The Virginia Danseur Bonanza

Northern California plays host to ‘The Virginia Danseur Bonanza,’ a 7 ½ furlong race over the firm turf for 2 year olds. All entries will be trying to bring home the bulk of the $75,000 purse as they come down the stretch Saturday.  Just one question before we get into the race preview coverage, have you just thought for one second why Northern California would host this race instead of West Virginia or Virginia??  Just wondering.  Hehehe.  Ok, here we go.

(PP1 – 3/1) Booksmart, of the Hillside stable, will be making his second consecutive start here in Northern California, not a bad move since he fared well here last time by winning The Stormy Event Bonanza, another 7 ½ furlong turf race.  This Tapit X Danzig X Codex colt fired his best turf SP # to date in that one, a 71 SP #.  He has yet to fire as high as he did in his debut, a 76 SP # going 5 furlongs over the dirt.  The Hillside connection tried dirt in the next two races, but Booksmart dropped off to a 68 and 69 in a Stakes and open allowance attempt.  That was when the surface switch was called for, and Booksmart responded grabbing a 2^nd two races back and then winning his last here in Northern California.  Look for him to run right off the pace and compete for the third place finish.

(PP2 – 2/1) Dragon City, of the Asoiaf stable, looks like he will be taking pictures after the race.  This Awesome Again X Carson City X Lyphard colt is the only entry to have fired a SP in the 80’s.  Although he did that in a MSW race, I think he can handle the step up in company.  Just running two times, Dragon City won in his second attempt at 7 furlongs as he took to the turf like a woman does to shopping, with a vengeance. Dragon City won the MSW 7 furlong turf race with an 80 SP # and a three length lead at the wire.  Dragon City is a front-running colt, so look for him to break fast and try to wire the field.   I think this is a nice placement for the Asoiaf stable and I will be waving the Dragon City flag coming down the stretch.

(PP3 – 2/1) Make Haste(IRE), of the Quickcall stable, is the co-morning line favorite along with Dragon City.  This Street Cry(IRE) X Nureyev X Diesis(GB) colt is almost a carbon copy of Dragon City.  Make Haste(IRE) is also making his Stakes debut after winning a MSW turf race in his last out.  The win was with authority, even though it was only a 6 furlong trip, as the colt was pulling away down the stretch.  A sign that he could like the added distance today??  We’ll have to see.  He fired a 76 SP # in that win, very close to the 80 fired by Dragon City.  Make Haste(IRE) seems to be a better dirt sprinter than Dragon City, but who cares?!?  Today, we are running right under the classic route distance on the turf.  Look for a battle down the stretch as Make Haste(IRE) tries to catch Dragon City.  I will throw out a 2-3 exacta in this one.

(PP4 – 6/1) Buzzy, of the Rmkj18 stable, is the long shot of the race and for good reason.  This Buddha X Danehill X Alzoa colt is not on the right surface.  In his one attempt on the turf, he fired a SP # nearly 10 below his worst dirt race.  Not only that, but Buzzy got the ‘Buzz’ in that turf attempt right here in Northern California against none other than Booksmart, and Booksmart isn’t even the best horse in this field!!  I would recommend to the fine Rmkj18 stable that Buzzy belongs in a DIRT route, heck, maybe even another DIRT off-track since he fired his best SP # of 77 in a dirt route in the slop.  Look for Buzzy to be crossing the wire long after Dragon City has taken his pictures.

(PP 5 – 3/1) Gallant Dancer, of the Coffee stable, probably has the nicest breeding of the bunch, in my worthless opinion.  This Sadler’s Wells X Daylami(IRE) X Theatrical(IRE) colt won his only race to-date.  The Coffee stable definitely hit the bull’s eye in that placement as a stepping stone to this race.  In that MSW 7 furlong race, Gallant Dancer closed from 3 lengths back to pull away and win by 1 ¾ lengths, firing a 63 SP #.  My only concern with Gallant Dancer is his stepping up to Stakes Company right after a win in MSW Company.  Not something, I really care for.  If he improves on his last out, Gallant Dancer could either be fighting Booksmart for 3^rd or battling Make Haste(IRE) down the stretch as they try to run down Dragon City.

Bigbaba