THIS WEEK IN MINNESOTA—WEEK 3420
A talented field has been assembled for the 10th race feature race at Minnesota Downs this week. The Car Rubbing Special Stakes will be a 9 furlong route on the Supertoy7 Marshall Turf course and offer up a $55,000 purse. A field of 12 3yo+ have passed the entry box and should provide the crowd with an exciting run today.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)GRAND TRIGGER(ENG)—11/1—karolyi sends this 3 year old colt out of DOUBLE TRIGGER(ENG) with a record of 17-4-2-4 and lifetime earnings of $126,458. This 233rd divisional ranked colt races for the Dupre stables based in Ireland. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and has had a busy schedule this year making his 18th start of the season this week. He has picked up 4 allowance wins so far but has yet to pick up a cheque in his 2 stakes starts to date, both Graded stakes events. He has posted his lifetime best 101 speed rating 3 times in the last 5 starts. His best results come when he runs on the front end and with the rail today should be quickly out of the gate at the start of the race but will have to be rated well in order to have something left in the final stretch strides. The rider for today’s race will be Macknamara (5.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.
2)KRIS MATTERS ETS(JPN)—33/1—esstable sends this 3 year old colt out of SYMBOLI KRIS S with a record of 13-3-1-2 and lifetime earnings of $66,043. He is out of the mare ALL THAT MATTERS who was 7/37 at the track and who has 2 foals on record with this colt the only winner to date. This 518th divisional ranked colt races for the Theo Stables Inc. and is owned by the resident manager right here at Minnesota Downs. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and started his career with 3 races on the dirt before switching to the turf. He broke his maiden in his 7th attempt but has picked up his form by winning his last 2 races, both 10 furlong turf allowancer races posting his lifetime best 97 speed rating in each race. He makes his stakes debut today and his connections are attempting to see how good this colt can be to determine whether or not to start him in the Minnesota Festival of Racing stakes in 3 weeks time. This colt is a closer who sits near the back of the pack early and saves his best strides for the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Sanford (7.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—95.
3)TAKE SOME STICK(IRE)—9/1—webfly sends this 3 year old colt out of MONJEU(IRE) with a record of 11-4-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $125,919. This 95th divisional ranked colt races for the Del/Penn National division of the Brundlefly stables. This colt ran once as a 2 year old in latter December last year and broke his maiden when he came back to the races this year in February. He has won 3 times since including an overnite stakes race 2 starts back in The Curious Groom Stakes in Ohio over 8.5 furlongs on the turf. He posted his lifetime best 108 speed rating last time out while finishing 2nd in The Shin Control Memorial stakes over 8 furlongs in Mexico. This closer will stretch out in today’s race today but his style suggests he should have no problem with the extra ground today. The rider fort today’s race will be Merwitz (6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.
4)RAPT ATTENTION(KY)—20/1—leftcoastj sends this 3 year old colt out of MINESHAFT with a record of 13-5-2-4 and lifetime earnings of $126,340. He is out of the mare KARA AGAIN who was 2/35 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners. This 166th divisional ranked colt races for the NWRC division of the Fabman stables. This colt broke his maiden as a 2 year old in his turf debut after racing his first race on the dirt track. This year he has added 4 allowance race wins including a 3 race winning streak that was broken last time out when he finished 4th in an overnite stakes race. He posted his lifetime best 102 speed rating in the third win of that streak over 8.5 furlongs on the turf. This colt is a front runner who has had better success at the 8 to 8.5 furlong distance over today’s race which is 9 furlongs long. The rider for today’s race will be Ritterspauch (4.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—97.
5)NUREYBURG—24/1—boldrule99 sends this 4 year old colt out of JOHANNESBURG with a record of 21-3-6-2 and lifetime earnings of $140,242. He is out of the mare NINEONEUNO who was 6/35 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners. This 359th divisional ranked colt races for the local trainer Goody who is based right here at the Minnesota Downs backstretch. This colt was winless in 5 starts as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 3 year old debut last year. He added another allowance win last year and was winless in 7 starts this season before winning his last race, a 9 furlong turf allowance in Georgia. He posted his lifetime best speed rating of 107 earlier this year when he shocked the crowd by finishing 2nd in The Grade III Boogity Bear Stakes over 9 furlongs on the turf in N Florida at odds of over 33/1. While he has yet to duplicate that race, the fact that it is on his chart makes some punters very wary of this one every time he starts in a race. His versatile running style could also end up being usefull as this race unfolds today. The rider for today’s race will be Ritorto (12.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—94.
6)SEEKING SAL—5/2—keryn sends this 5 year old horse out of SEEKING THE GOLD with a record of 41-19-6-6 and lifetime earnings of $6,090,455. He is out of the mare MAC’S COURAGE who was 8/39 at the track and who has 5 foals on record, all winners including this horse who is a Graded stakes winner and another stakes winner. This 3rd divisional ranked horse races for the Del/Penn division of the Topicount stables. This horse broke his maiden in his 7th and last start as a 2 year old and added 4 wins in his 3 year old campaign including The Grade I DUR AJC Derby. He picked up 9 wins, all Graded stakes last year including The Grade I BB Mile and 5 other Grade I events. This year he has 5 more Graded stakes wins including a Grade I event. He was unsuccesfull in defending his BB Mile crown when he never really displayed any rally ending up in 9th place last time out. He posted his lifetime best 114 speed rating in the race prior while finishing 2nd in The Grade I World Cup Turf Nines race. This closer is the class of the field who’s superstar status should ensure a huge crowd at the gates at Minnesota Downs today. This will be his first start in an Ungraded race since December of 2005. The rider for today’s race will be Bowen (19.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—108.
7)BODHISATVA—5/1—ets5 sends this 4 year old colt out of FUSAICHI PEGASUS with a record of 26-6-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $203,746. He is out of the mare MAMA PRIVATE who was 9/59 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including this colt who is a Graded stakes winner. This 102nd divisional ranked colt is the second entry in the race for Theo Stables Inc managed by Theo who is the resident manager right here at Minnesota Downs. This colt was winless in 2 starts as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 8th lifetime start and 3rd start on the turf. After failing to win in his next 8 allowance starts he was dropped down to a $5K claiming race where his current connections picked him up this April. Since the claim he has won 4 of 9 starts including 2 allowance races, 1 starter allowance race and in his most recent start, The Grade III Harry Carey Memorial Stakes in Illinois over 8 furlongs on the turf where he posted a lifetime best 114 speed rating. This speed horse will have company on the front end here today but is entered here as a tuneup for the $500K Minneosta Mile to be run here at Minnesota in 3 weeks time. The rider for today’s race will be Cothill (16.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—105.
8)CAMPILLO—5/1—rafita sends this 4 year old colt out of STORM CAT with a record of 37-7-9-5 and lifetime earnings of $377,776. This 66th divisional ranked colt races for the local Minnesota Downs divison of the Rafa stables. This colt had 2 wins in 8 starts as a 2 year old including an overnite stakes race. He picked up 3 more wins last year including his 2006 finale in The Knowingly Mark Stakes in Rhode Island. This year he has added 2 more overnite stakes victories including The Tricky Escort Bonanza Stakes in Mexico where he posted his lifetime best 113 speed rating over 9.5 furlongs on a good turf. He is another who races best on or pressing the early pace which should set up some lively fractions in today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be Adams (9.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.
9)SKY OF GOLD—11/1—terp2 sends this 4 year old colt out of SKY MESA with a record of 23-5-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $123,194. This 268th divisional ranked colt races for the terp stables based over at the Ohio Thorougbred Racing residency. This colt had 2 wins in his 2 year old season where he ran exclusively on the dirt course. He was switched back and forth from the dirt and turf in his 3 year old season last year and finally managed to pick up a win in his 2006 finale. This year he has raced exclusively on the turf and after several 2nd place finishes has put up back to back wins in his most recent starts hilited last time out by a win in The Shin Control Memorial stakes in Mexico where he posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating over 8 furlongs. This closer will be stretching out to 9 furlongs today and the last time he did he broke down and ended up distanced so all eyes will be on him in this race today. The rider for today’s race will be Napper (8.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—103.
10)KRYPTOS—10/1—tejanorun sends this 4 year old colt out of SADLER’S WELLS with a record of 23-4-2-3 and lifetime earnings of $69,050. This 586th divisional ranked colt is the second entry here for the Topicount stables with this colt racing out of his unafilliated division. This colt broke his maiden as a 2 year old in his 3rd lifetime race but first on the turf. He was winless in 10 starts last year and has picked up 3 turf allowance race wins this season. He posted his lifetime best 104 speed rating last time out in a 9 furlong allowance in Georgia where he finished in 2nd place. He will be making his stakes debut today and should be trying to press the pace to ensure an honest pace for his stablemate to run at although it does not appear there will be any problem with the abundance of speed in this race today. The rider for today’s race will be McDowell (7.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.
11)LAST GROOM T—9/1—eastecho99 sends this 6 year old horse out of GONE WEST with a record of 49-12-8-4 and lifetime earnings of $1,076,280. This 183rd divisional ranked horse races for the T Syndicate stables based over at Del/Penn National. This horse was unraced as a 2 year old and won 2 of his 3 starts at 3, all on the dirt. He was eventually switched permanently to the turf in his 4 year old season where he won 4 races including 3 stakes of which 2 were Graded events. He won 4 more times last year including 3 stakes hilited by The Grade I Jack The Man Stakes in France where he posted his lifetime best 108 speed rating over the 8 furlong race. This year he has picked up a pair of allowance wins but has been struggling in his added money events-especially in Graded events. He is another speed or pace presser to add to the mix today. The rider for today’s race will be Urhausen (3.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.
12)SLAM IT HOME—11/1—shane03 sends this 4 year old colt out of GRAND SLAM with a record of 37-11-5-4 and lifetime earnings of $481,070. This 78th divisional ranked colt races out of the NWRC residency. This colt broke his maiden in his 2 year old finale taking his turf debut after a pair of dirt races. He won 7 races last year including 3 overnite and 1 rez restricted stakes race. This year he has added 3 overnite stakes race wins to his credit including his latest in The Bald Hoe Bonanza Stakes over 9 furlongs in North Dakota where he posted his lifetime best 108 speed rating. He is a closer who sits midpack early but since that last stakes win has failed to show any rally suggesting he may be a bit of his top form at the moment. The rider for today’s race will be Friar (18%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—92.
NOTE #2 KRIS MATTERS ETS(JPN), #5 NUREYBURG, #7 BODHISATVA AND #8 CAMPILLO ARE ALL ELIGIBLE FOR THE 200 CREDIT MINNESOTA DOWNS PURSE SUPPLEMENT SHOULD THEY WIN THIS RACE TODAY.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE MINNESOTA DOWNS RESIDENCY THIS WEEK
In the 15th race today the next leg of The Minnesota Last Man Standing contest is running. We have 8 runners left standing and the last place finisher will be dropped after the race this weekend. Nameless’s Mr Hagar is favored heavily to win this race having won 5 of the 6 legs of the series so far.
In the Minnesota $$$$ contest, with one month to go the leaders are currently 1)RAFA with his PALMISLAND stable with $2,653,514. 2)JOHN with his KINGKIRBY stable with $1,699,105 and 3)DOZA with his REMEDY stable with $1,402,392.
In the Minnesota BP’s contest, with one month to go the leaders are currently 1)THEOLDGUY with his BLACKBART stable with 2179 BP’S. 2)WENLOCK with his HULLWAYNE stable with 1973 BP’S. 3)TABOO with his QUIETJOHN stable with 1918 BP’S.
Last week’s winner in the High Speed rating contest was Dundey who’s horse ALY TORNADO posted a 108 speed rating taking home the 200 credit prize.
The Pick4 contest jackpot pool is at 1000 credits this week and was carried over after 2 residents had 3 out of 4 last week.
There was a big change of momentum in the Minnesota Sire Series 2 contest last week when the series leader RIDIN’ SHOTGUN owned by Fred seemed to get injured and may have to miss the next few legs of the series.
The current standings in the series are as follows:
1)FRED—RIDIN’ SHOTGUN—$254,000
2)COTHILL—BIG GULP RYRY—$152,250
3)THEO—STORMINA ETS—$108,500
4)DOZA—ONE MORE SHOT—$94,250
5)NAMELESS—FURBALL—$24,750
6)CHUCKROCK—GO GULCH GO—$16,500
7)BIGRICK—TARNISHED RECORD—$10,250
8)CITATION—MAMBO GAL—$6,000
9)JOHNNO—ONE LAST DANCE—$1,000
If Fred’s horse has to sit out any length of time it could open the door for one of the challengers to pass him in the standings. There are 8 races left to go in this series.
This years Minnesota Festival of Racing with 16 rez restricted races is being held in Week 3441 (3 weeks from now) and all members are reminded that nominations for these races will be closed on Wednesday December 12-07 at 6:00 pm gametime.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO