Grade III Harry Carey at Illinois
The Harry Carey Memorial (Grade III)
Since this 8 furlong G3 turf race is in honor of Harry Carey here is a little horse track rendition for him.
Take me out to the racetrack,
Take me out to the grandstands;
Buy me a racing form and trifecta ticket
I don’t want the chalk horse in it
Let me root, root, root for the longshot
If he don’t come in it’s a shame
For it’s one, two, three hundred your down
At the old race track.
We have a full field of 14 lining up in The Grade III Harry Carey Memorial let’s size up the contenders by postposition.
1. Scarlet Reaper – 40037
Three-year-old colt Scarlet Reaper is a true blue blood in every sense of the term (Storm Cat X AP Indy X Seeking The Gold). He hasn’t quite lived up to that potential at this point in his career, as he is yet to win a stakes race. Did post a career best 108 speed figure two races out and he should be running his best late. Oddsmakers have him at 24-1 and I do not like his chances to win but if he runs back to his two race out performance he could be attractive in exotic wagering.
2. Barb’s Supersoaker – 1433
Five year old by Trempolino has 10 wins in 44 lifetime races and is ITM in over 50% of career races. Barb’s Supersoaker prefers to press and be towards the front of the pack and ran a nice 109 last out. Has been performing better at the allowance level vs. stakes company and appears a little outmatched in this one.
3. The Shining – 106391
Training by one of the best in the SIM The Shining is just another cog in the wheel that is the Evil Empire. By sire Beat Hallow The Shining’s pedigree is highlighted by 3X5 Northern Dancer and 4X5 Hail To Reason crosses. Has 10 wins from 23 starts and won the Grade 1 Maudlin Cup over 8 furlongs 2 races back. Regressed last out in The World Cup and decreased by 8 pts in the speed figures but should bounce back nicely in this race with a well time stalking trip. Very Dangerous.
4. Bodhisatva – 108757
Four year old son of Fusaichi Pegasus has used his early speed to make an impressive jump from being claimed in April of 2007 for 50k to starter allowances to graded races and was very competitive finishing 3rd with a 108 speed figure. Bodhisatya has extensive Northern (3X4) and Native Dancer (4X5) lines in his pedigree and is an intriguing alternative with his early speed in a race of mostly late movers.
5. Shakespeared – 108945
To be or not to be that is the question for this four-year-old dark grey by Macho Uno. This is Shakespeared’s 1st stab at Graded company and with his Theatrical X Sadler’s Wells backend breeding should be competitive. Recent speed figures of 102 and 110 are competitive but is another closer in a race of late runners so will have to bring his best in what could be a crowded late run.
1st try in graded rounding into form speed number wise posting a 102 in an 8.5f stakes and 110 in an allowance 2 back. Pedigree features Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer both with 4X4 crosses.
6. Vermont Victory – 100267
Four-year-old light grey colt by Two Punch is bred to go long and has a flexible running style that makes him very intriguing in this race. Vermont Victory has already amassed 650k in lifetime earnings and was 2nd with a lofty 112 speed figure in the 8f G3 Violin Mile. The pedigree features a fairly rare 5X5 Nasrullah inbreeding for you fans of that legendary horse.
7. Congo – 87476
Congo is a son of Arazi and is one of the older entrants in this race at 6yr old. The old boy has had an illustrious career winning multiple graded races and amassing over 2 million in career earnings. Age is definitely starting to show its toll on him and his recent form has declined significantly from his former glory. Can still be a winner at a lower level but he seems a little over his head based on recent form.
8. Huge Mon – 88081
Huge Mon is offering the hugest price on the board as the wise guys have put this Maria’s Mon offspring at 29-1. Belongs in allowance type company and would take a race breakdown to be a factor.
9. Pete Fountain – 92144
Your 5/1 morning line favorite suffered a bounce downward speed figure wise last out prognosticators are expecting a strong rebound from this Dixieland Band X Roberto X Damascus breed. Has every right to come back and run a big race here and a return to the form from two or three race back likely wins this race. Will likely be running from the stalking/middle closer type of profile if the horse is running his race.
10. Toss Power Trap – 102763
Four year old colt by Vindication is developing late and ran a career best speed of 107 finishing 2nd in an 8.5 furlong stakes last out. Runs with a Deep closer style and his improving form makes him an intriguing play for those looking to score big with the exotics.
11. Forbidden Treasure – 16938
5 yr old by Empire Maker is one of the top earners in this field with 840k in career earnings. His Empire Maker X Kingmambo X Danzig breeding has served him well and he is a very diverse horse who is just as capable running on dirt or turf. Has run on dirt his last 5 including his last out where he made a monster close to finish 3rd 1 length back of the winner in the Grade 2 Bluegrass Cup Classic. Forbidden Treasure is the deepest of all the closers in the field and will have the most ground to make up if he is to win the day.
12. Basketball Jones – 31387
The first of two three-year-old colt’s sired by Smarty Jones in this race. Ran a monster 109 last out in a 3rd place finish in G2 Jockey Club Classic. His stalker/close profile is overrepresented in this race but if he can improve on his 104 speed figure from 2 races out he could be dangerous.
13. Get More Minutes – 112
Five-year-old Sakhee runner is the most inconsistent runner in this race. He seems to run a gem and a bomb every other race (98-105-99-103) and if that trend continues he should break the 100s again today. Despite his ability to run in the low to mid 100s I can’t help but feel he is a notch below today’s best runners and is slightly over his head.
14. Demptos – 121390
The other son of Smarty Demptos has impeccable horses in all of his pedigree spots (Smarty Jones X Seeking The Gold X Storm Cat). This three-year-old colt has really filled into his hooves and has a ton of upside. He ran a wicked 111 last out with a deep close in an 8f allowance race and has earned his Graded shot in this race. Interestingly enough his first 13 career races were on the dirt and he really found his groove after getting that turf try. He is 3 for 3 ITM on the turf and continues to get better running on the grass.
Prediction: The race features a ton of late racing runners which may set the stage for a huge upset by a lone pace type runner like Bodhisatva but I have doubts he has the ability to pull it off. The Shining appears well positioned to recover from his World Cup set back and continue his graded winning ways. Vermont Victory’s class shines through in a solid second place effort and Forbidden Treasure starts his monster close too late to get up for a top spot and has to settle for a show finish here.