Bargain Bred Tale of Two Places Sprint
This Bargain Bred Sprint battle in the Tale of Two Places will be a face off between 3 year olds and the older bargain breds. It also will be a battle between the morning line favorites that each have problems versus the long shots. These cheap horses will shock some of the more expensively bred champions next year in the stakes races.
CZAR DELTA (53-1)
Over x Barrera
O/T writer and the breeder of this long shot sends this lightly raced 3YO into this battle of bargain bred sprinters. It has fought hard in the allowance conditions since its maiden win 5 races back. Success for this colt has been on the turf. This will only be its second race on the dirt when it posted a 76. There does seem to be too much speed in this race for this turfer but wait until it hits the turf again.
ABSCO (30-1)
Strike Smartly x Heart
Another long shot that had a promising early career as a 3YO with an allowance win in only its fourth race, but today it races as a 5YO. It has been shuffled back and forth between routes and sprints over its career and lately has been posting a mid-80s speed rating in the sprints. It is non-winner in its last 13 races and has declining numbers for O/T battledmg
MIX IT GOOD (11-1)
Shernazar x To The Quick
This is another 5YO in today’s race that has posted a 96 average over its last 3 races in the sprint division. Throw out its last race that was at 1 1/16M and this closer could be a major threat for the favorites. The shorter distance will not be a plus Saturday. It should post a mid-90s number but with an average jock it will need to make its move a lot sooner if it expects to find the winners circle which it has not done in 6 races.
THE REAL DEAL (3-1)
Authenticate x Polish Patriot
This 4YO colt is the odds-on favorite Saturday. It has won 5 of its last seven races and has a 102 average in the sprints. This colt has had 8 O/T’s, but the current O/T mpeace777 has awakened this horse with 7 wins mostly in starter allowances and an occasional allowance race. This stalker will be about 4 to 7 lengths off pace Saturday and might need more distance than the race is scheduled for.
ALMOST SCARY (12-1)
Crafty x Shelter Half
This 3YO colt O/T by sagamore has won 2 of its last 5 races and I have real good feeling for this horse. This lightly race 3YO has come alive since May and its last two wins, in allowance company, it posted a nice 101 rating. It should press for the lead and has one of the better jocks on board Saturday. This beauty has 5 weeks of rest and I expect to see this horse compete next year in some of the smaller stakes and maybe graded race. Three races back it finished a very close second in the Bargain Dash.
BALLISTA (17-1)
Medieval Rival x Sword Dance
Here is another lightly raced 3YO that has found some early success in the allowance races. O/T txbred has moved this young colt slowly through the allowance conditions and could pop a stakes win Saturday if it improves like it did in its last race. This front runner will love the distance and it has an outstanding jock onboard. The switch to dirt in its third race has made colt a threat for stakes races in the future
CATAMATIC (24-1)
Bonus Time Cat x Hot Secret
This 3YO has been a good claimer for O/T dsg. This youngster was claimed for $2K and a win in a $20K claimer in its last race with an 88. This horse is a true closer in the sprint division because it has had problems finding success with this style in the routes. A decent jock but today’s competitors are a little bit stronger than it has faced in the claiming ranks
SPARE KEY (30-1)
French Envoy x Robin des Pins
This lightly raced 3YO colt broke its maiden 3 races back and has averaged a 94 since its win. This stalker will press the leaders hoping that they break down at the turn and it can swoop in and finish in the money. I see a good future for this 3YO and it loves this distance for O/T bursar.
CORAL CROWD (7-1)
Crowd x Northern Regent
This 4YO has finished in the money in 19 of its thirty-five races. This allowance winner has its best days when it can stalk the leaders about 5 to 7 lengths off the pace, and if falls any further back it has trouble finishing. This is an up and down horse for O/T muninn240 who has 3 wins in its last six races. A weird fact about this colt is that when it wins it posts a 100 rating, but if it has an off day look for an 89 over its last 6 races.
POMMIE PONY (12-1)
Dara Monarch x Moulin
In its last 6 races this 4YO colt has 3 wins and 2 places for O/T dundey8. This closer will be at the back of the pack that has 3 wins in routes and 2 wins in sprints. Last out it won an allowance race for NW1X and in its last 6 races it seems to have found its stride but its numbers are in the mid-90s. I think it might just need a little bit more distance and in the future look for it to be a threat in some smaller stakes races a 1M or so.
EMPIRE OF
This lightly raced 3YO has finished in the money in 9 of its ten races. It has won 2 of its last three races with its last win being in the allowance conditions. This front runner lost the Bargain Derby this year after getting the lead in the stretch by a ¼ length. It is coming off a nice 6 week rest after it posted a 106 rating making this the true favorite Saturday for O/T nyra. The jock onboard is Thomas who has 24% win percentage, watch out for this one.
BUKU KIRBY’S (15-1)
Tribunal x Danzatame
O/T saltire2 picked up this 4YO colt in a $2500 claimer four races back. This money maker has been posting some nice 90s speed numbers. This colt has done very well in the claimers as its record shows 7 wins in 25 sprint starts. It should be about 2 to 4 lengths off the pace but it will be facing tougher competition today than it has in the claimers.
FANCY GREY (11-1)
Bee’s Prospector x Jamie’s Wish
This 3YO colt has won 4 of its last eight races. O/T racinrich stole this horse off the auction block and this will only be its second start for the new O/T. In the dirt sprints it has won 5 of its 7 starts and last out it posted a very nice 102 rating in Starter Allowance for $60K four weeks ago. This stalker has had increasing speed numbers which I always look for in a winner.
MY FRIGGIN’ AGGOTS (21-1)
Seeking Daylight x Bright Again
This lightly raced 4YO is the off track specialist with 2 of its 3 wins coming on an off track. Throw out its last two races in which it was misplaced. If the track is not fast Saturday this horse should easily post a 90s number, but on a fast track it looks like an 80s horse. This is a tough horse to judge, but with more experience O/T jrth might have nice little allowance horse on an off track surface.
IKE’S MAN (14-1)
Manlove x Alibi Ike
This 6YO winner of a $20K claimer 8 races back will be going a shorter distance today than it has recently. It looks like O/T mattress hopes that the early speed it has shown in its route races will translate to win in today’s sprint. This 6YO has finished in the money in 14 of its 23 sprint races. The declining numbers recently and racing on only 2 weeks rest makes it doubtful that this horse will see success in its first race for its new connections.
AZROC MYSTERY (9-1)
Unaccounted For x Petong
This winner of 3 of its last six races will attempt to go wire to wire. There seems to be little speed in this race which could benefit this 4YO colt for O/T aphill, but it has had very little rest between races lately. Two races back this speedster posted a 103 rating and has averaged a 98 for its connections. It has come alive for me since I picked it up in a $5K claimer, but it does need some rest.
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