The Barkley Handicap

Race : Barkley Handicap – Grade III – $125,000
Track : N. California
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : One mile on the Dirt

PP 1   NOCTURNAL’S SONG   (UNBRIDLED’S SONG x DEPUTY MINISTER x HALO) bred and trained by moriahspop (Washer Toss Stables, 21%)  Odds:  8 to 1

Nocturnal’s Song is one of the lighter raced horses in the field, even though he is a year older than most of the other horses.  He has won 9 of his 17 career starts, 8 of those coming at this distance.  This will be his second try in graded company (third for stakes races) and his trainer is hoping for a better start this time.  Drawing post position number one is something new to Nocturnal’s Song.  He has always drawn a higher post number, only starting from under 9 once in his career.  He has been putting up the speed figures to be competitive here if he is able to handle the jump in class. 

PP 2   NARCISSUS   (DEVIL’S BAG x UNBRIDLED x DANZIG) bred by excmeeting and trained by tc1 (TCrowell Stables, 14%)  Odds:  10 to 1

Narcissus is one of quite a few horses in the field to find great success after being claimed.  This light grey horse out of Tossing N Turning has raced in three claiming races and was claimed each time.  After TCrowell Stables picked him up he has won 6 of his 10 races and finished in the money 90% of the time.  This is his first try at graded stakes, but in his last race, The DUKE ALI Cap he beat out graded winner One Wild Cat with his 113 speed figure.  He likes to run near the front of the pack and usually waits until after third call to make his move to the front.  He will have a lot of competition coming down the stretch with all the late speed in this race.  Narcissus looks to be in great form and should do well at his first graded try. 

PP 3   THE DYNASTY   (GRAND SLAM x ALLEGED x RELAUNCH) bred and trained by hawkz1 (Hawkz Racing Stables, 8%)  Odds:  23 to 1

This will be The Dynasty’s second try at the Barkley Handicap, having raced here last year to a 6^th place finish.   The first time this 5 year old tried stakes racing he was first to cross the finish line, but that was almost 2 years ago.  He has been looking for another stakes win since then.  He finished a very respectable 2^nd at his second try in graded stakes, two races ago, at the G2-Orangeton Handicap where he faced many graded winners and stakes winners.   

PP 4   BOC ANGELIC (FR)   (TREMPOLINO x PULPIT x ALYDAR) bred and trained by pye (The Big Oil Conglomerate [Ft. LordPye], 12%)  Odds:  11 to 1

Boc Angelic is one of 4 graded winners in the field, having taking home the win last October in the G3-Hudson Hawk Stakes.  He had his career high speed there as well with a 108.  This 4 year old out of The Angel of Death has brought home over $200,000 for owner LordPye.  With his tendency to stay back in the pack until the later portion of the race, Boc Angelic will have some fierce competition coming down the stretch. 

PP 5   PERFECTLY PLEASANT (KY)   (PLEASANTLY PERFECT x SEEKING THE GOLD x GULTH) bred and trained by cougar (Cougar Stables, 19%)  Odds:  7 to 1

This lightly raced 4 year old based on Must Be Gold was having a “perfectly pleasant” 5 race winning streak until he came in second to  San Pellegrino in his last race, (the G3-Razorback Cap).  He will make his second try with graded company here.  His second place in the Razorback Cap ahead of many other horses with graded wins and places indicates that the move up in class makes sense for Perfectly Pleasant.  The oddsmakers agree, giving him the second best odds in the field. 

PP 6   DESERT ASSASSIN   (E DUBAI x SUNDAY SILENCE x DR. FAGER) bred by triscay and trained by chinobear (The CVBear Racing Empire, 9%)  Odds:  7 to 1

Desert Assassin is the oldest horse in the field and also has the most racing experience.  In his 41 career starts he has won 6 races and finished in the money 54% of the time.    His is also one of the horses in the field who was claimed early in his career and then produced well for his new owner and trainer.  He makes his graded debut here and although he didn’t win his last two races, the speed figures he put up indicate that he has a very good chance here.  Desert Assassin will have T. Bay as a jockey, who won this race last year. 

PP 7   THE SHINE (KY)   (MEDALLIST x MISWAKI x RACONTEUR) bred by meguire3rd and trained by meguire6th (Meguire Stables, 7%)     Odds:  13 to 1

The Shine, a 4 year old out of Their Index, has shined in the ranks of allowance races, but has failed to take the spotlight in the winner’s circle in this class.  In his last time out (three weeks ago) he finished third in his first stakes try since late last year with a career high speed of 109.  His last two races before that were both wins and both at 8 furlongs, so if he can hold his own with this jump in class he should do well here. 

I figured it was time for another break, so I headed back across the bay and couldn’t resist stopping at the tourist trap, Pier 39 to watch and listen to the sea lions as they wrestled and basked in the sun.  I even called my sons back at home so they could hear the delightful barking of the sea lions.  Then I headed up to Ghiradelli Square to the Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop to devour a hot fudge sundae.  I jumped on the Powell/Mason Cable car to take me back up to the hotel so I could finish the research for my article. 

I decided a great location would be at The Top of the Mark, a bar on the 19 floor of my hotel with 360 degree views of the city.  In honor of the martini which originated near San Francisco I partook in one of the 100 martinis offered.  I chose the classic Top of the Mark Martini made with Chopin Vodka and Vermouth, garnished with a Tom olive (a zesty pickled little green tomato).  Here is how the ouside 7 horses are looking: 

PP 8   POTOMAC (IRE) (REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS x THEATRICAL (IRE)) bred and trained by heronfarms (Flstables, 13%)   Odds:  19 to 1

This 5 year old horse out of Fleet Fantasy is making his graded debut here in Northern California.  He has only tried stakes once, in his last time out 4 weeks ago at The METRO ACK Handicap where he finished 5^th.   He seems to have a recent trend of alternating triple digit speeds with speeds in the 90s.  If he continues on this path he should have a triple digit speed on Saturday and if he can hold off the late runner could have a good chance to finish in the money here. 

PP 9   SAN PELLEGRINO   (WAR CHANT x PLEASANT COLONY x CAERLEON) bred and trained by super12 (More Evil Than The Evil Empire, 16%)  Odds:  9 to 2

San Pellegrino has been racing against graded company in all but two races in the last year.  He has won 2 G3 and 1 G2 in those races and has not posted a speed below the century mark since February of 2007.  His success in graded company has given him the second highest rank in the field, number 39.  He not only is the favorite here, but also will have top jockey J. White (32%).  He is used to getting 5 weeks or more of rest and has only had 4 since his last race. 

PP 10   GAHDAMJO (KY)   (MINESHAFT x KRIS S. x SEATTLE SLEW) bred by blaznbarn and trained by greenapple (Greenapple Stables, 15%)  Odds:  14 to 1

Gahdamjo is coming off his highest speed factor in his 18 career starts in his last race, The FAT FREE DENNY Special with a 107.  He hasn’t won since last year about this time when he won the California Derby, locking up a spot in the Bluegrass Derby where he finished 6^th after a strong start.  In almost all his races since then he has started strong, usually in first or second place for most of the races, but then is unable to close it.  Here in Northern California he is trying 8 furlongs, his shortest since early last year.  Perhaps with the shorter distance he will be able to maintain his lead and be the first across the line.   Gahdamjo is the only one of the field to bring home a G1 victory.  He is racing on only 2 weeks rest, so that might be a factor for him here. 

PP 11   ROCKET GO BOOM   (PULPIT x CAT THIEF x GALLANT MAN) bred by queenab and trained by lalakers42 (Lakers32 Stables, 12%)  Odds:  10 to 1  

This 5 year old out of Queen of the Cats II has been an excellent addition to the Lakers32 Stables.  After trainer lalakers42 claimed him in July of 2006 he has won 50% of the time and finished in the money 13 out of 14 races.   His career high speed of 116 also highest in the field, came last fall in his first stakes win at The DEVIL’S RANSOM Bonanza.  He joined graded company for the first time in a very competitive G2-Vermont is 4 Lovers with disappointing results.  Rocket Go Boom would prefer to makes his second try at graded stakes with an off track, but I don’t think the weather is cooperating. 

PP 12   MR. MISTOFFELEES (KY)   (STORM CAT x MACHIAVELLIAN x MILL REEF) bred and trained by stormborn (Given Stables: Fire and Blood, 21%)   Odds:  9 to 1

This 4 year old based on Magicman Too has brought in over a half a million dollars for Given Stables, but 4 of his 5 wins were back in 2006.  Although he has only had one win in the last year, he has finished in the money 75% of the time and will probably make his presence known here.  He would prefer an off track as his two highest speed figures (108 and 113) were on wet tracks.  He is one of only 4 graded winners in the field and the speed figures he has been putting up since late last year make me think he will be in the hunt for the win. 

PP 13   LETS GET LUCKIE (JPN)   (STRAVINSKY x A.P. INDY x NEARCTIC) bred by tripleaaa and trained by hilofarms (Sansanfarm Stables, 12%)  Odds:  16 to 1

Lets Get Luckie is coming off a pair of wins in his last two times out (one allowance and one stakes).  Sansanfarm Stables is hoping to get lucky with a win in Lets Get Luckie’s graded stakes debut.  This 4 year old brown colt has raced many times with only 2 weeks rest with favorable results, but his last race was just last Saturday.   Rest might be an issue for him here, especially if he spends the majority of the race fighting for the lead since he likes to run in front; he might run out of steam a little too early. 

PP 14   WILD RUMPUS (GB)   (FOOTSTEPSINTHESNAD (GB) x GAINT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x SEATTLE SLEW) bred by gr8bigsea and trained by theodore4 (Theo Stables Inc. – – – Claiming Division, 11%)  Odds:  13 to 1

Wild Rumpus is yet another horse in the field that was claimed early in his career and has been very successful for his new trainer at Theo Stables Inc.  He has won 26% of his races since the transfer and finished in the money 66% of the time.  This will be the 4 year old’s (out of Warrior’s Choice (IRE)) first try at graded stakes.  He tried stakes late last year with disappointing results.  After putting up two triple digits speeds in his first and second place finishes in his last two races his trainer decided to try moving him up in class again.  Except when Wild Rumpus broke his maiden all of his wins have been wire to wire.  He will have a lot of competition out of the gates for the lead. 

Just as I was finishing up my article I remembered the fortune cookie I had picked up earlier in China Town.  Inside the fortune read, “A thrilling time is in your immediate future.”  With all the great competition in Saturday’s race I definitely think we are in for a thrilling time.    I don’t think we will see the speed record of 123 (from the first running of the Barkley Stakes) broken, but with about half the field fighting for the early lead and then some very strong late closers coming up the stretch, I think it will be a great race to watch. 

Kloie’s Picks:  12, 5, 6, 9, 2

Morning Line:  9, 5, 6, 1, 12