A Storm’s a Brewing
As a roving reporter I get to travel all over the world for the BTB – What a wonderful life…… This week my travels take me to Florida. As I’m writing this article, I am watching the early morning workouts at the Florida Downs. The race I have been asked to cover is the $500,000 Grade 1 Kindness of Hearts over 10 furlongs on dirt. This race is open to 4 years old and up and has attracted a small field of seven. Let’s get down to the preview………
#1 YEAR OF THE VOTE (EVENT OF THE YEAR x NORTHERN BABY x ALYDAR) is the morning line favorite at 2/1. This good looking 4YO Colt, trained by Catahoula, is a multiple graded race winner with over $500K in earnings. His last race in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap was very disappointing as he could only finish 7th with a low 96 SP behind another runner in this race Tower Storm. Prior to that run YEAR OF THE VOTE had been very impressive turning in a couple of 110+ SP’s. How he bounces back from that run just a couple of weeks ago will have a big impact on his chances. In this small field he has a good chance to at least get in the frame.
#2 LIVE BY THE SWORD (WAR CHANT x SADLER’S WELLS x CURE THE BLUES) is 5/1 in the morning line. This 5 Year Old Horse, trained by hijacked, has placed in graded company and is also an ex-claimer! In his last run he posted an impressive 106 SP finishing well to take 3rd in the Grade 1 CA Classic. That was probably one of the best runs of his career. With his breeding I think LIVE BY THE SWORD could use another furlong or two – it certainly would be worth a try. He will be closing fast down the stretch and could cash a small check here.
#3 TOWER STORM (STORM CAT x FORTY NINER x TOWER WALK(GB)). This 6 Year Old has won over $3.5 Million in his career and is another multiple graded race winner. He won the Blue Grass Derby in 2002 and was 2nd in the Middle Jewel Stakes. At this morning’s workouts, this good looking horse certainly impressed me. His recent runs have also been impressive. His trainer lonespeed has taken good care of this horse and appears to have picked a good race for this former classic winner. He finished 2nd in the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap, beaten by half-a-length and looks like he’s rounding nicely into top form. TOWER STORM likes to run in front and with his speed and the small field here, I expect him to get out in front and stay there.
#4 WALDEN POND (GREEN APPLAUSE x BOUNDARY x HALO). This 5 Year Old stakes winner and former claimer is the outsider of the race at 23/1 and is clearly out classed here. His last five races have been unimpressive and I expect this one to finish a long way back here
#5 GALILEO’S DAUGHTER (STORM CAT x KINGMAMBO x GREEN DANCER). This 6 Year Old, trained by hamster is the only mare in the race. She is nice looking horse with over $200K in earnings. This race represents a big step up in class for this 8/1 shot and although she has won 13 races, I don’t think she will be much of a factor here.
#6 HURRICANE IVAN (A.P. INDY x KINGMAMBO x SECRETARIAT). This 4 Year Old Colt trained by 2die4 has placed in graded company and is an 8/1 shot in the morning line. This is another runner that tends to like to lead and going up against Tower Storm for the lead will be tough. That being said, his last two runs have been pretty good with SP’s over 100. This lightly raced colt could still be improving and I would not be surprised to see him in the frame as they cross the finish line.
#7 WONDERBOY COUGAR(IRE) (BARATHEA(IRE) x POLAR FALCON x NODOUBLE). This 4 Year Old is the 5/2 second favorite here. About 10 weeks ago he ran an outstanding 112 SP in winning the Grade 1 “Out of the City” Handicap at the New York track . He has also posted two other SP’s over 110 this year and if he can find another one of those he will win here………. However in his last start WONDERBOY COUGAR(IRE) was a disappointing 9th in the CA Classic finishing over 8 lengths behind the winner and almost 3 lengths behind LIVE BY THE SWORD, who is also in this race. As that race was just a couple of weeks ago, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back. He will need to be on the top of his form to win here.
Even though this is a small field, we should see a good race between the leading contenders. I’m going to take TOWER STORM to edge WONDERBOY COUGAR(IRE) and YEAR OF THE VOTE If you’re looking for a longer priced runner for some exotic wagers take Hurricane Ivan.