Can Anyone Take Down Black Coin?

Nextbonus sends his 4yo Green Desert mare to the post representing Queensland. He has trained her to top form for this judging by her last outing. There, she beat a small field of boys by 5 ½ lengths in the listed Junior Endless Bonanza Stakes, posting a career-best SP of 108. She has been running just a bit longer than today’s 10 furlongs lately, but the shorter trip shouldn’t trouble her a bit. She broke her maiden and cleared her first condition at the distance before stretching out farther. When she wins, she REALLY wins so we’re not quite sure what that 108 could have been. 7/1 are very enticing odds and well worth risking a few hard earned bucks.

Queensland also holds down the 2nd post, represented by jacklad’s runner. This 5 year old Fort Wood horse started his career very strongly, winning 5 of his first 8 trips to the post and lighting the board in the other 3. Then came a couple of tries in graded stakes which, while not disastrous, were not nearly as successful. In fact, he has yet to win again since the step up, including 2 tried when dropped back down to allowance company. Placing-wise, his last outing – in an open allowance – was his worst effort, finishing 5th in a 6 horse field. So, he is not exactly in top form and has not shown the ability to win yet against this caliber. Possible for a minor award, but looking elsewhere for the top spot.

Queensland fills out the trifecta of inner post positions with stretch’s entry. 4 year old Refuse To Bend mare has won 6 of her 16 starts. All the wins, except the MSW, came in allowances where she obviously feels very comfortable. She has tried stakes race 4 times, with a 4th being her best showing. Her best efforts don’t quite fit with the best in here. She does have some stamina in her pedigree and this will be a full furlong farther than she’s run before which might help. Her closing style won’t hurt here. But, neither will probably help enough

Ireland (and by way of pedigree – Sweden) are represented by eirann’s entry. 4 year old Songline colt was bred from an open Danzig x Mr. Prospector mare who didn’t do much on the track and hasn’t produced much in 4 tries at breeding. This filly finally broke her maiden her 8th try. She finished mid-pack in her 2 tries in allowances after that. Again, closing style suits here, but serious doubts that she can catch the leaders.

ATC’s first entry is foxon’s 4 year old Azamour mare. She is a bit of a handicapping puzzle here. She comes into this race extremely hot having won her last 7 races, all but 1 by at least 2 lengths. However, the largest field she faced in any of those were 5 others. She tried stakes company for the first time last time, winning by 3 ¾ lengths, beating a couple of pretty good fillies. She’s beaten the boys once before. The sim handicapper doesn’t give her much respect, sending her off at 12/1, which is twice as high as her previous highest odds. Great value play.

Ace sends us this big good looking roan son of El Prado to represent Ireland. He’s won ¼ of his 36 races and just shy of ¼ million dollars. Posted a 105 in his last effort, a runner-up finish against a pretty salty group of stakes runners. That was at a mile and he should enjoy the extra 2 furlongs today’s race affords him. He’s won 3 of his 6 races at the distance and an anticipated quick pace shouldn’t hurt his closing style any. He’ll have to step it up a bit to beat the favorite, but that’s not impossible.

And what a gift she’s been!!! Crandy’s 4yo mare is by modest King Of Kings who was paired up with Seattle Slew x Kingmambo to complete the breeding. Since breaking her maiden in her debut, she’s faced exclusively graded company. And done so very capably, winning the Gr 1GREEN MONSTER Special 2 back. That said, this will still be a step up for the girl. It will be her first try against males and she has not fared quite so well when she’s faced older horses. She’s young yet, relatively in experienced with only 12 races, and still getting better. Can she get better enough to win this one?

Another “Alpine” horse representing the ATC. 4 year old Academy Award colt is in pretty deep waters here. He did manage a listed stakes win after spending much of his 2yo campaign in the ATC’s 2yo series. He’s only managed to hit the board once since then, a 3rd in a nw3x allowance. Deserving of the long odds and not a threat here.

Tees entry representing Ireland is an impeccably bred 4 year old Giant’s Causeway colt. He’s out of a B-rated Rainbow Quest mare and really enjoyed the summer of his 3yo year. During that time he won 3 straight, breaking his maiden and clearing a couple of allowance conditions. Then he stepped up to stakes level with a couple of solid showings against older horses though he couldn’t get the win. Comes in here off his worst performance in several months. Has only raced 9 times so who knows how much he is capable of. He’ll have to prove how much to get the win.

Snowchief is using this race as an opportunity to announce her membership in the ATC with her entry. He’s a strapping 4yo Kitten’s Joy colt who, unfortunately, is also deserving of his long odds. (Maybe Sharon left all her good stuff at DP and NWRC.) He’s cleared his conditions and managed to win a stakes against a short weak field but has not fared well in his other stakes tries. Was a struggling 5th in his ATC Champion’s Day race. No threat against these.

Coolk’s Ireland entry heads to the post as the betting favorite. He’s a 5 year old son of Sadler’s Wells and has only raced 15 times. But what an impressive 15 race career. He managed to break his maiden and clear his conditions in his first 4 races. All he’s done since then is win 5 stakes races including the Gr 1 World Cup Turf Nine and place in 3 other graded stakes. 2 of those were open Gr 1 races. He’s faced and beaten better groups than this. And he draws the hot jockey. His race to lose.

So, eirann has a thing for the SWE tag? Ireland’s 2nd Swedish bred entry is this 4 year old son of Local Hero. He won 4 of his first 6, including 2 stakes races, with a couple of 3rd place finishes thrown in. However, he’s only managed to win one, a restricted allowance, since that promising start. Going a furlong and a half farther than he’s run before. But, that sly eirann matched her Swedish sire up with Cozzene x Nijinsky to complete the scratch breeding. Hmmmmmm. 10 furlongs wouldn’t really appear out of the question then. Unfortunately, he’s in a tough spot to prove if he likes the added ground. Let’s just watch this one.