Elite Racing Club in sunny Florida for the Bernardini stakes

Florida (FL) Saturday, October 12, 2019 — 1:40:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2280860
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BERNARDINI
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SInce we last reported on the September Elite Racing Club  event,  there have been some issues with the BTB publishing house.  There seems to be a problem with some of the formatting tools we usually avail ourselves of to cover the races.  So,  to make things easier on the production staff,  I’ll forego my usual formatting and keep to a strictly prose preview.  Hopefully,  we can return to the previews the club enjoys with their monthly stakes event in November.
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A field of eleven club runners are entered to vie for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse for the taking in October’s club event,  the Bernardini.  Contested at 9.5 furlongs (or about 1900 meters for those so inclined),  three fillies will  take on an octet of males over a likely fast dirt oval,  as the local weather folks see clear skies through the weekend.  The management at Gulfstream Park has been wonderful,  arranging for every whim of the members with a smile and cheerful attitude.
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With just two more stakes events remaining through year-end,  the bonus points left to be awarded will crown the 2019 victor. The jockeying for position to claim the club championship is in full swing.  Summerset,  the 2017 champ,  enters the formidable graded placed stakes winner,  EL HURACAN,  while defending champ Harrylan saddles stakes placed TAPIT’s STREET.  Club co-founder Amir1605 has the stakes winning BLACK KARNAMEL going to the post,  and the crafty Dontbetonme barn is in the thick of things with stakes placed LOOKIN AT OX LV.  Larrcamp retuns with the 2nd rated entry point runner in WILD SQUALL RIDE with Newfydowns hot on his heels saddling 4th rated HALLOW EVE EVE.  Dunnvilledowns has a live runner,  SHIPWRECK BAY,  the senior entrant in the field,  and Mightyforego returns and is loaded for bear with co-second choice THE GOOD WARRIOR.  Jbcri09 saddles a 15/1 long shot this time around with ULTIMATE SHIELD;  Jb3commish has VARSTONE looking for a surprise win,  and Chino rounds out the field with 54/1 shot KID SPECIAL.
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Sorry for the brevity of this month’s analysis.  We will be back at full strength for the final two events of 2019.
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1)  TAPIT’S STREET is the co-second choice at 9/2.  He’s at his favorite distance,  where four of his five wins occurred.  Speedster looks like the one to catch from the hedge.
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2)  ULTIMATE SHIELD,  our first filly,  is a 15/1 long shot.  Deep closer can save ground with good trip,  but needs to up her game to challenge the best ones here.
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3)  SHIPWRECK BAY is another deep closer,  who may have bounced last out.  Six year old held at 6/1 odds,  may have another top effort in him to get a minor share in tough field.
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4)  THE GOOD WARRIOR is the other 9/2 second choice,   who may have disliked the off track in most recent try.  Prior SP#’s compare favorably with the top ones in this heat;  can do.
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5)  WILD SQUALL RIDE is in excellent form right now,  getting 6/1 odds from the handicapper.  May prompt the pace,  but in any event should be close early;  could upset them all on best effort.
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6)  HALLOW EVE EVE is a 30/1 outsider who may be involved in the early fractions,  but looks to be a couple notches short of the big guns entered here.
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7)  LOOKIN AT OX LV  is a 7/1 chance off two strong recent outings since switching barns,  stretches out here and could spring another surprise from new barn.
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8)  VARSTONE,  our second filly,  cuts back in distance off string of marathon events;  still eligible for NW2x rated at 23/1 odds by the oddsmaker;  hard to recommend.
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9)  KID SPECIAL,  our final female, is the rank outsider in the field at 54/1 on the morning line.  Another long time marathoner cutting back in distance –  doesn’t appear it will help her chances.
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10)  EL HURACAN is the handicapper’s choice at 7/2.  Deep closer will need to navigate some traffic,  but it appears he  should be right there at the finish if he hasn’t gone “over the cliff” after 25 previous runs.
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11)  BLACK KARNAMEL  is a deep closer held at 7/1 on the morning line.  Strong outings last two tries after a freshening ;  should be motoring late down the lane – may just get there.
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Good luck everybody,  and may they all come home fast,  safe and sound