THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—WEEK 3343
Minnesota continues to feature the 2 year olds in the added money event this week. The 10th race feature is The Her Counties Stakes for 2 year olds who will sprint 5.5 furlongs on the Supertoy 7 Marshall Turf course which has been listed as Firm. A purse of $50,000 is up for grabs.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)SEEKING THE RAT(KY)—7/5—darnath2 sends this colt out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 4-1-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $34,180. He races for the local outfit of Darnath who is a big favorite with his popular purple and gold silks in the Minnesota Backstretch. The stuffed furry rodent doll sales have been brisk at the Minnesota Downs souvenir stand since he has moved his barns here to Minnesota. This colts sire has a 87.3% winners rate with a 17.4% stakes winners rate and a 5.5% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 47.8% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt won his debut MSW race with a nice wire to wire run but then found the going more difficult in his next 2 starts in overnite stakes company. This may have been due to the fact that both tracks were off as last time out back on a fast track he finished 3rd in The Perfect Ant Cap posting a lifetime best 79 speed rating over the 8 furlong race. In that one he cut the early fractions and then tired and with him cutting back to a short sprint today that may be just the ticket to have this one pick up his first added money event. Now to the mystery factor, all of his previous races were on the dirt and he will make his turf debut today, so some may pass on the 7/5 odds to see if he will be able to handle the green stuff. The rider for today’s race will be Stinson (9.3%).
2)FLAPJACK BG(TUR)—4/1—bobg8 sends this colt out of MOUNTAIN CAT with a record of 5-2-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $29,310. This colt races for the bob123g stables based over in Kentucky with the Kentucky Horseman. This colts sire has a 79.6% winners rate with a 7.8% stakes winners rate. This year 51.4% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. After debuting with a mediocre dirt race this colt was switched to the turf and quickly picked up back to back allowance wins. He has raced in 2 overnite stakes races since picking up minor cheques in both. He posted his lifetime best 76 speed rating last time out while finishing 3rd in the 6 furlong The Jonathon’s Spring Stakes on the turf. He usually cuts the early fractions and faded late last time out so he has been cut back a half furlong for this race today. The jockey for today’s race will be the apprentice Cothill (16.45) who is enjoying a very good first season in the saddle at Minnesota Downs.
3)GIVE ME A REASON(KY)—2/1—4gone sends this colt out of AFLEET ALEX with a record of 4-1-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $27,385. He is out of the mare SENORITA LITTLE who was 4/19 at the track and who has 5 foals on record, all winners. This colt runs for the Shamrock stables based over at the GR Simsters. This colt’s sire has a 54.2% winners rate with a5.6% stakes winners rate and a 1.1% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 39.4% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt picked up his MSW win in his 2nd lifetime start and has started in 2 turf sprint overnite stakes since then. He posted his lifetime best 75 speed rating last time out while finishing 2nd in The Aberlour Challenge Stake over 6 furlongs. He cuts back in distance here today and has shown that he can sit behind the early speed in a stalking position which may help him here today if a few of these decide to battle it out on the front end. The rider for today’s race will be Bowen (19.5%) who is in the lead in the local Minnesota riders title, but only by 1 win as this title looks like it will go right down to the last week of racing this year.
4)NEPTUNE’S HERO(KY)—7/2—opinora sends this colt out of ANDROMEDA’S HERO with a record of 5-2-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $46,920. He is out of the mare STORMY SEA who was 7/30 at the track and this is the only foal on record to date. This 148th divisional ranked colt races for the Navanora stables based in Vermont at The Pastures of Green. This colt’s sire has a 23.3% winners rate in his first year to stud and he has yet to sire any stakes winners to date. While this colt started on the turf in the Vermont Freshman Sire series he has been switched to the turf for his last 3 starts. He won his debut turf start in a NW2L allowance and then has picked up one 3rd place cheque in his last 2 starts, both turf overnite stakes races. His speed ratings have been 71-72 in all 3 of his turf starts. While he has shown speed in his last 2 starts, he did rate from off the pace in his turf allowance win, also at this 5.5 furlong distance and that strategy may be the best choice to be used today. The rider for today’s race will be Friar (18.3%) who is involved in a neck and neck battle for the riding title here this season.
5)MUMSTHEWORD(ENG)—8/1—svdstables sends this filly out of BAHAMIAN BOUNTY(GB) with a record of 2-1-1-0 and lifetime earnings of $19,805. This filly races for the local stables of JRodneyg who is know as Fred in the Minnesota backstretch. His yellow/green and turquoise silks are a fan favorite here at the Downs. This filly’s sire has a 23.8% winners rate and has yet to sire any stakes winners. This year 20% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. Well, this will be the only filly in the race against 4 colts. She has raced in 2 MSW 5.5 furlong sprints, winning the second one where she wired a field and posted a 70 speed rating. Whether she can handle the boys at this stage in her career has yet to be seen and if she decides to go to the front early there will be others joining her out of the gate. Still, she is racing at home and would bring a nice return should she win for her backers today. The rider for today’s race will be the apprentice Bluehorse (0%) who will be looking for her 1st win on today’s mount.
NOTE #1 SEEKING THE RAT(KY) AND #5 MUMSTHEWORD(ENG) ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE 200 CREDIT MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCY PURSE SUPPLEMENT.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCE THIS WEEK
Well, last week the Mountains of Money contest ended and with no surprise come from behind scores Tseals ended up the champion with a total of $223.70 which earned him 800 credits and Dundey ended up in second place with $183.90 which earned him 200 credits. A new 16 week contest will start this week.
The No Mercy Handicapping Contest Final will play this week between Pazjazz and Wenlock and the race they have to handicap is 3343.4705. 600 credits will be awarded to the winner.
Darnath just missed winning last weeks 10th race feature by a nose in his bid to win back to back 200 credit purse supplement in the minny stakes feature. He is one of two local horses entered this week to try his luck again at the purse bonus.
Dundey won the high speed rating contest last week with his horse RATS TO RICHES who posted a whopping 108 speed rating. That win earned him a 200 credit prize.
This weeks Chuckrock horse of the week goes to “Sometimes i like to spot horses before they turn into a great horse so that i can say ‘I saw him run way back when..” That is how I feel about the following horse. A filly by Redoute’s Choice in the johnno2 stable, A LOVELY CITY(AUS) is now 2 for 2, with this last win coming in an allowance in Ontario. she posted a 74 over 6 furlongs on the turf. it is hard to not like a horse that is undefeated, but what i especially like is that she won easier stretching out a half furlong. I think this filly has a bright future. congrats to A Lovely city and Johnno.” We had still not gotten in touch with Johnno for a reply at presstime due to the time difference in his hometown in Australia. Congrats Johnno.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO