Del Penn Champions Day Dirt Sprint
DPCD Dirt Sprint
6 Furlongs Dirt, 3yo+, $500,000
PP 1- DEVIL’S BIT 8/1
This 4 year old owns a pedigree (Sadler’s Wells x Red Ransom x Gone West), that says he should reek most of his damage while going a distance over the lawn.
The Texasace trainee however, has a different plan, as evidenced by his quick closing 2nd last time out, in the Grade 2 6 furlong, Devil Went Down To Delaware Stakes.
In that race, Devil turned on the heat late, and sizzled home fastest of all, while scoring a very respectable 109 speed rating in his second place effort.
There is some speed to run at in this 20 horse field, however, The Devil will have his work cut out, as the deep stretch here, is setting up to look more like a cavalry charge, than a horse race!
He does love this track however, and must be considered a threat.
PP 2- QUALUDE 25/1
Super29’s three year old son of Eddington, is a talented young colt with a bright future, however, he may be in a little over his head against these. Qualude (Whose actual spelling should have included an additional ‘a’ (Quaalude), has been struggling of late on the minor stakes circuit, posting average speed ratings in the high 90’s. That just wont be quite enough to ‘Git-R-Done’ against this type.
Jockey B.F. Abman, will have to pull something special out of his bag of tricks to collect a paycheck here. A nice colt, but today, probably an ‘also ran’.
PP 3- BACHELOR PARTY 12/1
This second entry from the ‘Super Stables Network’ (Super19), seems to have fallen a bit off form, in the 3 races following his fast closing 2nd in week #3322’s ‘The Forgo Stakes. He needs to step it up in a big way here, as a repeat of his past two will find him a football field behind the leaders at the wire. My guess is that the stable was hoping for rain when they entered.
If he can find the lost form that took the brass ring in the Grade 3, Cracked Peanuts Sprint, he can then be considered a contender.
PP 4- BARB’S AT THE SPA 21/1
It’s been 8 races since Lukebarn’s son of Tomahawk has seen the winner’s circle, and things are surely not going to get any easier for him in this one. Barb’s best hope is for a blistering pace, and no traffic problems, which could open the door for his late kick to pick up a minor award, however, it’s likely that he might prefer an additional furlong, as that wire comes up mighty fast in a ¾ mile sprint.
PP 5- SHADES OF GOLD 7/1
Finished 9th at 7 ½ furlongs in his last outing, however, was only 3 ½ lengths behind the winner, and still posted a very respectable 105 speed figure. Ran remarkably well in his 3 races prior to that, winning two while placing in the other, while sporting speed figures of 108, 109, & a 112, while competing at this track.
Should be sitting just off the pace, ready to pounce on the leaders as they hit the top of the stretch.
Trainer, PG53, and jockey N. Lawton have a very live player in this one!
PP 6- AGREED 6/1
The royally bred (Seeking The Gold x Nijinsky II x Secretariat), Grade 1 placed, race favorite, has been spending most of his time sprinting over the lawn. He has however shown tremendous ability on the dirt as well, as evidenced by his blazing win over this track, in the Del Penn Breeder’s Cup Sprint.
This horse completes the PG Stables parley (trained by PG45), and gives the PG Stables Syndicate the top 2 favorites in this event. Agreed is certain to be amongst the few who try and jump out to an early lead. He is the most likely of the speed horses, to still be in contention come the finish.
A very serious threat here.
PP 7- WHITE RAIMENT(IRE) 13/1
This talented 3 year old, takes on older for just the second time in his career. He did however, put a spanking on his elders last time out, while going wire to wire in the Mine Book Special.
Whitey is just ¼ length away, from having won 5 of his last 6, and has hit the board in 11 of 12 lifetime sprint starts.
Trainer, Revelation, brings his colt to the dance with nothing less in mind than a top 3 finish. Should he be able to get out, and control the pace, the others will have their hands (or hooves?) full!
The Dark Horse Special!
PP 8- BOTH SIDES WIN(JPN) 19/1
5heffsbarn might be a bit ambitious with this one. The 3 year old son of Symboli Kris S, has performed admirably against allowance company, but has had difficulty proving himself on the minor stakes circuit.
It’s horseracing, and anything can happen, but my gut tells me that this is like bringing a knife to a gun fight! The experience can’t hurt, but expect to see this guy back vs. a level lesser in his next outing.
PP 9- JADE PIRATEER(NY) 20/1
This 3 year old trainee from the Ohjoanie Barn, is the only one in this field that can likely show a 12 furlong marathon in it’s past performance lines. Showed a great deal of promise in his last, while closing quickly to finish 4th in the Del Penn Breeder’s Cup Sprint, and posting a 106 speed rating in the process.
May need a few more races against this kind before he can be considered a threat, but keep your eyes on his development, and don’t be afraid to plop your money down on him here, next year.
PP 10- RHIBUS 17/1
This multiple Grade 1 winner, has banked nearly one and one quarter million dollars, while routing. His sprint record however, is nothing to set aside either, as he shows 4 wins and a 3rd in 5 lifetime sprint starts.
Trainer, Gradetwo will be hoping for a traffic free top of the stretch, as several are expected to kick into high gear there, as they eye the wire in the distance.
A very very nice horse with tons of potential, but may do his best running over a longer course. Still…may have to spread across the board at 17/1.
PP 11- ALYTHUNDER II 22/1
This race’s defending champion has done his best running vs. allowance class horses over this past season. To have a chance for the repeat, the afc2 trainee will have to step it up several notches, even beyond his stunner last year where he stormed home from nearly last to first, in route to posting a nice 105 speed rating.
While prepping for this race in October, in the Del Penn Breeder’s Cup Sprint, he never fired, and finished a distant 13th. He did come back to win an allowance prep earlier this month, and could be just on edge enough to cause some damage here. He will certainly be amongst the crowd charging to the wire once past the turn for home.
Not without a chance.
PP 12- SUPER TORNADO 13/1
This is the 3rd, of four horses, entered in this race, from the Super Racing Network (Super 25). He probably was hoping for rain and an off track, as he found himself posing in the winner’s circle following his last two jaunts over the muddy going. If he can run back to his form in the Hulk Project Memorial, he certainly must be considered a contender.
Jockey N. Armstrong will do all he can to hustle his mount up quickly, and hopefully find himself sitting just off the hips of the leaders before they hit the top of the turn. With a controlled pace, Armstrong may be able to make that “One Small Step for Man, and One Giant Leap for Mankind”…only on a racetrack this time.
PP 13- RIFLEMAN 17/1
This ever improving colt from the kbwish barn, is the winner of 4 of his last 5 races, albeit all against allowance company. His classic pedigree, is one that several Simmers have duplicated over the years (Forty Niner x Seattle Slew x Northern Dancer), some with great success.
This fella is definitely ready to challenge stakes class foes, however, this may be a pretty tough assignment to get the ball rolling with. An unfavorable note may be the trainer’s selection of rider, as jockey T. Tyson is currently finding the winner’s circle at a 3% clip.
This is a very nice horse, with an extremely bright future, but for my money, I say let’s watch one vs. this kind first.
PP 14- COCKSPUR RULER(KY) 35/1
There’s certainly no questioning trainer Godchild’s ambition here! Cocky has done well facing 3 year old allowance fields, and his quickest race was registered the single time he ventured out against older.
Unfortunately, as shown by his morning line odds, he has little hope of making much of an impact here. A few more against allowance types, and then a slow transition into the minor stakes circuit, might be just what the doctor ordered. Keep tabs on this one for later on.
PP 15- VALENTINE AVENGER(TX) 34/1
I guess a big race at
Now don’t get me wrong… This is not a bad horse at all. He is however, the least experienced in the field, and his past performances don’t yet reflect the kind of numbers that it will take to be near at the wire.
It’s likely back to allowance company following this race, but with a bit more maturing and a few more races under his belt (do horses even wear belts?), he may be posing for pictures vs. this kind sometime soon.
PP 16- KIWI’S FIANCE(KY) 12/1
This is a very nice 3 year old that has rattled off 4 consecutive excellent speed figures (106-109-108-105). His last race found him finishing 5th, just a short 3 lengths behind the winner in a Grade 3 Stakes. Trainer kbsweet, brings her son of Eurosilver to this race on a mere 4 wins lifetime, however, this horse has definitely shown signs of great things to come.
Is he sharp enough to pull off an upset here? Well, I’d like to see a few more against stakes company first, but Kiwi just might have enough heart to make his presence felt here.
PP 17- SATRIANI 22/1
Ya gotta go back a long ways to find this fellow’s last win, but this Grade 1 placed, Nathndtroi trainee, does possess a series of races going back about a year, that if repeated, would put him right amongst the leaders at the wire.
Satriani appears to have been off form for the most of 2007, however, his last race was inspiring, finishing a close 2nd, with a nice 104 speed figure. Perhaps that race was a wake up call, and bigger and better things can be expected today.
PP 18- BIODYNAMIC(KY) 28/1
The fourth, and final entry from the Super Racing Network (Super11), was Grade 3 placed as a 2 year old, but has gone winless in his last four against cheap allowance company.
He does have a pair of stakes wins to his credit, however, would have to take it to a completely different level to seriously compete here. His last race did earn him a really nice 108 speed rating while finishing second, but that was against a very low end allowance field.
Not the kind of wager I’m looking for here.
PP 19-
Fatattack2’s Grade 2 winner, may be a nice overlay at 16/1 odds. He prepped in fine fashion, winning a 6 furlong allowance and earning a 103 speed rating along the way.
Secco has earned in excess of $600,000, and he hasn’t even truly blossomed yet. This one is earmarked to do great things in his 4 year old season… but will he send his 3 year old season off with a blast???
Should definitely be included in your exotics.
PP 20- BARB’S LEISURE 11/1
This Grade 3 placed, Leo3 trainee, shows 11 wins from 28 sprint starts. A fine percentage indeed. He’s kinda like Forest Gump’s ‘box of chocolates’, in that with him, “you never know whatcha gonna get”.
The one thing you do know is, that come the later part of the race, he’s certain to be coming hard! Will the 20 hole have a negative impact on him? He’s likely to fall way back and tuck into the rail as soon as possible, so hopefully not.
Must be included in all exactas and trifectas. At 11/1, a small win wager might not be too far fetched either!
Good luck to all entrants, and Happy Holidays to All!
Socalslew