eagerly accepted everything thrown at him and I don’t see a reason he won’t be in the mix at the end this time.
| 3 – BADRINATH(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/1 | Peeps8 | 20.7% | G.Harmon | 238 – 15 – 25 – 22 – 6% | 82.87 | $40,200 | 231 |
(GHOSTZAPPER x MR. PROSPECTOR x NIJINSKY II) This GHOSTZAPPER colt has won his first two before a disappointing eighth in the Smackdown III Stakes last time out. Upon further review, that loss wasn’t as lopsided as it appears as the colt ran a sizzling 83 SPF and just faded in the stretch to only five lengths back in a hotly contested race. Trainer Peeps8 is stretching him out to a mile for the first time and will see how he responds after that effort last time out. They will have to overcome Harmon in the saddle who is having one of his worst years in his fifteen of experience and you have to wonder if the long career is finally catching up to him. Lots of questions here.
| 4 – RUN FOR PRESIDENT(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1 | Barba | 9.1% | A.Cross | 70 – 7 – 4 – 12 – 10% | 87.54 | $ 41,700 | 205 |
( JOHANNESBURG x FOREST WILDCAT x RAJA BABA out of WHAT A WILDCAT) This colt with the really neat name is undefeated in two tries and ran a lightning quick 87+ SPF last time out. Trainer Barba has to be excited about this colts prospects and stretches him out past six furlongs for the first time here. He is a deep closer that likes to burn up the stretch and jockey Cross who has proven capable with these youngsters will have to pace him to make sure that he has enough left over the longer distance. This is a colt that could easily surprise a few folks in this race with double digit odds.
| 5 – MOUR OF THE CAFF(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/1 | Corzacan | 10.2% | A.Lyles | 69 – 4 – 6 – 9 – 6% | 75.24 | $ 11,480 | N/A |
( AZAMOUR (IRE) x DESERT KING (IRE) x GRAND LODGE (IRE) out of GRAND CAFFREY’S) One of two entries flashing the red and black silks of the Corza Stables, this filly is taking a shot at the boys on clay after having only run on the green stuff to date. She has shown steady improvement but it remains to be seen if trainer Corazcan knows something that we don’t with the change to dirt in this race. Unlike most in this race, she has already gone around two turns so has that under her belt. She has Lyles up and his record leaves a bit to be desired in the jockey game. This race looks to be a test for the filly in a number of ways.
| 6 – CREASE INFRACTION(ENG) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/1 | RHFarms | 14.4% | Q.Cassell | 522 – 70 – 82 – 70 – 13% | 80.88 | $40,385 | 50 |
( DUBAI DESTINATION x SWAIN (IRE) x SEATTLE SLEW out of DOWN UNDER) I love the name of this colt who reminds me of one of those rink rat hockey players that just won’t quit ‘til they get the puck in the net. He has shown to be scrappy with lots of heart in his four previous races with no finish off the board. At his first two turn trip last time out, he just missed a Stakes win as he was passed down the stretch on a muddy track. Trainer RHFarms has to love the way this colt gives it everything he’s got and with Cassell holding the reins this could be a team to be reckoned with at generaous odds in this race. He has already run over an 80 SPF and could be a surprise here.
| 7 – DISTORTED WAVE(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | TexasAce02 | 50.0% | D.Lakencher | 208 – 23 – 21 – 25 – 11% | 86.21 | $85,980 | 95 |
( DISTORTED HUMOR x SEATTLE SLEW x NUREYEV out of WAVE ON WAVE) Trainer TexasAce02 is the current star of the Lone Star Racing conglomerate with an amazing fifty percent win percentage. He saddles this nicely bred colt for the fourth time with a Stakes win and a speedy 86+ SPF already on his resume. This will be the next step in his steady progression of distances and he has the capable hands of Lakencher holding the reins. All in all, this colt looks like a challenger in this race and it remains to be seen how he likes the extra distance against this crowd.
| 8 – MOUR OF THE STARS(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/1 | CThomas | 6.0% | B.Friedrich | 92 – 8 – 10 – 9 – 9% | 73.71 | $ 11,760 | N/A |
( AZAMOUR (IRE) x GALILEO (IRE) x DISTORTED HUMOR out of FALLING SPEED) Our second entry from the Corza empire, this colt from second year sire AZAMOUR will also be trying his first race on the clay. He took a big step back last time out after winning his maiden with a disappointing eighth place finish and 63 SPF in the GIII Finnish Line Stakes. Trainer CThomas had to be shaking his head over that one and will try to straighten things out with a change of distance and surface here. He has Friedrich guiding and he is trying to figure a few things out in his own career. It appears that there are more questions to be answered in this race than I would like to see in a young colt.
| 9 – CRAZY MINER(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24/1 | Djiin | 4.0% | Z.Edwards | 117 – 10 – 12 – 10 – 9% | 70.04 | $ 13,980 | N/A |
( STORMIN FEVER x FORTY NINER x ALLEGED out of NO TICKLING) After easily winning his maiden race, this colt jumped up to Graded status with disappointing results. He increased his SPF to 70 but finished closer to the back than the front. Now trainer Djiin is stretching him out to a mile to see if that does the trick. He will have to give jockey Edwards instruction try and find the best route for the colt as he won as a stalker and failed as a deep closer. Edwards is having some of his own problems this year with a win percentage a couple points lower than his average. The line on this duo seems to be headed for trouble.
| 10 – MOOSE TRACKS(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19/1 | PullAway3 | 10.7% | B.Addison | 73 – 2 – 5 – 10 – 3% | 74.64 | $ 39,010 | N/A |
( STREET CRY (IRE) x COZZENE x SADLER’S WELLS our of SOUTHBOUND MOOSE) Great name of my favorite Ice Cream! This beautiful charcoal colored colt won his first two, one on an off track then faded last time out when stretched out to a mile. He loves the lead and this post won’t help much there either. I’m afraid that jockey Addison has his work cut out for him as this colt seems to prefer the sprints. I’m not sure what Addison prefers as his win percentage this year is barely making a blip on the life line. Trainer PullAway3 should get some answers here about the black colt.
| 11 – GHOSTLY SPEED(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/1 | SoCalMan | 27.5% | M.Hull | 113 – 12 – 9 – 14 – 11% | 82.05 | $ 56,070 | 112 |
( GHOSTZAPPER x MACHIAVELLIAN x BUCKPASSER out of MACH ONE) I’m not sure that the Morning Line is giving this colt his due as the nicely bred horse has two wins and a close second in a Stakes. He has shown marked improvement every time out for trainer SoCalMan and won an allowance last time out at this distance with a very acceptable 82 SPF. Jockey Hull is in the irons and has a nice record as well. The biggest drawback is his front running style from the outside but all of the early speed is on the outside here so he may benefit from that. This colt may be a good one to put in your trifecta bet.
| 12 – DE FU(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | Minnesota | 10.7% | H.Harzheim | 614 – 168 – 122 – 85 – 27% | 88.63 | $ 190,500 | 17 |
( DEHERE x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x CANNONADE) The only question about this colt is how far he is willing to run. After winning his first three including a Stakes and Graded II, he moved up to seven furlongs and floundered in the stretch in a GI. Trainer Minnesota had to be disappointed in what looked like a sterling season to that point. He is still ranked in the top 20 and has the amazingly magical hands of H. Harzheim holding the reins. If this colt can go a mile than Harzheim will bring him home. Another front runner from the outside, it may be a race to the rail between this colt and GHOSTLY SPEED who will be just inside of him. Hopefully, he can save something for the stretch run this time.
| 13 – PYRRHIC VICTORY(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/1 | KF | 13.8% | P.Chute | 66 – 7 – 5 – 4 – 11% | 88.84 | $116,560 | 12 |
(VICTORY GALLOP x DANZIG x FORTY NINER out of CATHARSIS) Way out in the thirteen hole is the favorite in the race and with good reason. This nicely bred colt has already out earned his Mom in only five races and is number 12 in the juvenile rankings. He has never finished lower than third in a race and has three wins including two Stakes. He just missed being a Graded winner last time out when he was nipped at the wire by BROADWAY DANCER in the Trixy Delights GIII. Trainer KF has brought him along nicely and he performed well at a mile in that aforementioned race. P.Chute is in the leather and has been solid this year. Another speed horse on the outside, the break should be interesting in this race.
Morning Line = 1-7-13-2-3
Paz Picks = 13-11-7-12
This is an awfully hard race to handicap as so many of these youngsters have yet to run a mile. I like DE FU to finish fourth although he may finish much better. I would like to see him with another race at this distance. DISTORTED WAVE is showing some consistency with his speed but is another that has to prove at this distance. It is hard to bet against trainer TexasAce02 right now though, especially with Harzheim in the saddle. It is rare that I will put two speed horses at the top of my card but in this race I will make an exception. I like GHOSTLY SPEED as he continues to improve and looks great this week. That leaves the win for PYRRHIC VICTORY who looks like he has enough going for him to stay in front throughout the race. A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with devastating cost to the victor, let’s hope that isn’t the case here!
Good luck to all runners!
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