THEO’S TOP 10 WATCHLIST

Each week I will focus on one division (older male, older female, 3yo male, 3yo female, 2 year olds will start in July). The rankings are taken by the sim division rankings via stakepoints and I add a little comment to each horse. Note in my lists horses are only eligible to be one one list and must have run 3 races in a row in a division to be eligible for that condition. Also, if a horse runs 3 times in a row in another division they would be removed from the list as well.

The chart is listed with this weeks ranking, last weeks ranking, horse name, this weeks stake points, last week’s stake points and a brief comment on the horses recent performance.

The older male division is featured this week.

Hope to see your horses on the top 10 watchlist soon.

OLDER MALES—DIRT SPRINTS

(1) (2)—AB FAB—(320) (320)—111 speed rating posted last time out may finally have this guy on his way to returning to his top form.

(2) (3)—WESTERN ROMP TED(KY)—(320) (320)—looked better in AZ but still lost a few spots down the stretch in that Grade III affair.

(3) (1)—IN A SIMPLE RHYME—(320) (336)—top 3 are so very tight in points but it has to be tough when 4th place finishes vault two over you in the top 10 charts and you end up 5th yourself in the race.

(4) (6)—KETCH(KY)—(250) (218)—came up big with a whopping 120 speed rating in Grade I Vermont win last time out.

(5) (4)—SMOULDERING STREET—(248) (256)—hopefully he comes back with stamina to last until the wire next time out.

(6) (5)—SKANONYMOUS—(216) (232)—Rally in Deep South Stakes was much better and hopefully he continues on that note in his next start.

(7) (7)—K’S STATE OF MIND—(208) (208)—NJ rally came up short in Grade III last time out but his 2nd place finish put him ahead of the top ones in this list last time out.

(8) (8)—ACT OF BRAVE—(198) (198)—Taiwanese allowance run last time out makes one wonder just how long this one will stay on this list.

(9) (NA)—POWER IS RISING(KY)—(192) (NA)—has not run since a pair of tough ones to close out the 07 season so this is a case as others have gone down rather than this one moving up.

(10) (9)—DEATH ALLEY DRIVER—(188) (196)—has a tough time in 08 opener in NJ as it has been 11 months since posting an unrestricted race win.

 
OLDER MALES—DIRT CLASSIC ROUTES

(1) (1)—ERMINGTON PEGUSUS—(672) (800)—after winning 08 debut all eyes are out to see where this one will run next time out.

(2) (3)—SOLAR SONG—(484) (480)—a pair of 3rd place finishes this year have this one moving up a spot on the chart this week.

(3) (2)—AWESOME FORCE(KY)—(484) (512)—finished 3rd last time out but came up 9 lengths short and will need to refind his 07 form to keep his spot up here.

(4) (7)—GRACEPOINTE PRAYER—(456) (328)—big win in Grade I CA Handicap last week with a perfect ride by Staples.

(5) (4)—PASSING STONE(KY)—(449) (453)—had the trip but was no match for the winner last time out in CA Handicap.

(6) (5)—ATAUN(KY)—(428) (444)—settled for minor cheque in CA Handicap but really was never a factor in the race.

(7) (6)—WHO DO YOU LOVE(KY)—(374) (375)—once he couldn’t get the lead in Vermont the race was over for this speedster.

(8) (8)—MR. EKO(IRE)—(324) (324)—3 bad ones in a row and it is now 8 races since his last win.

(9) (NA)—MAMBO BONES—(315) (NA)—big rally for 2nd place in CA Handicap suggests this guy is not far off from his next trip to the winners circle.

(10) (10)—TEMPEST—(284) (284)—rallied for 5th in AK Grade III to hold on to the last spot in this chart this week.

OLDER MALES—DIRT LONG ROUTES

(1) (2)—PINE SPIRIT(KY)—(401) (400)—makes it to the top of the chart solely on bookeeping adjustments as he has had a rough time in his last 3 starts.

(2) (1)—CREDIT GIVEN(IRE)—(388) (404)—never got within 10 lengths of the leader in MA 16 furlong stake last time out.

(3) (3)—KANAKA—(252) (248)—makes it 5 in a row winning ME allowance setting him up for his next start and perhaps a climb to the top of the chart here.

(4) (4)—MIRACLE TO ME—(220) (216)—ran a perfect race in DE allowance win to prep him for his next stakes start and show that he is back on his game now.

(5) (5)—KEPLER CRO COR C(KY)—(200) (190)—IA cap win showed that this one can now win without cutting the early fractions of a race.

(6) (6)—SINANJU—(189) (189)—was never a factor in Grade I CA Handicap last time out.

(7) (7)—ENTER THE BEAST(GB)—(145) (145)—never got close in IA stake last time out prolonging his winning drought to an even dozen.

(8) (8)—SAD JAVA MAN(IRE)—(144) (140)—lost his 4 length lead in the stretch to finish 2nd last time out in a heartbreaking photo loss.

(9) (9)—DRUNKEN PIRATE(KY)—(129) (129)—awaiting his next start after posting lifebest 110 speed rating in 2008 winning debut.

(10) (10)—JIBE(KY)—(113) (115)—finished 4th last time out but is was only a 5 horse field and he was 14 lengths back.
 

OLDER MALES—TURF SPRINTS

(1) (1)—MR DEVIOUS—(480) (480)—taking a little break right now for bigger and better races in the spring.

(2) (2)—SEEKIN DESTROY—(392) (364)—rally came up just short in VT Grade I in season opener 2nd place finish.

(3) (3)—DIGGING THE GRAVE—(298) (294)—wild finish had him ending up 3rd in a three horse photo in his 2008 debut in VT.

(4) (6)—POLITICAL VILLIAGE(IRE)—(248) (248)—did not have his usual late surge and settled for 4th in TZ stake last time out.

(5) (8)—CREDIT ADDICTION(IRE)—(244) (232)—perfect trip on route to TZ stake win last time out and posting lifebest 111 speed rating.

(6) (5)—LEGENDARY LEMON(KY)—(240) (248)—his usual late rally has been absent in his last pair of races both at Epsom.

(7) (10)—MR. C. SONG—(216) (217)—rought outing last time out broke his string of 8 straigtht triple digit speed ratings.

(8) (9)—BORRACHO(IRE)—(208) (224)—when and maybe more importantly will this one return to the track any time soon?

(9) (NA)—TREE GUEST HOUSE—(208) (NA)—huge late kick to get up and win by a nose in Queensland stake last time out and debut on the top 10 list this week.

(10) (7)—TEQUILLA WITH LIME—(205) (236)—3rd place finish in DE allowance prep hopefully sets him up for a big run in his 08 stakes debut.

OLDER MALES—TURF CLASSIC ROUTES

(1) (2)—SIP OF SAKI—(592) (576)—wins debut in VA overnite with ease setting him up for the upcoming Graded races he is sure to start in this year.

(2) (1)—RAPID GREY—(560) (672)—he is another who sets up the coming season with a debut overnite win at BC.

(3) (3)—EXCLUSIVE HABITAT(ENG)—(528) (512)—a perfect 2/2 this year so far at his best 10f distance letting them know above him that it is “game on”.

(4) (5)—CREEPSHOW(IRE)—(452) (452)—12 furlong race in Victoria may have turned into disaster as we all await the vet’s results to see if he is OK.

(5) (6)—PUPPET REGIME—(428) (432)—is another who’s forray into 12 furlong races may have ended up in disaster last time out at Ostend.

(6) (4)—SEEKING SAL—(416) (480)—his last 3 have been tough outings and hopefully he can regroup with a better effort next time out.

(7) (8)—WOODYNA—(336) (336)—did not take to the Alabama cooking last time out in uncharacteristic last place finish.

(8) (9)—PAYCHECK(IRE)—(328) (330)—tried a sprint in 08 debut and that result resembled his 07 finale and hopefully that does not start a trend for him.

(9) (10)—ROCK BALLAD(KY)—(316) (317)—Deleware 9f Grade III winner tried a Grade I Spring last time in VT and he was unable to get the front and ran out of ground before showing his best strides.

(10) (NA)—KEPLER BERZERK—(289) (NA)—has now won 3 in a row after taking TX Grade III last time out.

OLDER MALES—TURF LONG ROUTES

(1) (1)—LEX LUTHOR—(604) (616)—makes it a perfect 2/2 in 08 with Ascot wire to wire stakes win last time out.

(2) (2)—RURAL LAW(IRE)—(590) (590)—still sitting on the sidelines after rough conclusion to 2007 season.

(3) (3)—TOTAL CHAOS—(544) (480)—won VT Grade II in 08 debut letting them know above that he plans on making it a battle for division honors this year.

(4) (4)—OTTOMAN TURKS—(465) (468)—relief was the response when this one returned to a 10f allowance wire to wire win as a prep for what should be bigger and better things to come.

(5) (5)—BAND OF BUDAS—(432) (440)—Vermont race was worst since 06 BB and makes some wonder if age is catching up to this veteran star.

(6) (6)—ANOTHER TENPIN TAP—(413) (413)—2nd half collapes at Pan American was surely not the gameplan for this guy last time out.

(7) (8)—KIRBY’S BEST YET(KY)—(346) (340)—two top 3 finishes including a win in 08 keep this ones knack for cashing cheques alive and well.

(8) (NA)—MAX CALIFORNIA(KY)—(324) (NA)—10/1 winner of Grade I John Scott last time out introduces this guy to the top 10 list this week.

(9) (9)—DIRECTOR—(296) (304)—08 debut in Denmark resulted in 2nd place finish after cutting all the fractions over a slightly off turf.

(10) (10)—MINE D’INVERNE—(272) (288)—still awaiting his next start after 08 debut win in January.

The Older Female divisions will be hilited next week.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING

THEO