Who Will Go Missing in this Field of Twelve in the $100,000 ESR Where’s Barb Stakes

A field of Twelve Older Horses will enter the Big Apple starting gate in the $100,000 ESR Where’s Barb Stakes.  The race will be run at Ten Furlongs over the Dirt Course.

TRASCENDENTAL – the ivanyamil trained 5 Year Old Roan Horse by Tapit is making his 4^th ESR Stakes appearance, with his best finish being second place run in the ESR Launch Acceleration Stakes back in March of 2017, finishing ahead of the highly regarded G1 winner FREEDOM TOUR; the 2016 Equinics representative returns to his optimal distance after a 4^th place finish in the 11-furlong Euler Dirt Stayer LTO and should fit in well with these…chance off best

SUNSET GOLD – the kingab trained 5 Year Old Brown Horse by Gold Allure has hit the board in each of his last ten starts including victories in the Keep Rubbing Dirt Memorial and Damp Centerfold Dirt Endurance Stakes; the winner of over $500k in career earnings is making his 15^th consecutive stakes appearance and first start in an ESR Stakes; a second place finish to the multi graded stakes winner LUCKY I’M HERE in the 10-frulong Danger Zone Dirt Route back in December distinguishes the JPN-bred as a major threat in the ESR feature…dangerous

MADCAP NOTION – the trotter1 trained 4 Year Old Bay Colt by Pioneerof the Nile out of the multi-G1 winning mare WAKI NOTION (Miswaki) has never quite lived up to his expectations and is looking for his first stakes victory in his 21^st career start; the KY-bred does enter this field matching a career best 112-speed figure and does some of his best racing at this distance…chance off last

BODEMAESTRO – the 7 Year Old Bay Horse by Bodemeister has struggled in recent starts at the graded level, but last I checked, this is a Listed Stakes where the KY-bred has recorded victories in 5 of his last nine starts; the winner of the G3 Premier boasts the only Graded victory in this field and has dominated this level of racing for the bristolred connections, distinguishing him as the main threat in the ESR feature…one to beat

SICILIAN WAY – the frankster trained 4 Year Old Brown Colt by Honor Code brings a two race win streak into this field, one coming in the Wassies Rainbow G Dirt Memorial two races back; the KY-bred’s career really took off when he started racing at distances of 11-furlongs and up, so it will be curious to see if he can continue that same dominance that earned him a spot in the 2018 Equinics while turning back to 10-furlongs…in top form

SPINNING SUNDAY – there is no question the 5 Year Old Bay Horse by Great Journey is effective racing at 10-furlongs finishing ITM in 6 of his 7 starts at this distance including two allowance wins over the Poly, the question is, can the kody trained FR-bred compete against stake rivals in his first Stakes appearance…your call

CASINO COMPANION – the casino trained 4 Year Old Bay Colt by Union Rags keeps moving closer to that coveted first stakes victory, his last his best, a third place finish in his 7^th stakes appearance, in the Sad Sal Dirt Mile LTO; his main obstacle this time around is whether really wants to go past a Mile; the KY-bred has tired badly in all his races at 9-furlongs and greater…may need shorter

ONEGIANTLEAPFORMAN – the pointblank trained 4 Year Old Bay Colt by Malibu Moon has struggled to find his form in recent starts and has failed to hit the board in 9 career stakes appearances; the KY-bred turned in a useful effort in the Flygrooms Goldie Dirt Route two races back against a solid field, but his last effort nullifies any thought of him excelling in the 10-furlong ESR feature…poor form

GATLING CADET – the lightly raced 4 Year Old Bay Colt by Awesome Again kicked off his career in fine fashion finishing first or second in 7 of his first 12 career starts; the speedy KY-bred has struggled competing at the next level finishing far back in the Seattles Pegasus Dirt Route and Rusty Around Rat Dirt Route respectively in his last two starts; the cadet trainee should once again look to control the early pace, the question is whether he is good enough to hold off the late closers…must show more

HERE COMES WHO – the recent irisharse auction purchase may have found the fountain of youth in New York in his last start crushing a field on Local Breds at the Allowance level in his 30^th career appearance; the 6 Year Old Brown Horse by Here Comes Ben makes only his 3^rd stakes appearance, and while a top three finish is unlikely, I wouldn’t put anything past the Horse Whisperer…here comes who????

CITY COLLEGE CADET – the ace racing stables took a chance when they won a $25k claim for the then cadet owned 5 Year Old Bay Horse by City Zip; despite a second place finish in the Brabawells Dirt Memorial over a year ago, and an unwanted desire to breed, the cadet connections grew tired of waiting for the KY-bred to fulfill his expectations and was eventually entered in a career low $25k claimer where the ace connections promptly plucked him from the field in hopes of turning a profit over the later stages of his career;  I don’t see this veteran as a threat in this field, but it is a perfect landing spot for a horse looking to dominate in the Starter and Claiming level going forward…would surprise

ROLLING RED CARPET – the 7 Year Old Roan Horse by Tiznow was a $17.5k claim by the sremel racing barn in May of 2017 that quickly paid dividends, winning back to back Starter races in his first two appearances for his new connections; the KY-bred has multiple victories at this distance and does show early foot, but his stakes level days are likely behind him as he seeks his first victory in over a year…overmatched

Handicapping the Field

After careful study of the past performances of this field of twelve, it became obvious that this was a race between two horses, BODEMAESTRO and SUNSET GOLD, both hailing from two of the game’s best training outfits.  I’m splitting hairs here, but through his commanding performances at the Stakes level, I have to give the edge to BODEMAESTRO.

TRASCENDENTAL, MADCAP NOTION, and SICILIAN WAY should battle it out for a minor share while the rest of the field are likely to fill out the Also Ran’s.

SPINNING SUNDAY may provide a longshot opportunity.

The Picks

BODEMAESTRO – strictly the one to beat

SUNSET GOLD – dangerous but may want the race a tad longer

MADCAP NOTION – likes the distance