Habanero Cadet and Pseudoscientific Tangle in United Countries ‘Cap

Two 4-year-olds each exiting a grade one win — Habanero Cadet and Pseudoscientific — are entered in Saturday’s $750,000 United Countries Handicap (G1) in New Jersey and in the 11-furlong test they’ll face a veteran on the upswing in The Eli Face and fellow grade one winner Illuminary. The first three are co-favored at odds of 9/2 in the 10-horse field.

Scoobysnak’s Habanero Cadet has really come into his own in his 4-year-old campaign, winning three of four races including The Frankel (G1) in his most recent outing. That race was at 1 3/16 miles, though, and here he’ll stretch out an additional 3/16s. His lone prior try at a race at 11 furlongs or more came in the Derby de English (G1), where he finished a dull 12th, though the off going of the track may not have been to his liking that day. One race before the Derby, he won a 10.5 furlong listed stakes in his second career start, so perhaps his relative inexperience also came into play in the Derby debacle. Habanero Cadet is by Sharmadal and out of the she-mare Habanero Poet (Dylan Thomas x Montjeu), who earned his grade one win in the 10.5 furlong Tattersalls Gold (G1). B.Jungnitsch retains the mount and the pair will start from post eight.

Pseudoscientific was a two length winner of the Tattersalls Gold in his last start and the Uncle Mo 4-year-old claimed victory in an 11-furlong allowance race last August, making the race distance less of a concern for owner Xpansion4. His other graded win came in last year’s Los Angeles Derby (G2) and he has finished second in the Second Coming (G2) and Northern Beer Cap (G3). Whereas Habanero Cadet is a mid-pack closer, Pseudoscientific likes to linger closer to the pace in the early going. Pseudoscientific hails from a strong female family. Dam Ancient Astronaut (by Distorted Humor) was a grade two winner, and his second dam, Hall of Famer Final Exit (by Dynaformer) won the Breeders’ Bowl Distaff (G1) and beat the boys in the Middle Jewel Stakes (G1) after a second-place finish in the Bluegrass Oaks (G1). Third dam Heaven’s Gate (Seeking the Gold x Northern Dancer x Halo) is also a Hall of Famer and grade two winner. W. Cahill who was aboard Psseudoscientific (post two) for his Los Angeles Derby win will be aboard here.

The Eli Face was more of a journeyman for his first 19 races before owner Redhill10 decided to geld the son of Lope de Vega. Since then, he has won two of five races, earned a 110+ speed figure in three races and finished on the board in a pair of grade one races. He won a 10.5 furlong listed stakes since the surgery and has allowance wins at 12- (twice), 13-, and 14-furlongs. More of a one run closer than the previous pair, this 5-year-old’s run came up short last time out in the Tattersalls Gold, but he did finish ahead of Habanero Cadet one race prior to that when second in the Sydney Cup (G1). Dam Death Stare (by Deep Impact and out of a Street Cry he-mare) won the 12-furlong Rippleschip Stakes (G2). The Eli Face will start from post seven under jockey O. A. Haack.

Illuminary enters here with a nine-race losing streak dating back to March of 2019. That win came in the 12-furlong Sydney Derby (G1) and he did finish ahead of Habanero Cadet in his next start, when fourth in the Derby de English. He nearly broke the losing streak in September when third — beaten by just a half-length — in the 14.5-furlong Saint Legend. Clk2000’s 4-year-old son of Nyquist (out of a nondescript Kitten’s Joy mare) enters this off another third-place finish, this in the Capitals Major Price (G3) earlier this month in Sweden. Jockey T. Small will have to find a way to save ground as the pair start from the outside post 10 and are listed at 9/1 on the morning line.

Fletewoode possesses a career record of nine wins from 15 starts but owner Takolusa3 chose to run Fletewoode in a series of five hot races (all wins) to start his career leaving him with an adjusted record of four wins from 10 starts, still pretty good. The 4-year-old son of English Channel (scratchbred, with Diesis and Riverman underneath) seems to love racing at 11 furlongs or distances just around there and earned a career best 114 speed figure while winning his first career stakes race last time out in the 11.5-furlong Danjing Turf Stayer. He’s generally forwardly placed and has a real chance to grind out a victory here in his first graded attempt. He’s 8/1 here and will start in gate six with jockey M. Bennett in the irons.

Shadeed99’s Ryans Gold looked to be developing into a top flight horse late last summer, winning the Furstenberg (G3) and finishing second in the Early Months Stakes (G2) while earning speed figures of 112 and 114. The Early Months, though, began a seven-race losing streak that the 4-year-old son of Adelaide (out of a Seeking the Gold mare) brings to this event. Ryans Gold has failed to hit the board in that span, finishing fourth on four occasions, with his best finish coming in the nine-furlong Nakayama Handicap (G2) in February. The United Countries marks his second attempt in a grade one race, with the first resulting in a late-tiring fourth-place finish in the 12-furlong Vicky Derby. Ryans Gold (7/1) hails from the same female family as Irish Oaks (G1) winner Ollie Sand and drew the rail here.

Turffever4’s Mischief Man was switched to turf for his 4-year-old season and the bay son of Into Mischief has yet to miss a top three finish in four starts on the grass. He enters this much tougher spot following a pair of allowance race victories in which he paired up his career high speed figure of 109 (but with margins of victories big enough to suggest more was in the tank). He twice raced in graded company on dirt, finishing third in the 10-furlong Princess Cap (G2) and 11th in the Shiny Gem Stakes (G2). Mischief Man will be tested for class and stamina here in the longest outing of his career and first grade one race. Stakes winning dam Ms. Fashionista (by Curlin and out of an A.P. Indy mare) has also produced grade two turf winner Curly’s Star (by Sea the Stars). B. Child is in the irons and will pilot the 10/1 shot from post four.

While Mischief Man is a recent convert to turf racing, Woette2’s recent auction purchase Star Fire Ted is switching back to turf following 16 races on dirt. Previous owner royalbluer started this Sea the Stars colt on turf, where he won one of two races before the prolonged surface switch. While mainly run in seven furlong to 1 1/16-mile races for Royalbluer, Woette2 stepped him up to 10 furlong races, where he won his first two (including a residency restricted stakes race) and finished seventh in a listed stakes while earning the three highest speed figures of his career (his top of 113 came in an allowance race victory). The class test is in play as he failed to hit the board in three graded heats on dirt. Star Fire Ted is outwardly drawn in post nine and is 10/1 on the board.

Alibilane1’s Hedenham has raced mostly on dirt in his 21 race career but he does have a smattering of turf starts thrown in, including a second-place performance in an 11-furlong listed stakes race last time out. He earned a 111 speed figure on that day, just one below his top of 112 which he earned on two occasions, while winning a 12-furlong listed stakes race last year and when second at 11.5 furlongs in his prior start. The 5-year-old son of Eskendereya ( a scratchbred with Mr Prospector and Roberto underneath) has five career wins (one on turf) and has hit the board in 15 of 21 races. The track handicapper likes his chances, installing the bay horse at odds of 6/1 just behind the three favorites. Jockey F. Allen rides from post three.

Raven’s Scat is the probable pacesetter here with an improbable pedigree for 11-furlong turf racing. His sire is main track sprint influence Successful Appeal backed up with Scat Daddy and Raven’s Pass on the dam’s side. Further, his dam never won beyond 5 1/2-furlongs. But that’s just pedigree, Ynchm1’s Raven’s Scat began his career with 18 dirt sprints, winning four of them before stretching out to short route races on the main track with a brief respite for his gelding surgery thrown in the mix. He didn’t win any of those races but his speed figures improved significantly. He was then switched to turf racing in the twilight of his career, a surface he has yet to win on but he did maintain the speed figure boost, even earning a 106 (one point below his best) in an 11 furlong race last time out. Unfortunately, a 106 or thereabouts isn’t going to cut it here unless he gets loose on the front end and lulls his rivals to sleep. He’s the longest price on the board at 13/1 and will be ridden by A. Reed from post five.

The bankroll suffered a small drop in last weekend’s racing and enters here at $2,119.45, so still positive for the year. I agree with the oddsmaker that Pseudoscientific (2), The Eli Face (7) and Habanero Cadet (8) have the best chance to win (I’m underutilizing Habanero Cadet of those three due to distance concerns) but will look to spice up the returns utilizing primarily Mischief Man (4) and Fletewoode (6) and secondarily Hedenham (3) and Star Fire Ted (9). So I’ll start with $2 exactas of the three favorites over Mischief Man and Fletewoode and $1 exactas the same way but also with Ryans Gold (1) — who I’d really like to key in fourth on a superfecta ticket — Hedenham and Star Fire Ted. I’ll add a four-horse $1 exacta box, leaving off Habanero Cadet but using the two other favorites plus Mischief Man and Fletewoode. Finally I’ll put $10 across on Fletewoode. Oh, and why not, a $.50 trifecta using the 2.4.6 and 7 over the 2,4,6,7,and 8 over the 1, 2, 3,4,6,7, 8 and 9. So $117 in fresh wagers to take the bankroll down to $2,002.45.