Youngsters’ Quest for Stardom-Not Mementary

Seven 2 years old colts will be bidding for stardom in the running of the MOMENTARY QUEST Memorial Stakes.  Despite the name of this event, the stardom that each of these runners is aiming at, is the type that will carry on throughout their career. 

MOMENTARY QUEST, for whom this race honors, was a three hundred thousand dollar earner in only three career wins.  I am sure some of these runners would like to tally earnings in this neighborhood.

Stakes History:  First running of this event

 (Strike the Gold x Mt. Livermore)

Off the board in his last two starts, but the competition was tough.  He will be ask to stretch it out beyond six furlongs for the first time, and it remains to be seen if he can handle this request.  One positive note is that he has been consistent and closer to the leader than some of his final positions may indicate.

 (Flying Spur (Aus) x Coronado’s Quest)

Two starts with a win and second as results, this colt may be on the verge of becoming something special.  He has yet to be tested on the turf, so his better days may be ahead of him.  In his two starts, he has kept his head close to lead, so I am curious to see how he responds to a future situation, where he has to rally from behind horses. 

 (Pleasantly Perfect x War Chant)

Won an allowance race at a mile, but struggled a bit LTO in stakes event.  He may like the distance more than many of the others in this race- strong chance that he will be ITM at the end.

 (Boston Harbor  x Devil His Due)

Has two wins from gate to wire, but never ventured beyond six one-half furlongs.  One of his two victories came on this track, so that may serve as an advantage for him. 

 (Tale of the Cat  x Seattle Slew)

The morning line favorite- mostly from his last trip.  TALE OF GOLD won an impressive wire to wire (one mile) allowance event in North Florida.  He was actually widening his lead at the wire.  His winning time of 1:37 3/5 was a bit better than PLEASANT PHEASANT’s winning time at the same distance.

 (Tomahawk  x Gone West)

He ships in with seven races already on his resume’.  Bloodline has produced one graded winner (1.2M in earnings) and a stakes winner, so hopes are high that the third offspring will duplicate the other two.  He broke his maiden on the turf, but has shown signs that dirt is his preferred surface.  Won an allowance event LTO at one mile and appears to have had no trouble with the distance.  

(War Chant  x Lear Fan)

Coming out of the seven post should be not problem for SWINDLER.  He likes to rally from further back, so he will probably have the opportunity to settle quickly behind the front runners and save some ground.  His last race was a narrow (1/2 length) defeat, but he finished strong and his time was impressive.  His lone win was on the turf, but Saturday may be the day to capture his first dirt and second career win. 

The pace should be quick with most of the competitors stepping up out of sprint events for the first time.  If a battle occurs up front between the likes of TALE OF GOLD, PLEASANT PHEASANT, and others- then someone like SWINDLER should benefit.  My selections for the MOMENTARY QUEST Memorial are:

SWINDLER   TALE OF GOLD       THIRD GENERATION