2yo’s Add interest to big day in Kentucky.
Television Stakes – Kentucky – Saturday 1 May 2021 at 1.30pm EST.
Grade 3/Group 3 $150k 2yo.
5 Furlongs/1000 Fast Dirt.
Huge weekend of racing in Kentucky this weekend culminating in the Derby. Before that though we have the 2yo’s going round in the G3 Television Stakes. Time for the babies to add some graded glory to their resume. Let’s take a look at the field.
- 11 – Rocks Tribal (Shalaa) Owned by lostkey17 – Jockey – T. Loesch – 11/1.
2yo colt with perfect record of 2-2-0-0 and earning $87k to kick off his career. Drops back in distance which is the only concern. Last start he won the Dynaprospector Dirt Juvenile 6.5F. Led all the way, opening a lead of 3 lengths on the turn. Stayed on very well the last furlong to win by just over a length with an SP of 78. Prior to that he won his maiden over 6F. Again, he led all the way, opening a lead of 1.5 lengths on the turn. Stayed on well to win by ½ a length with an SP of 66. Started big prices both times for nice wins. Will he be quick enough over the shorter trip to grab the early lead? Obviously has plenty of ability and he will be strong over the 5F. Big chance.
2. 2 – Rocks Deep (Recorder) Owned by lightng117 – Jockey – O A Haack – 9/1.
2yo colt with only the one start. Kicked off his career with a 2nd place finish in a 6F Allowance race on Turf. Sat 2nd around 1 length from the early lead. Dropped to 3rd on the turn and then kicked on okay the last furlong though well beaten by over 2 lengths with an SP of 69. Ran good time that day. Drop back in distance may suit. Is bred for the turf so the change in surface is interesting. Thrown in the deep end against a few that are more experienced. Think he may struggle but anything is possible in these early 2yo races.
3. 153 – City Surfer (Zensational) Owned by massatoga2021 – Jockey – T. Ace – 10/1.
2yo colt with record of 3-1-0-1 and banking $24k. Need to improve on times to compete here. Last start he was 3rd in a 6F Allowance. Sat 3rd around 1 length from the early lead. Still 3rd on the turn but fading, 2 lengths from them. Stayed on okay to be beaten just over 3 lengths with an SP of 69. Prior to that he was 5th in a 5F Allowance. Sat 3rd under a length from the lead. Still 3rd on the turn, under a length from the lead. Was in a blanket finish the last furlong and beaten only ¼ of a length with an SP of 65. Before that he won his maiden over 4.5F. Sat 3rd under a length from the lead. Took over on the turn by a head. Kicked on the last furlong to win by just under a length with an SP of 62. Has improved with every run and will need to do so again to compete here. Outside chance.
4. 1 – Rocks Chemical (Chemical Charge) Owned by deeprock1d – Jockey – G D Mate – 11/1.
2yo colt who won his only start albeit on turf. 1-1-0-0 and banking $26k. If he can transfer that to dirt, he has a chance. Won a 6F Turf Allowance at his only start. Led all the way, opening a lead of 2 lengths on the turn and maintaining that lead the last furlong to win by 2 lengths with an SP of 68. Won nicely on debut and switching surfaces here which is interesting. Drop back in distance may not help. Early speed which most of these 2yo’s have. Only has to handle the surface switch to be competitive.
5. 3 – Flower Bandit (Time Bandit) Owned by kate3 – Jockey – N. Armstrong – 14/1.
2yo filly taking on the boys. Will find this tough especially as she has yet to break her maiden and only had the one start. That start was a 3rd place finish in a 6F Allowance. Led early by ¾ of a length. Dropped to 2nd on the turn only ¼ length back but faded the last furlong to be beaten just under 4 lengths with an SP of 64. Would take a massive effort to go from maiden to G3 win but anything is possible, and she should improve of her 1st effort. Minor claims only.
6. 11 – Pop Disco (Dr Disco) Owned by atw3 – Jockey – N Lawton – 13/1.
2yo colt with perfect record of 2-2-0-0 and banking $59K. Has looked good in two wins to date, one of those in a claimer. Last start he won a 5.5F Allowance. Sat 2nd around 3 lengths from the early lead. Still 2nd on the turn but less than 2 lengths from the lead. Charged home the last furlong to win by ¾ of a length with an SP of 71. Prior to that he won a maiden claimer 4.5F. Sat 2nd around a length from the lead. Moved to within ¼ of a length on the turn. Came home strongly the last furlong to win by ¾ of a length with an SP of 65. Again, with natural improvement he should be competitive here.
7. 11 – Draconian Society (General A Rod) Owned by alysalley2 – Jockey – W. Cahill – 21/1.
This time we have a 2yo filly with the perfect record 2-2-0-0 and banking $19k. She is coming off a claiming win and an allowance and will have to improve against the boys. Last start she won a 5.5F Allowance. Sat 4th only ½ length from the early lead. Took over on the turn by ¼ of a length and kicked clear the last furlong to win by 1 length with an SP of 60. Prior to that she won a 4.5F Claimer. Sat 5th around 1 length from the lead. Moved to 2nd on the turn, around ¾ of a length from them. Finished well the last furlong to win by ¾ of a length with an SP of 62. Speeds are a bit below others here and would take massive improvement to figure here. Outside chance.
8. 1 – Gathadras (Girvin) Owned by alibilane57 – Jockey – F. Allen – 17/1.
2yo colt who has only the one start for a win. Won a 5F Allowance back in February. Led all the way, opening a lead of 2.5 lengths on the turn. Stayed on really well the last furlong to win by nearly 2 lengths with an SP of 68. Showed terrific speed in his only start to lead all the way in a comfortable win. With natural improvement he should be on speed and in the race for a long time. Chance.
9. 121 – Smarty Pirate (Lord of the Sky) Owned by johnhenrypirate. – Jockey – V. Jennings – 15/1.
2yo colt with nice record of 3-2-1-0 and banking $74K. Impressive to date and ready to step up. Last start he won a 5F Allowance. Sat 5th around 2 lengths from the early lead. Moved to 2nd on the turn only a head from them. Took over the last furlong and won by ¾ of a length with an SP of 77. Prior to that he was 2nd in a 5.5F Allowance. Sat 2nd around 1 length off the lead. Took over on the turn and got ¾ of a length in front. Grabbed the last furlong but stayed on well, beaten ¾ of a length with an SP of 69. Before that he won his maiden over 4.5F. Sat 5th around 1 length from the lead. Ran to 2nd on the turn and raced clear the last furlong to win by just under a length with an SP of 62. Improved with each run and again with natural improvement he must be included.
10. 11 – Captivating Heart (Heart’s Cry) Owned by padrebri19 – Jockey – J. Piotrowski – 5/1.
2yo colt with perfect record of 2-2-0-0 and banking $32k. Can he maintain his unbeaten record, it will be tough? Last start he won a 5.5F Allowance. Sat 6th around 3 lengths from the early lead. Moved to 3rd on the turn, around 1 length from them. Finished strongly the last furlong to win by a length with an SP of 73. Prior to that he won his maiden over 5F. Sat 3rd around 2.5 lengths from the lead. Moved to 2nd on the turn, just 1.5 lengths off them. Finished off very well to win by a length with an SP of 67. Another with an unblemished record and looking to maintain it here. With natural improvement he will be in the finish.
11. 13 – Ridin’ (Candy Ride) Owned by gameondude – Jockey – D. Givins – 6/1.
2yo colt with a record of 2-1-0-1 and banking $70k. Both starts in stakes races and has to be included. Last start he was 3rd in the Sugar Burden Dirt Juvenile 5F. Sat 6th around 1 length from the early lead. Moved to 4th around ¼ length off them on the turn. Stayed on okay in a blanket finish beaten ¾ of a length with an SP of 74. Prior to that he won the Gowans won 213 Stakes 5F. Sat 2nd right on the early speed. Took over on the turn by a neck and extended nicely the last furlong to win by 1 length with an SP of 69. Has run nicely in both starts and has to be a big chance.
12. 1141 – Barth Vader (Invader) Owned by heavygear – Jockey – F. Gossett – 9/1.
2yo colt with record of 4-3-0-0 and banking $75k. Already had 4 starts and won 3 of them. Last start he won the Hard Cat Dirt Juvenile 5F. Sat 5th around 2 lengths from the early lead. Moved to 3rd around 1 length off them on the turn. Finished strongly the last furlong to win by 1 length with an SP of 78. Prior to that he was 4th in the Sugar Burden Dirt Juvenile 5F behind Ridin’ (3rd). Sat 2nd only ¼ length from the lead. Was 3rd by a neck on the turn and faded the last furlong, beaten a length with an SP of 73. Before that he won a 5.5F Allowance. Led all the way with steady fractions throughout. Won by nearly 2 length with an SP of 69. Prior to that he won a maiden claim 5.5F. Sat 2nd early before taking over on the turn and shooting clear to win by nearly 2 lengths with an SP of 62. Owner must be happy he claimed this guy as he has been terrific. Very impressive last start. Fastest 2yo in the field and must be a big chance.
13. 11 – Intu Forty (Into Mischief) Owned by somebozo2 – Jockey – L. Radzinski – 5/1.
2yo colt with perfect record of 2-2-0-0 and banking $56K. Perfect start to his racing career and has been impressive. Last start he won a 6F Allowance. Sat 8th around 4.5 lengths from the early lead. Moved to 4th on the turn, still 2.5 lengths from them. Finished very well the last furlong to win by ¼ of a length with an SP of 77. Prior to that he won his maiden over 5F. Sat 4th around 2 lengths from the lead. Moved to 3rd on the turn, around 1 length from them. Finished well to win by ¼ of a length with an SP of 69. Nice win last start and time was good. Will get back but will be running on strongly. Big chance.
14. 1432 – Storm Form (Midnight Storm) Owned by dominating – Jockey – K. Ledwith – 14/1.
2yo colt who has a record of 4-1-1-1 and banking $61k, started his career on the turf before switching to dirt his last two. Last start he was 2nd in the Cyborg Sid Dirt Juvenile 5F. Sat 3rd around 1 length from the early lead. Still 3rd around 1 length from them on the turn. Finished off okay to be beaten ½ a length with an SP of 70. Prior to that he was 3rd in a 5F Allowance. Sat 2nd around 1 length from the lead. Dropped to 4th only ¼ length off them on the turn. Battled back the last furlong to be beaten 2 lengths with an SP of 71. Before that he was 4th in a 5.5F Turf Allowance. Sat 2nd early and moved up to threaten on the turn. Faded the last furlong, beaten 3 lengths with an SP of 63. Prior to that he won his maiden over 4.5F in a Turf Allowance. Looked good since switching to the dirt, without a win. With natural improvement he is a chance here.
Really difficult race to assess as these early 2yo races, anyone can win.
12. Barth Vader – On top as his last start was so impressive. If he maintains that he must go in. 9/1.
13. Intu Forty – Really impressive last start and is a major threat. 5/1.
9. Smarty Pirate – Another who was impressive last start and if he carry’s that over has a big chance. 15/1.