Appropriately Named The Favorite

It’s an excellent weekend for racing in Washington state.  The storms have passed and the Chinook winds have melted all residue of snow leaving mild sunny days.  This Saturday we have five young sophomores going 7.5F on the firm turf surface in the Art Tilting Stakes for a purse of $55,000.

PP1: SOCK ME UP(eng): 3yoC by Sakhee, out of Seeking The Gold x Deputy Minister

            Trainer: tuffguy            Rank: 64          Odds: 3/1

            Running style:  Stalker, 2 to 7 lengths off lead

            2008 record:    1: 1-0-0, 1^st by 2 ¾, 73sp, 8.5F turf allowance, 4 weeks ago

            Remark:           Has to improve

Sock Me Up(eng) had his way with the short field of 3 opponents last time out as the even money favorite so it’s hard to say just how well he will match up to the favorite in Saturday’s race.  The way that he moves in his races and how he perform last time out I would have figured to see him again in another route rather than a furlong shorter.  Sock Me Up(eng) is comfortable sitting off the pace as well as taking the early lead.  In this field, he will most likely sit off the pace.  He will need to pull out his best race, however, in order to make an impact in the outcome.

PP2: HOT AND READY(den): 3yoC by Hot Run, out of More Than Ready x Vice Regent

            Trainer: bardo             Rank: 75          Odds: 3/1

            Running style:  Frontrunner

            2008 record: 2:0-1-1, 3^rd by 2 ¼, 87sp, 6F tf Stk & 2^nd by hd, 88sp, 6F tf Stk, 3 weeks ago

            Remark:           Needs to pull more reserves to hold off favorite

Hot And Ready has shown some promise – turning a year older has seen the colt improve by 10 points in his speed figures.  The downfall with him, however, is that he isn’t quite able to hold off fast finishing closers.  The colt is not afraid of a dogfight, though, and makes the winners work hard to get past him, which is a quality point.  Last time out was a gutsy and heartbreaking loss by a head in the 6F turf Green Van Special.  I’m curious to see how he handles the added distance.

PP3: CHEAP INDIAN: 3yoC by Indian Territory, out of Lost Soldier x Bold Secretariat

            Trainer: tguidry            Rank: 163        Odds: 19/1, Longshot

            Running style:  Deep closer, 7 to 10 lengths off pace

            2008 record:    1:0-0-0, 4^th by 12, 68sp, 6F turf Stk, 3 weeks ago

            Remark:           Highly unlikely          

Unfortunately, Cheap Indian is way in over his head at this point in his career.  The colt has been reaping the ‘benefits’ of running in short stakes fields, however, his speed figures aren’t exactly up to par, especially in Saturday’s race where the favorite coolly recorded a 101sp.  Cheap Indian is a deep closer who will most likely fall to the back of this field and not move from that spot unless he improves by 30 points.

PP4: DIRECTOR WALSH: 3yoC by Lemon Drop Kid, out of Storm Cat x A.P. Indy

            Trainer: phonetrick      Rank: 612        Odds: 3/1

            Running style: Stalker, 1 to 3 lengths off pace

            2008 record:    2:1-1-0, 2^nd by 3, 87sp, 8F tf alw & 1^st by 1, 86sp, 7F tf alw, 2 weeks ago

            Remark:           Could surprise

Director Walsh comes from regal bloodlines that suggest that he showed love routes, and in fact, he is 3 for 3 in the money in turf routes.  His two starts this year have been very respectable.  The colt sat close to the pace, adding pressure to the frontrunner.  Last time out Director Walsh broke 2^nd best before taking charge and wiring the field to win by 1 over 7F turf.  He will need to run his best to top the favorite.

PP5:  APPROPRIATELY: 3yoC by Pulpit, out of Storm Cat x Forty Niner

            Trainer: pjlstables        Rank: 90          Odds: Even, Favorite

            Running style:  Stalker, 1 to 2 lengths off pace

            2008 record:    1:1-0-0, 1^st by 1 ¼, 101sp, 7F turf Stk, 2 weeks ago

            Remark:           Hands down winner also he falls on his face out of the gate

This colt appropriately named Appropriately (haha) returned from a 5 month layoff to make his 3yo debut a whopper!  The stakes winning colt had a nice 2yo season, but the trainer knew that some time off to grow and mature would do his charge good.  That it did!  The Sim world has yet to recognize Appropriately as a household name, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens within the year.  The colt had been training great leading up to his 3yo debut; he was as sharp as a tack for that race.  Appropriately broke swiftly, flying to the rail with the early lead.  He opened up down the backstretch and was eased up on a bit down the lane as to not over exert himself.  He did enough to get the job done and in the end recorded an incredible 101sp.  Back just a short 2 weeks later and it doesn’t both me a bit.  They say that it takes roughly 3 starts after a layoff to see the best out of your horse… well, wowzers, I can’t wait to see the ability Appropriately has.

MY PREDICTED OUTCOME:

It looks to me like everybody else will be racing for 2^nd…

1^st:       Appropriately …even

2^nd:      Director Wash …3/1

3^rd:      Sock Me Up(eng) …3/1

Good Luck, all! J

~Keely