WHO’S FAULT WILL IT BE FOR WINNING THIS GRADE II MILE IN NM

This weeks Grade II Feature in New Mexico is The It’s All Your Fault Stakes for 3YO+ open company. A full field of 14 are entered and will go one mile on the fast dirt track chasing the top share of the $250,000 purse.

Let’s take a look at today’s field:

1)INSTINCTIVE SYLE(KY)—12/1—gatefate19 sends this 3 year old colt out of GHOSTZAPPER with a record of 13-3-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $67,417. This 257th divisional ranked colt races for the unafilliated Silky Oak stables. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and won 3 of his first 5 lifetime starts, all in allowance company. He has a pair of 2nd place finishes to show for 7 lifetime stakes starts and this will be his Graded stakes debut today. He posted his lifetime best 110 speed rating last time out in The Tuck’s Prospector stakes where he took over and had a nice lead at the top of the stretch but could not hold on and had to settle for 2nd in the 8 furlong dirt race. This stalker has some early gatespeed and will have to reverse his trend off fading in the stretch when the real running starts. He has won at the 8 furlong distance already in his career. The rider for today’s race will be Pappel (8.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

2)PSCHOTIC GOLD(NY)—29/1—super12 sends this 3 year old colt out of FREUD with a record of 17-4-2-4 and lifetime earnings of $438,253. He is out of the mare NINER NINER who was 0/1 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including 2 stakes winners. This 99th divisional ranked colt races for Supers More Evil Than The Evil Empire stables based over at Del/Penn National. This colt picked up a couple of allowance wins in his 2 year old season and managed a 3rd place finish in the BB Juvenile last year. This year he tried  the Bluegrass Derby but failed in his attempt and has settled for a pair of allowance wins to date in his 3 year old campaign. He posted his lifetime best 107 speed rating last time out while winning an 8 furlong allowance race in Vermont, this race came on the heels of a failed turf try in The Grade II Boston Derby. This closer who sits well back early would love to refind the magic of his 2 year old season here today. He appears to like the 8 furlong distance much better than the classic distances. He will be making his first start against older company here today.  The rider for today’s race will be Childress (10.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.

3)BT’S FLEET—9/1—bigted10 sends this 4 year old colt out of AFLEET with a record of 26-9-3-0 and lifetime earnings of $164,720. This 156th divisional ranked colt races for the Bigted stables based over at the EAAA residence. This colt broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime start as a 2 year old and picked up 3 allowance wins last year as a 3 year old. This year he has picked up 4 more wins including a stakes win in The Liddleski’s Chat Challenge which was part of the Sim History Day festivities. He has posted his lifetime best 107 speed rating in 3 of his last 5 starts all being at today’s mile distance. He is a closer who sits at the back early and saves his best stride for the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be McLaughlin (11.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.

4)WELL PLAYED TED(IRE)—18/1—pick6 sends this 3 year old colt out of THEATRICAL(IRE) with a record of 19-3-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $237,455. This 59th divisional ranked colt races for the unafilliated Tsyndicate stables. This colt was a 2 times stake winner as a 2 year old last year and in fact broke his maiden in a stakes race. He struggled this year at times when trying Graded company and in fact did not win until last time out, his 12th strart of the season in an allowance race. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating in that contest over 8 furlongs on the dirt. He showed a midpack closing style in that race but has also shown early speed many time in the past so his versatility could help him in today’s race. He will be making his first start against older company here in today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be McGwire (2.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—98.

5)HENIANLAUCH(KY)—13/1—crandyiv sends this 3 year old colt out of HENNESSY with a record of 20-4-4-5 and lifetime earnings of $660,926. This 23rd divisional ranked colt races for the NWRC division of the Crandy stables. This colt has a busy 2 year old season with 3 wins including 2 stakes win of which one was The Grade II Club Stakes in Nebraska. He won again for the first time in 11 starts this year when taking the NWRC restricted Cavalcade dirt cup in California last time out which was also his first start against older horses. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating 3 starts back while finishing 3rd in The Supertoys Raceout Classic STakes, part of the Sim History Day festivities. He is a frontrunner who is expected to cut the early fractions today and if he can control the pace to his liking may provide a wire to wire upset here today. It should be noted that he did finish 3rd in this year Bluegrass Derby. The rider for today’s race will be Bennington (13.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

6)VOLVER—10/1—zledwith3 sends this 4 year old colt out of EMPIRE MAKER with a record of 12-6-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $250,690. This 113th divisional ranked colt races for the Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation based over at the Hispano Parlante racing residency. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime stat last year for his only 3 year old win. This year he picked up 4 allowance wins and then became a stakes winner when winning The Pro Glory Stakes in Denmark last time out where he posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating over the 8.5 furlong race over a good dirt track. He is a closer who sits at the back of the pack early and will be making his Graded stakes debut today. He is a multi winner at today’s race distance. The rider for today’s race will be Chancellor (12%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—108.

7)SPANIARD(KY)—19/1—spqr sends this 3 year old colt out of AWESOME AGAIN with a record of 11-5-0-1 and lifetime earnings of $148,082. This 143rd divisional rankec colt races out of the GR Simsters residency. This colt broke his maiden in his 2nd of 2 starts last year as a 2 year old. He picked up 3 more allowance wins this year before winning his first stakes race last time out in The Forty Egg Special stakes in Minnesota against older horses where he posted his lifetime best 111 speed rating over the 8 furlong dirt race. He comes into today’s race on a 2 race win streak and winner of 4 of his last 5 starts. His only blemish in that time was his Graded race debut where he was never a factor in The Grade I Swamps Stakes. He is another late closer who will have to fight for racing room and a clear path what is looking to become a busy stretch drive in the late going today. The rider for today’s race will be Glasgow (7.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.

8)SAN PELLEGRINO—9/1—super12 sends this 4 year old colt out of WAR CHANT with a record of 29-4-8-3 and lifetime earnings of $970,579. This 141st divisional ranked colt is the stablemate of #2 PSYCHOTIC GOLD over at the Super stables at Del/Penn National. This colt won 2 races as a 2 year old including a stakes win and added 1 allowance win last year. He was snakebitten in several races including some Graded starts where he finished 2nd and actually had a streak of 4 straight place finishes in the 2005/2006 seasons. His lone victory this year came in The Grade III Ecliptic Stakes in Dubai this spring where he posted his lifetime best 112 speed rating for the 8.5 furlong dirt race. He has posted 8 straight triple digit speed rating entering this race today. He is another closer who has been a bit inconsistant lately and has had several starts where he has not fired in the stretch. Will he fire today or not?. He will be looking to become a million dollar earner with a good showing in today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be Sharpe (9.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—102.

9)WONDERBOY DJ—9/2—wonder2 sends this 5 year old horse out of CARSON CITY with a record of 33-8-6-5 and lifetime earnings of $1,734,664. This 308th divisional ranked horse races for the Zeco stables Belgium based over at the Benelux residency. This horse broke his maiden in his only win as a 2 year old and was a Grade I 2nd place finisher also in his freshman year. He picked up 4 wins including The Grade II Bluegrass Cup Sprint as a 3 year old and picked up a pair of Grade III wins last year in The Toboggan Handicap and The MD Breeders Bowl. This year his only win so far came in The Grade III Backseat Driver Stakes in North Carolina. He will be stretching out to 8 furlongs for the first time since his 2 year old season today and while his closing style suggests he should handle it ok his 9/2 odds may be a tad to low for some who will wait to see how he handles the distance first. The rider for today’s race will be Robinson (9.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.

10)WOODEN MINISTER(KY)—7/1—pogs1 sends this 3 year old colt out of HENNESSY with a record of 8-4-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $266,576. He is out of the he-mare ZULFAGAR who was 7/37 at the track. This 33rd divisional ranked colt races for the Pogo stables based over at the EAAA residency. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and has picked up 4 wins this year including The St Juan’s Road Special Stakes in Mexico. He has finished 2nd in both of his last 2 starts which have been in Graded stakes company. He posted his lifetime best speed rating of 115 last time out in The Grade I World Cup Mile and has posted speed rating above the 110 threshold two time in a row now. He is a closer who sits back early and proved last time out that he can handle the older company as he will face in this race today. He has come up a bit short in his last 2 races so he will have to perhaps start his move a little earlier today to ensure a shot at being first at the wire. The rider for today’s race will be Lester (11.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—113.

11)CATAPULTED(MD)—12/1—theatrical sends this 3 year old colt out of FANTASTICAT with a record of 22-7-4-3 and lifetime earnings of $281,330. He is out of the mare PULAJA who was 1/17 at the track and this is the only foal on record to date. This 319th divisional ranked colt races for the Minnesota Downs division of the Theatrical stables. This colt was a 2 time stakes winner last year in his 2 year old season and has added 3 more added money event wins to his record this year. He has raced 6 times in Graded stakes so far in his lifetime and has had to settle for minor share cheques at best. He posted his lifetime best 108 speed rating 3 starts back while finishing 2nd in The Mine Idols(BRZ) Special Stakes in Germany over 7.5 furlongs on the dirt which was against older horses as he will face today. This sprinter will be routing for only the 4th time in his career of which he has one 3rd place finsish to show for. The rider for today’s race will be Lewis (8.7%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.

12)BLACKJACK CAT(KY)—28/1—racinqueen sends this 3 year old colt out of TACTICAL CAT with a record of 16-4-2-3 and lifetime earnings of $110,029. He is out of the mare GIN LANE who was 6/41 at the track and who has 2 foals on record, both winners including 1 stakes winner. This 272nd divisional ranked colt races for the unafilliated At The Wire Thoroughbred stables. This colt broke his maiden on the turf in his 2nd lifetime start last year and after another pair of grass races was switched to the dirt permanently earlier this year. He has picked up 3 allowance win so far this year and has found the going rough in his last 2 starts, both Grade I dirt routes. He may find that the quality of today’s field is not that much easier than his previous Graded tries. This colt is a speedy one who likes to leave quickly out of the gate and will probably ensure an honest pace today which will be to the liking of the many closers in today’s race. While 8 furlongs is his preffered distance he will be all out to carry his speed all the way to the wire today. He will be making his debut against older horses in the race here. The rider for today’s race will be Fontain (8.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—99.

13)TAXI DRIVER(KY)—13/1—bigmoose2 sends this 3 year old colt out of GHOSTZAPPER with a record of 14-5-4-0 and lifetime earnings of $539,928. This 15th divisional ranked colt races for the GR Simsters division of the Squirrel stables. This colt was 2nd in a Grade I race as a 2 year old and won a stakes race in her debut race this year which prompted a trip to Dubai for the Grade I Sand Castle Derby and then a return to North America for The Grade I Bluegrass derby where he found the competition to be a little to tough in both races. After a 2 month layoff he returned and has picked up a couple of win including a win in The Tadpole Nightmare Special stakes in Tazmania. He posted his lifetime best speed rating of 111 two starts back while finishing 2nd in The Grade I Bob Woodward Memorial where he could not hold onto the lead he got at the top of the stretch but was still a surprise 2nd place finisher at 23/1 in the 9 furlong dirt race against older horses. He stretched out to 10 furlongs in the slop last time out and can be forgiven for the result off the track conditions. He is a stalker who sits just behind the leaders and will have to ensure a perfectly timed move to go by the early pacesetters and then hold off the many deep closers in today’s race. I like the cutback to 8 furlongs for this start today. The rider for today’s race will be Kimura (7.7%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—109.

14)TEMPEST—4/1—oscar sends this 5 year old horse out of A.P. INDY with a record of 36-13-3-3 and lifetime earnings of $1,765,140. He is out of the mare MISS MAMA who was 20/77 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners of which 1 is a Graded stakes winner and another a stakes winner. This 23rd divisional ranked horse races for the Chilcoat stables based over at The Pastures of Green residency in Vermont. This horse picked up a pair of allowance wins as a 2 year old and had 4 stakes wins inluding a pair of Graded wins in his 3 year old season. Unfortunately that year he had a rough time in both of his triple crown starts. He picked up 4 more Graded wins last year hilited by his win in The Grade I Bob Woodward Memorial Stakes in New York. This year was a struggle for the 5 year old until he broke out with his lifetime best 118 speed rating last time out while winning The Grade I World Cup Mile in Kentucky. He is a late closer who sits at the back early and if his last race indicated his return to form could be very tough indeed to handle in this race today. Some may take a look elsewhere warry that the morning line favorite will be coming in off a 7 week layoff. The rider for today’s race will be Duffy (25.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—113.

A great field lined up in New Mexico today and while many will be backing either #14 TEMPEST or #9 WONDERBOY DJ I am going to take a shot at #13 TAXI DRIVER to take the perfect trip behind the front runners and hold off the oncoming closers at the wire, with the 13/1 juicy payout.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING

THEO