THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—WEEK 3378
This week’s 10th race feature at Minnesota Downs is The Secret Siphon(BRZ) Special Stakes to be run 8.5 furlongs on the dirt track. A field of twelve 2 year olds have entered including many local horses from the Minnesota Downs backstretch and they all will be gunning for the winner’s share of the $55,000 purse.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)COUP DE CORZA(AUS)—24/1—corza7 sends this filly out of NE COUPEZ PAS with a record of 3-1-0-0 and lifetime earnings of $29,220. She is out of the mare SUMMER WITH CORZA who was 1/24 at the track and this is the only foal on record to date. This unranked filly races for the Corza stables based in Queensland. This filly’s sire has a 50% winners rate and has yet to sire a stakes winner. This year 33.3% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This filly has a disappointing debut on the turf but made amends when switched to the dirt for her second lifetime start posting an 84 speed rating over the 8 furlong MSW race which was over 30 points better than her turf rating. In her last race she tried the World Cup Grade I Juvenile Filly Sprint where she was never a factor. She did close well in her MSW win but will need to prove she can compete in stakes competition, but realistically her last race may have been too big a jump for her. She will be racing against the boys here so she is being asked to perform another difficult task here again today. The rider for today’s race will be Sappington (6.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—76
2)GOLD TO GOLD(OK)—23/1—graywolf4 sends this colt out of COUNTRY BE GOLD with a record of 3-1-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $7,920. This divisional unranked colt races for the unafilliated division of The Wolf’s Den stables. This colt’s sire has an 18.8% winners rate and has yet to sire a stakes winner. This year 21.4% of his 2 year old starters have found the winner’s circle. This colt won his debut race on a dirt track listed as good and has picked up a pair of minor cheques in races since including a 5th place finish in an 8 furlong stakes in Colorado. His speed ratings have improved each time out and his lifetime best rating was posted last time out with a 76 in an 8 furlong restricted allowance. He has demonstrated an ability to close but will probably need to pick up his performance to compete with others entered here today. The rider for today’s race will be Bowen (19.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—77
3)CAPE HALO ETS(KY)—6/1—theodore1 sends this colt out of CAPE CANAVERAL with a record of 5-2-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $59,815. This 217th divisional ranked colt races for the Minnesota Downs residence track manager Theo. This colt’s sire has a 68.7% winners rate with a 5.3% stakes winner rate and a 0.8% Graded stakes winner rate. This year 20% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt broke his maiden in his 3rd lifetime start after finishing 2nd in his first 2 starts. He won his second race last time out in an 8 furlong restricted allowance posting his lifetime best 86 speed rating. He is a closer who can stay close to the early pace if he chooses to and his form suggests he may enjoy the extra ground today. The rider for today’s race will be Cothill (16.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—83.
4)FANTASTIC SURGE(JPN)—9/1—boldruler sends this colt out of FANTASTIC LIGHT with a record of 6-1-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $35,692. He is out of the mare SURGE who was 2/22 at the track and this is the only foal on record to date. This divisional unranked colt races for the unafilliated Lele stables. This colt’s sire has a 77.6% winners rate with an 8.8% stakes winners rate and a 1.1% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 32.7% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. After starting on the turf for his first 3 starts this colt broke his maiden in his 2nd dirt start posting an 83 speed rating in the 8 furlong MSW race. He tried The Raspberry Phar Challenge stakes last time out where he was well back throughout the race. He hopes he can improve in his 2nd stakes start and show the rally from behind that he accomplished in his maiden win. The rider for today’s race will be Ritterspauch (5.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—75
5)NEW SENSATIONS(KY)—8/1—wistful sends this colt out of A. P. INDY with a record of 3-1-1-0 and lifetime earnings of $23,375. He is out of the he-mare WEST OF THE DANCE who was 5/17 at the track. This divisional unranked colt races for the Super stables More Evil than The Evil Empire stables based over at Del/Penn National. This colt’s sire has an 87.7% winners rate with a 17.8% stakes winners rate and a 4.2% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 50.7% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This royally bred blueblood horse broke his maiden in his 3rd try posting his lifetime best 79 speed rating in the 6 furlong MSW sprint. This will be both his first stakes race and his first time routing so all eyes will be on this one to see how he performs today as he was strong in the late going in his last start. The rider for today’s race will be Vandlandingham (11.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—73
6)FRENCHING(JPN)—7/1—minnesota sends this colt out of FRENCH DEPUTY with a record of 7-1-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $64,346. He is out of the mare LANGLAUF who was 5/47 at the track and who has 2 foals on record with this colt the only winner to date. This 274th divsional ranked colt races for the green silks of locally based horseman Randy who is one of the longtime members of the Minnesota Downs backstretch. This colt’s sire has a 62.7% winners rate with a 6.2% stakes winners rate and a 1.9% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 46.2% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt broke his maiden against winners in his 1st lifetime start but has not found the winner’s circle in 6 races since. He has been racing against the best in the division and did manage a 2nd place finish in an overnite stakes in Kentucky earlier this year. He posted his lifetime best 87 speed rating last time out in The Grade III Cryogenics Juvenile where he had the lead at the top of the stretch but faltered later down the lane. His recent form has yet to show this one will be able to handle the route distances yet but he has improved his speed ratings with every start he has made on the dirt. The rider for today’s race will be Ritorto (12.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—83
7)SEVEN STRIKES(KY)—8/1—thereason sends this colt out of SMART STRIKE with a record of 7-1-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $49,345. He is out of the he-mare SEVENRIVERS II who was 7/44 at the track. This 348th divisional ranked colt is a stablemate of #6 FRENCHING in the stables of local Minnesota Downs trainer Randy. This colt’s sire has a 72.9% winners rate with a 6.9% stakes winners rate and a 0.3% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 45.2% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt picked up his maiden win in his 3rd lifetime start and has picked up some minor share cheques in his last few starts of which 2 have been overnite stakes races. He posted his lifetime best speed rating of 84 two starts back while finishing 4th in The N. Clan Cap over 8.5 furlongs on the dirt in Kentucky. While his win was a closing effort his racing style in his last 2 has been a mixed bag but he has already ran at today’s distance twice in his career. The rider for today’s race will be Man (11%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—81
8)BART(KY)—6/1—bellissimo sends this colt out of HENNY HUGHES with a record of 3-1-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $30,435. He is out of the he-mare REMEMBER PANDORA who was 4/29 at the track. This unranked divisional colt races for the Minnesota Downs division of the Rafa stables. This colt’s sire has a 35.6% winners rate with a 2.7% stakes winners rate in this his first year standings at stud. This colt broke his maiden in his lifetime debut race and has picked up a pair of 2nd place finishes since. He posted his lifetime best 82 speed rating last time out while finishing 2nd in The Our Dollar Challenge STakes over 8 furlongs on the dirt in Nevada. This colt has displayed speed and should be one of those cutting the early fractions today but he will need to show some improvement in stamina if he is to handle the extra ground in today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be Beasley (8.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—82
9)OUTOFRATS(FL)—14/1—darny sends this colt out of OUTOFTHEBOX with a record of 6-1-0-0 and lifetime earnings of $30,430. This divisional unranked colt races for the local Minnesota Downs stables of Darnath. This colt’s sire has a 46.8% winners rate with a 2.1% stakes winners rate. This year 28.6% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt broke his maiden in his 5th lifetime start posting his lifetime best 82 speed rating over the 8 furlong dirt race. He came back to finish 4th in an allowance next start out and will be making his stakes debut in today’s race. He fared well as a closer in his win and was not as effective last time out when he raced closer to the pace. The rider for today’s race will be Stinson (9.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—78
10)THIS GIANT’S READY(KY)—10/1—devilsdoo sends this colt out of MORE THAN READY with a record of 6-2-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $45,760. This 242nd divisional ranked colt races for the SteveMunoz stables based over at the NWRC residency. This colt’s sire has a 63.1% winners rate with a 7.8% stakes winners rate and a 1.5% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 26.7% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt ran on the turf for his first 4 lifetime starts and broke his maiden on that surface. He has raced on the dirt for his last 2 races and posted his lifetime best speed rating of 88 while winning a restricted allowance over 8 furlongs on the dirt in Deleware last time out. He is a speed horse who will be gunning for the front when the gate opens and hopefully he will be able to handle the extra half furlong in today’s race. He has cashed some minor share cheques in a pair of stakes starts already in his career but those were both on the turf. The rider for today’s race will be Ireland (10.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—81
11)RIVERBENDER(KY)—4/1—lankajoe2 sends this colt out of BORREGO with a record of 6-4-1-0 and lifetime earnings of $169,760. This 31st divisional ranked colt races for the Great Plains Residency division of the Chilimac stables. This colt’s sire has a 33.3% winners rate with a 4.5% stakes winners rate and a 1.5% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 32.3% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. This colt is the leading winner and money earner in the field and has already picked up 3 stakes wins so far this season. He had his 3 race win streak broken last time out when he tried The Grade II Darling-Squash Futurity in Illinois last time out. While he finished 5th in that race he did post his lifetime best 88 speed rating and that has made him the morning line favorite for this race today. He is a closer who should enjoy the extra ground today. The rider for today’s race will be Friar (18.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—89
12)BECCA’S FORCE(IRE)—9/1—rharfo2 sends this colt out of REFUSE TO BEND(IRE) with record of 2-1-0-0 and lifetime earnings of $6,790. This divsional unranked colt races out of the CR Racers residency. This colt’s sire has a 54.9% winners rate with a 6.1% stakes winners rate and a 2.9% Graded stakes winners rate. This year 28% of his 2 year old starters have found the winners circle. After a mediocre first race on the turf this colt was switched to the dirt where he broke his maiden while posting a 79 speed rating in the 8 furlong MSW. He now jumps up in class in this stakes start and if he repeats his last race should be out there ensuring an honest pace here today. Any show of improvement would make him a serious contender in this field. The rider for today’s race will be Saaverda (9.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—78
NOTE #3 CAPE HALO ETS(KY), #6 FRENCHING(JPN), #7 SEVEN STRIKES(KY), #8 BART(KY) AND #9 OUTOFRATS(FL) ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCY 200 CREDIT PURSE SUPPLEMENT SHOULD THEY WIN THE RACE.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCY THIS WEEK
Fred’s RIDIN’ SHOTGUN took command in the Minnesota Sire Series 2 contest for Gulch sired horses with a win in the 10th leg and halfway point of the contest and is now over $60,000 ahead of his nearest rival.
Randy won the high speed rating contest last time out with his horse GRANMAN who posted a 105 speed rating to earn the 200 credit prize.
With 2 weeks to go in our 13 week trainers contest cycle Doza has the lead with his Remedy stable with 89 points and Wenlock sits in 2nd and 3rd spot with his Robertob75 with 81 points and Hullwayne with 78 points.
This weeks Chuckrock’s horse of the week honors go to:
This week’s winner hails from Pazzjazz Music City Stables. With a breeding line of CACIQUE (IRE) x MOZART (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS , CACIQUE’S PRAYER(ENG) finally got into a route and won the MSW in newmarket handily. The colt led throughout and was never threatened by the field of 14. This was Cacigue’s Prayer’s 5th race, and I believe that he will be stretched out even further at first chance.
congrats to Pazzjazz! who picks up the 50 credit prize.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO