Ghostly Gallop Part 1 by Naskippy

The Ghostly Gallop  by Naskippy

Grade: 3

 

Track: Vermont

Restrictions: 2 Year Olds

Distance: 8.5 Furlongs

Surface: Fast Dirt

Purse: $150,000

Post Time: Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 2:10pm

 

Today we will be heading over to Vermont for The Ghostly Gallop which is a G3 race open to all 2 year olds and owners that is being sponsored by the Pastures Of Green residency. A full field of fourteen colts have entered, all of which are seeking their first Graded Stakes win. This should shape up to be an exciting race for these 2 year olds and their owners. The odds makers have set their morning line odds and post positions have been drawn. The horses are looking good as the finish up their final workouts and breezing. Let us take a preview of the horses and how they match up for The Ghostly Gallop here in the brisk fall air in Vermont.

 

Post Position: 1

 Horse/Odds: Traffic Specialist 26/1

Sire: Take Charge Indy

Owner: applefarms3

Jockey: R Spring

 

This Bay colt sired by Take Charge Indy and out of G2 winning mare, Cumberland is coming to this race after breaking his maiden in his last trip to the track. He ran in Louisiana and seemed to like traveling two turns for the first time that day and took a nice little bump in his speed ratings. That outing came on 08/09/2019 going 8 furlongs on a fast track and he best the field by 2 ¼ lengths. He does take a big jump in Class for this race and will need to dig deep and find a little more leg to stay in contention.

Post Position: 2

 Horse/Odds: Unbridled Map 10/1

Sire: Liam’s Map

Owner: andermanis

Jockey: R Heenan

 

Back on 08/11/2019 he charged after the third call from 6 lengths back to find the wire first on a sloppy track in West Virginia in a $39,000 NW2L Allowance. He then turned to the track on 09/21/2019 in California with his sights on the G1, North Fork Stakes. He game out of Gate 2 that day of which should have been good for his normal running style. But he failed to find his spot and showed up a disappointing 8th in that race and was over 6 lengths back at the wire. He looks to redeem himself here in Vermont as he steps down in Class to make the challenge.

Post Position: 3

 Horse/Odds: First Twelve Sixty 6/1

Sire: Trippi

Owner: winona3

Jockey: A Cutry

 

He made his only trip to the track back on 09/07/2019 in an Owner Restricted Maiden race in Kentucky. He jumped to the lead after the third call and found the wire first by 1 length over that field. He broke his maiden running a very nice 89 speed in his only career start. His owner feels confident enough in his horse to give him a jump in Class to contend with some of the more experienced 2 year olds in this field. He got a little look from the odds makers for this race and this horse will need to try to not disappoint them.

Post Position: 4

 Horse/Odds: Tikatock 13/1

Sire: Mr. Sexy To You

Owner: vipertwo

Jockey: B Child

This Grey colt has six career starts to his credit and never been off the boards with three wins and placing second in his other three races. He last ran in California on 09/13/2019 going 8 furlongs in a $75,000 Allowance race of which he found the wire 1st and best the field by 2 ½ lengths going gate to wire. He likes being at the front and will have some closing challengers to watch out for today. All his races have been Allowance races, but if he can bring that speed with him as he takes a jump in Class he might be one to watch out for in this field.

 

Post Position: 5

Horse/Odds: Ghost D’Oro 88/1

Sire: Forever D’Oro

Owner: bigeasy

Jockey: B Tate

 

The odds makers show no love or kindness for this Bay colt in their morning line. He broke his maiden and picked up his first win in Deleware on 08/17/2019 traveling 5.5 furlongs in a $7,500 Maiden Claimer. He ran a 67 speed rating that day to pick up the win. Like the odds makers I have great concern that this horse is ready to contend against this field. He will have a lot to prove when he hits the track here in Vermont.

 

Post Position: 6

 Horse/Odds: Even Gulch 33/1

Sire: Even The Score

Owner: pastime

Jockey: G Giant

This Roan colt has ran on both the turf and dirt surfaces three times each in his six race career of which he has picked up three wins. His best outing came in his last trip to the track in West Virginia on 09/15/2019 in a $39,000 NW4L Allowance. He took over that race at the third call and never looked back hitting the wire 1st by 2 ¼ lengths against a small field of horses. He likes running at or near the front in his best outings and will need to show he has more gas in the tank when he hits the dirt here in Vermont.

 

Post Position: 7

Horse/Odds: Marking Defense 16/1

Sire: First Defence

Owner: indyatw

Jockey: V Elliott

 

The seasoned jockey in V Elliott from Maryland will get the mount up top of this Grey colt that in four career starts has never missed the boards. His last outing came on 09/23/2019 in Dubai where he made a nice closing charge down the stretch in this 8.5 Local Allowance race to best the field by 2 lengths. He is making a long trip from Dubai which brings with it concern. His top speed rating of 84 in his last race will need to be improved under the stiff whip of his experienced jockey.

Post Position: 8

 Horse/Odds: Feed Me Drugs 5/1

Sire: Arrogate

Owner: redhill2

Jockey: I Thomas

 

This son of Arrogate catches the eye of the odds makers as they make him the co-favorite in this race. Seasoned veteran jockey, I Thomas from here in Vermont will hit the irons taking this horse around the dirt. He has only three career starts and has never missed the boards. He broke his maiden back in August of this year in Kentucky at 8 furlongs. His owner decided to give him a shot a 8 furlongs again in Michigan in a Listed Stakes, Call An Audible where he put up an 89 speed that day to place 2nd and was 1 ¾ lengths back. This jockey will draw upon this horses Stakes experience as he attempts to get him to the wire first.