Lots of Excitement in ROYAL CALM G3
Royal Calm Stakes
Grade III
A mile and one sixteenth on the Firm Turf Course
$125,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
Stakes record – 2003 – Peter The Great, 1:41, SPF 112.194
It’s a nice time of year to be down in Florida with the early spring flowers out and a little warmth to boot. This is also the time of year that you are starting to see whether the extra year of age on these horses are a good thing or a bad thing. Several of these fall into that category with trying to figure it out being pretty tough. Regardless, this looks to pretty much be a one horse race but you all know that looks can be deceiving. I’m excited to see these horses run, so let’s take a look:
1 – BAD BEAT(GB) ODDS OWNER WIN% JOCKEY WIN% TOP SPEED EARNINGS RANK 24/1 DaveMac 10.9% N.McMurtry 21 – 0 – 2 – 2 – 0% 105.54 $232,583 406
(DIESIS(GB) x CAERLEON x MR. PROSPECTOR out of BURNT PROSPECTOR) This nicely bred four year old has been putting up nice numbers since his career started, especially leading up to his Breeders Bowl fourth place finish as a two year old. He has had especially fast SPFs lately with a couple of triple digit forays. However, he has had only one win in his last thirteen races and trainer DaveMac and ths Schmoove Stables have to wonder what it takes to get him over the hump. I must admit is doesn’t look good here either even with the recent show of speed. He has McMurtry in the saddle who has really been struggling without finding a win all year and his deep closing style won’t be helped by the inside post. Could be a bit outclassed here.
| 2 – ARTIFICIAL CRISIS | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 | NowItsDark | 10.7% | P.McJulien | 21 – 3 – 2 – 0 – 14% | 109.80 | $393,990 | 662 |
(MACHIAVELLIAN x SILVER HAWK x PLEASANT COLONY) Trainer NowItsDark and the Psychloan Stables are bringing this six year old horse back to where he won his last race. He was the winner of the ’07 ROYAL CALM G3 one year ago although that was on an off course. He ran well in his six Graded outings since then but has never finished higher than third. It appears that he would be better served running in some listed Stakes races as opposed to the Graded circuit at this stage in his career although the Morning Line has him as one of the favorites in this race. He is in the capable hands of McJulien on the reins and that may give him the boost he needs for a repeat win in the race.
| 3 – PETE FOUNTAIN | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | Zoomr | 13.8% | W.Baumann | 70 – 7 – 3 – 7 – 10% | 113.43 | $559,865 | 242 |
(DIXIELAND BAND x ROBERTO x DAMASCUS) After a disappointing last place finish two back, trainer and owner Zoomr threw him into an allowance race last time out where he seemed to find his legs again. That could bode well for the six year old horse but it still gets harder and harder to keep up to the pace of these youngsters. Jockey Baumann is in the irons and seems to be having the same problem after twelve years experience and seems to be slowing a bit as well. He may give a good showing here but it will take an effort to contend for the win.
| 4 – PICKANAME ANYNAME(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29/1 | MatF | 20.4% | C.Stubbs | 33 – 4 – 4 – 4 – 12% | 104.80 | $ 38,271 | N/A |
( KING CUGAT x GHADEER(FR) x LAHIB) I love this four year old chestnut colt’s name. How many times I have been a the breeding shed thinking the same way! He seems to be improving lately with a couple of nice allowance wins and a nice fourth place showing in his first Stakes race but this will be his first Graded outing and he will have to really step it up to contend. Jockey Stubbs has been riding well this year and may help trainer MatF and the Fitzgerald Stables to ease this guy into the Graded circuit. You never know how they will fare in their first outing at this level but the field should suit him and he has a chance to make a move with his deep stalking style.
| 5 – JUST TEASING(KY) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1 | DozaA | 18.0% | W.Case | 54 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 11% | 110.46 | $ 267,940 | 350 |
( FUSAICHI PEGASUS x DEPUTY MINISTER x STORM CAT out of TEASE) A four time Stakes winner as a two year old, this four year old colt is looking to go back to former glory. He seems to have found some new speed reserves and has won four of five outings although they were all Allowance races. Trainer and owner Doza knows how to saddle ‘em up and jockey Case knows how to ride ‘em home so this team could spring a surprise here. Sometimes these horses get a big boost as they turn four and this could be the case with this colt. He has never done much before in Graded races and this is his chance to change that story.
| 6 – JUDAS(ENG) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/1 | Zwylde | 19.0% | V.Gardner | 177 – 48 – 33 – 27 – 27% | 111.49 | $293,726 | 61 |
( GREEN DESERT x LEAR FAN x VICE REGENT) A rather lightly raced four year old with only fourteen races under his belt, this big chestnut colt is a former Graded winner and has had a rather up and down career. He seems to be on an upswing right now and the presence of the tracks best jockey in Gardner on his back certainly won’t hurt that. Trainer Zwylde and the Black Label Stables is looking to get him on track for a big four year old campaign. He runs best from just off the pace and this post may help in that regard.
| 7 – OUR LITTLE SECRET | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | Slim | 13.5% | R.Colette | 30 – 4 – 2 – 4 – 13% | 106.91 | $101,769 | 465 |
( BERTRANDO x SECRETO x MR. PROSPECTOR out of SECRET PROSPECTOR) The secret is out that this six year old horse is still getting it done. Since trainer Slim and the Tees Stables moved him to the Grass twelve races back, he has only finished out of the top five twice and had a nice start in last year’s World Cup as well. He has eight triple digit SPF figures during that stretch including two in a row of 106 which could make some noise here. They have Colette in the leather and he can bring them home. A team to watch in this race.
| 8 – KRIS’S CAUSEWAY(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/1 | BoSox | 17.0% | M.Anderson | 13 – 1 – 1 – 1 – 8% | 109.73 | $ 106,790 | 315 |
( GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x KRIS S. x EL GRAN SENOR out of EL GRAN KRIS) A five year old with only fifteen starts to his credit, he’s really come on lately for trainer BoSox and the LSUMark Stables. With really only having one year of racing under his belt he should have plenty left and had his best SPF last time out with a 109+. He loves this distance and runs a nice stalking style that could do well here. Anderson is holding the reins and he has not had what you could call a stellar year and that may not help the maturing of this horse. An interesting horse to watch in this race.
| 9 – MANATEE CHANT(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/1 | AJR12 | 10.4% | L.Buchta | 157 – 24 – 18 – 20 – 15 % | 109.56 | $ 145,547 | 265 |
( ORATORIO (IRE) x WAR CHANT x ROBERTO out of I STARTED A JOKE) An interesting name that made me wonder if there is such a thing as a chanting Manatee! After a nice finish to his three year old campaign he threw a real clunker for his only race this year for trainer and owner AJR12. That was after a two month layoff and may have just been a tune up race that will show well in this outing. They have Buchta as their jock and he is more than capable of bringing this guy to contention in the stretch. It will just depend what he’s got inside at that point to see where it ends up.
| 10 – WANT TO DANCE | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8/1 | SJMeola6 | 16.7% | D.Ellard | 21 – 3 – 1 – 5 – 14 % | 109.19 | $ 472,710 | 448 |
( MR. GREELEY x HABITAT x TURN-TO) This five year old is a five times Stakes winner but hasn’t won a Stakes outing since May of last year. He is always in contention but can’t seem to make the circle. This will only be his second Graded outing of his career and the other didn’t fare too well on his resume. Trainer and owner SJMeola6 has to be wondering just where this colt stands in his career and whether he is on a rebound or is on the slide from a nice ten win past. Ellard is holding the reins and he could help with his solid statistics.
| 11 – DEPUTATION | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/1 | TwinHollow | 12.9% | A.Darling | 170 – 26 – 32 – 22 – 15 % | 111.05 | $ 466,068 | 240 |
( HENNESSY x DEPUTY MINISTER x ALYDAR out of REDNECK VELVET) One of those true rarities in the Sim, this six year old is comfortable and always a contender on either surface. This will be his first trip on the grass in four outings and he has won half of his eight turf races. With twenty six of his thirty five races on the board, this colt knows how to get it done. He looked like he was on the downward spiral a couple back with a two bad outings in a row but really ran a nice 107 SPF last time out. Trainer and owner Twinhollow looks to believe that this colt still has plenty left and would love to see capable jockey Darling bring him home here.
| 12 – CONTRIBUTE(IRE) | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18/1 | FloralPark | 9.4% | R.Maire | 99 – 6 – 15 – 8 – 6 % | 106.06 | $ 263,324 | 1148 |
( GENEROUS(IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x CONNAUGHT(GB) out of AWAY THE ANGEL) After three Stakes wins as a juvenile, this four year old colt has found it a bit tougher sledding although he occasionally shows flashes of that first year. It has to be frustrating for Trainer FloralPark and the CVBear Racing Empire to try and get this guy back on track. It won’t help here to have jockey Maire in the irons as he is having his own problems of late with lackluster stats at this track. All in all, it doesn’t look promising here for the CVBear Birthday Weekend Celebration.
| 13 – SIM SPINNING | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16/1 | Wistful | 16.8% | C.Faucher | 21 – 3 – 1 – 0 – 14 TH> | 107.71 | $ 153,037 | 1104 |
( SPINNING WORLD x SEATTLE SLEW x RAINBOW QUEST out SLEWCING FOR GOLD) After undistinguished three and four year old seasons, something seems to have flicked the switch for this colt this year. He has two consecutive wins for Trainer Wistful of the Super Stables. I don’t know what they put in that feedbag but it seems to be working this year. He ran his fastest SPF at 107 last time out and looks to be blossoming at a late age. This will be a great spot to prove it and jockey Faucher and his solid stats should help in that regard. It would be a great story to follow if he can keep it up and I will be rooting for him.
| 14 – KEPLER BERZERK | ODDS | OWNER | WIN% | JOCKEY | WIN% | TOP SPEED | EARNINGS | RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/2 | BoBo | 19.1% | D.Ferguson | 22 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 5 % | 110.53 | $ 2,371,822 | 12 |
(WOODMAN x A.P. INDY x DANZIG out of BERZERK A.P.) There is no denying the fact that this nicely bred five year old appears to be the class of the field. He has all of the stats with multiple Stakes and Graded wins and over $2 Mil in earnings. He certainly shows no signs of slowing down with three consecutive wins including the JENNIFER CONNLEY GIII last time out. Trainer Bobo and the Marre Stables know that they have a special horse here and shouldn’t have any worries about the win here. He has won all three of those last outing from the outside post and the only real worry here is that the poor showing of jockey Ferguson this year doesn’t weigh him down.
Morning Line = 14-2-3-10-11
Paz Picks = 14-8-7-3-2
There are a ton of questions in this race. I like PETE FOUNTAIN to hold on for fourth. I worry that he is starting on that downward spiral. OUR LITTLE SECRET is out of the bag and I think he has enough to finish in the top three. KRIS’S CAUSEWAY is still getting better and may have enough here to hit the board although I don’t think that he can catch KEPLER BERZERK who I have comfortably as the winner of this race.
Good luck to all runners!
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