Francua Chronicles: Breeder’s Bowl is Upon Us!
Kind of a short write up this week as I’m heading out of town to Georgia to visit the in-laws. Exciting times as this week produced a fantastic result out of one of my three stakes runners. I also had some great performances from a couple of other two year olds along with some former claimers starting to really catch their stride.
The wait is almost over as next week’s write up will include the results of TURN EM’ LOOSE who’s running in the BB Turf Juvenile. I’m also sending a couple of two year olds out for their first try against stakes runners.
Weekly Record: 39-6-2-5
Weekly Win = 15.3%
ITM % = 33.3%
Last Weeks’ Watch List:
ESPIRI (IRONICUS x CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) x EXCELLENT ART) – This week he got the stretch out to 8 furlongs in his first attempt against stakes company and he crushed it! He’d go on to run one of the fastest speed figs (98) of any two year old this season and earn that SW badge taking down the Hey Zeus Turf Juvenile.
NEW MEXICAN MORN (SLEEPLESS MORN x ARCH x AWESOME AGAIN) – He got a nice bump up in class running in the Cryptozot Dirt Mile. Unfortunately he was severely outclassed in this one as he’d turn in his worst performances since joining the barn. He ended up finishing dead last posting a 97 speed fig. He’ll be moved back to local runners in his next.
UNION GONE WILD (UNION RAGS x WILD AGAIN x A.P. INDY) – He gave stakes a go for the first time running in the Fact of a Matter Mile and he disappointed as well. He’d run 8th posting only an 84 speed fig. Starting to think he just may not be as talented as I think he is at this point in his career. I think I’m going to cut the distance back to 7.5 furlongs and run him back with allowance company in his next.
FRANCUA’S ARCH (ARCH x CAPOTE x EL PRADO) – Well the one I was worried about beat her pretty easily but there was two more who were able to outlast her late charge in the stretch. She’d finish 4th by 3.5 lengths and put up a 91 speed fig.
Studs:
SEEKING MISSCHIEF (INTO MISCHIEF x SEEKING THE GOLD x SHIRLEY HEIGHTS) – Her experience going 6 furlongs look to be what put her over the top in this one as she was able to break the maiden posting an 82 speed fig. The jump into the 80s was a very nice improvement as she’d been consistently running in the low 70s for her first few races.
TEMPERANCE GOLD (BAYERN x MEDAGLIA D’ORO x KRIS S.) – The switch to dirt has proven to be very fruitful as she has now won her 2nd race in as many tries routing on the dirt. This week saw her win a 100K NW4L in which she closed from off the pace and scored a 97 speed fig.
QUALITY RAGS (ELUSIVE QUALITY x UNION RAGS x STORM CAT) – He was a nice winner this week taking down an allowance NW1x against a weaker group. Probably going to keep him in allowance company until he proves he’s able to pick up the speed fig over 100.
DITTYBOPPER (MIDSHIPMAN x ALYSHEBA x DEPUTY MINISTER) – First time against winners saw him finish 3rd by about two lengths in a 3rd place effort. Speed fig regressed from 71 to 70 but it was encouraging to see him continue to be competitive.
FRITZY’S WILDCAT (D’WILDCAT x MINER’S MARK x FLYING PASTER) – A great run on the turf against 125K NW2L claimers that saw her close from off the pace and get the bob in a victory. I may bump her into allowance company while going a bit further as she seems to like closing from off the pace.
FATE IS CUNNING (CARPE DIEM x DIXIE UNION x PRIVATE ACCOUNT) – Easy spot for her against only 3 other runners at 5.5 furlongs at the allowance NW1x level. She would go on to wire the field at 3-5 for her 2nd victory.
APPROACH THE LIGHT (DAWN APPROACH (IRE) x FANTASTIC LIGHT x CAPOTE) – The switch to routing has proven to be helpful as she’s achieved a 2nd place finish and now a 3rd place finish. She ran a career high 82 speed fig this week which was encouraging as well.
Duds:
MACGREGOR (MACLEAN’S MUSIC x HARLAN’S HOLIDAY x GALILEO (IRE)) – Gave him his shortest distance yet along with a nice class drop and he continued to disappoint. This time he’d run only a 60 speed fig in a 4th place finish against only 3 other horses. He’s going to get a shot on the turf in hopes that something changes for the better, otherwise it might be time to geld and drop into claimers.
SKULLY (HELMET (AUS) x SYMBOLI KRIS x FERDINAND) – Like the guy above him he’s done nothing but go backwards since his promising debut. He got a switch to dirt this week and didn’t show much of anything. He’d run a 52 speed fig finishing 6th by 9 lengths.
TWO STONES SALOON (NYQUIST x TAPIT x HARLAN’S HOLIDAY) – Tough run this week for a filly who’d had three consecutive runs ITM. She finished 6th by 7 lengths going 7.5 furlongs against allowance NW3L’s. I’ll probably have to bring her back to the 6.5-7 furlong range in order to keep her competitive at this level.
DANCING KAT (KITTEN’S JOY x DANEHILL DANCER x MACHIAVELLIAN) – Cut the distance to 7 furlongs after she didn’t survive the 8 furlong route in her last. This one didn’t go much better though as she caught a “good” track and ended up finishing 5th by 2 lengths.
Watch List:
UNTAMED KINGDOM (ANIMAL KINGDOM x PLEASANT COLONY x SHARPEN UP) – Ran a big race first time on turf to bust the maiden and returns to the track this week to run against winners on the turf going a mile.
TURN EM’ LOOSE (CARAVAGGIO x WRITTEN TYCOON (AUS) x KINGMAMBO) – The pride and joy of my barn returns to the track to run in the BB Juvenile Turf this Friday. At odds of 19-1 the bettors aren’t too keen on my guy.
ROBIX (HARD SPUN x ELUSIVE QUALITY x FOREST WILDCAT) – This gal is running in the Moonring Dirt juvenile stakes this weekend. This is her first crack at stakes company and she’ll need her best in order to wire this group going 6 furlongs.
IMPULSE TO SWEAR (SWEAR (AUS) x FRAC DADDY x DYNAFORMER) – He ran a big 81 speed fig going 7 furlongs in a win against 150K NW2L claimers. Because of his consistent improvement he’s earned my confidence and will run in the Audacious Turf Juvenile Stakes.
MAGNETIC MOON (MALIBU MOON x STREET CRY x STORM BIRD) – He ran a nice closing race going 6.5 furlongs on the dirt in his last but failed to get in the money. I think he’s yelling at me for distance and for that reason we are going to try routing.