Older Horses to try 7f for Grade II Sprinter Spoils

Older Horses to try 7f for Grade II Sprinter Spoils

PP1- High Heart (ENG)- 9/1: Losthecode sends out this 4yo son of Septieme Ciel where his stalking trip might be the right place to be this trip. His best speeds in the past may not be enough however, but he does have the advantage of loving 7f, and has a shot. His form is excellent right now, and this could be the week we see something special. The jock riding High Heart would not be my 10th choice let alone my first, tough break on the hapless R Conner. Not my first pick, but certainly must not be left out of the exotics.
Pick: 4

PP2- Catapulted (MD)- 33/1: A 4 yo son of Fantasticat sent out by Theatrical may be in over his head this week and the 33/1 shows it. This field is full of deep closers, all of which seem to be a bit more talented than this guy. With not a lot of speed in this race there simply will not be any pieces for Catapulted to pick up. With a career best of 108, and poor showing in all but one graded attempt I simply do not see much in the way of happy ending this week for this colt.
Pick: 13

PP3- Black Jack Blues (KY)- 15/1: Blackswan sends another 4yo into the fray, this one out of Came Home and an Alydar mare. While at first glance it would seem this colt doesn’t have much of a shot, I must say NOT SO FAST. There is very little early speed in this race, with the only other speed just to his outside. There is a chance he might just get out front loose on the lead where he might just get away enough to hang on with his recent good form. Has won on the lead before in graded company, so class is not a factor here. I would say Black Jack Blues has a much better shot than 15/1 would indicate.
Pick: 11

PP4- Ray’s Causeway (IRE)- 8/1: Browns2 sends out his battle tested 5yo daughter of Giant’s Causeway to battle the boys. Her recent form seems like she will be the horse to beat as she is the only other speed other than Black Jack Blues to her inside. While she has shown a ton of early speed as of late, she hasn’t won either. I see her popping out to an early lead but fading the last 1/8th of a mile. Her best career outing speed wise was against the boys, but was in a residency restricted race so I do not put much faith in that in that. She has a shot, but most likely won’t be there at the end.
Pick: 3

PP5- Peace Ally- 10/1: Ell2020’s 5yo son of Peace Rules has been in pretty decent form as of late, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough. While this horse is almost always in the money, which seems to not apply in graded trips, where he seems to get crushed. This horse is a closer, but not the best of that bunch. There is a chance he gets up for some table scraps at the end, but a top three finish might be asking a bit much in this company. The one shining spot is that his best efforts do seem to happen at 7 furlongs.
Pick: 7

PP6- The Boom (NZ)- 8/1: Ausracing brings his southern invader from down under in his 4yo campaign with a real legitimate shot at winning. This son of Zabeel (NZ) has finished no worse than 4th in his 15 career starts. This is by far the most flexible of the entrants: he can rate or come from the clouds. I don’t expect an overly hot pace so look for this guy to be laying 2-3 back and coming late with power. 7 furlongs seems to be a comfortable distance for him, and his career best speed of 115 is plenty to win this race. Expect The Boom to lower the hammer.
Pick: 1

PP7- Awesome Redhead- 9/1: Leesnyder brings his 5yo son of Awesome Again primed to run a big race. He has not seen much action having only raced three times since October of last year. He has however, seems to age nicely with his best efforts coming in his last six races. He will be coming hard at the end, but I think he will run out of room with several other late runners all trying to get there. This horse has only seen two turns once, and I suspect that he might like a mile a bit more than 7, as he runs out of room more often than he gets there. I do think he is going run a big one, but I don’t think it will be enough. Do not leave him out of any exotic picks.
Pick: 6

PP8- Festive Fifty- 8/1: Stormcat55 brings a 5yo son of super sire Sadler’s Wells for his 35th start, eleven of which were in graded company. While he can still run, the toll of a long and tough career are starting to show. Most of his last few races have been somewhat lackluster, and needs a big jump in recent form to compete. In past efforts he has come from off the pace a ways back or way back, and in this crowded field of closers he needs to waken the ghosts of his past to have a shot. Never totally count out a quality horse like this, but the status quo is not going to be enough. On the bright side he is gonna make one heck of a he-mare.
Pick: 10

PP9- K’s Storm Maker (KY)- 16/1: A 4yo son of Empire Maker out of the Wreckagees stable comes into this race off of a very up and down recent past. Judging by the every other race is a good one rule this guy seems to follow, we can expect a good effort this time out. This being his first try at the graded level I think this might be a bit much with his running style. He likes to come from way way back, and that works against listed stakes, but I don’t think he gets close against top competition. His best speed figure did come at 7 furlongs however and a 112 makes him a possibility. I do think that he might want another crack at turf, and turf sprinting might be his true (r) calling.
Pick: 9

PP10- Mr Toms River NJ (KY)- 7/1: Imagine that a son of Storm Cat in the sim. Honeyi sends out this lightly raced 4yo coming off of his career best speed figure, and his first graded win. This might be the one true stalker in this race who has the ability to sit just off the early pace setters. This really lines him up well as he is by far the best of that category in this race. The one thing I do not like is the 114 last time out. A horse rarely backs up that kind of effort with another, but he has shown the ability to come close in that regard. If this races sets up right, he could get the win. He needs some early speed to be able to save ground and avoid a wide trip, and be able to pounce if the two pace setters falter. There is also the possibility that he decides the pace is too slow and takes control of the race himself. He can win from out front, but I don’t know if he can do that at 7 furlongs since his best work is at 6. I like this horse a bunch, but I see a slight bounce, and that is going to leave him a bit short this week.
Pick:5

PP11- SJ In Silver (KY)- 7/1: Calumet brings his 4yo 110+ machine son of Eurosilver as the king of consistency. He just doesn’t have bad races on dirt. This is his first crack at graded company. I have no idea why I don’t think he gets it done. He is going to run a 108+, and he will be in the top 2, but I don’t think he wins. He has the ability to come from way back, or sit 2-3 back, and he will be in the mix at the end, but his first crack at graded competition is going to be a wee bit much. Don’t get me wrong I love this horse, but he has not peaked yet and I am guessing he will be in the big races in the fall.
Pick: 2

PP12- Mad Dropper (KY)- 7/1: Shorblue4 sends out a son of Eavesdropper into the fray off of some so-so performances. His days of crushing 3yo horses into the ground are over, and has not fared as well against older competition. His odds are longer than 7/1 in this race. His best races are at 7f, but has still yet to win with older horses, and even late in his 3yo campaign the competition had caught up with him talent wise. His career best 109 speed figure is not good enough in this race. He likes to come from way back, and he is about the 3rd best deep closer in this one. Nice horse who probably needs a shot on the turf, but not much of a chance this week.
Pick: 12

PP13- Disco Ball- 10/1: Beefcake2 brings in his grizzled veteran of 40 races into battle once again. This son of Glitterman has tried graded stakes at this distance recently and not fared well. I don’t expect a different outcome this week. While his a very talented horse, he does not have the form as of late to be very competitive. Both of his recent wins have been in short fields and out on the lead with no other early speed. That is not going to happen this week, and he is not the best closer here. He needs his best effort of his career to win, and on his 41st start I don’t see It happening. This is another horse that
will be a fine he-mare.
Pick: 8

PP14- Meth (KY)- 20/1: Baffman’s 4yo tribute to drug use is a son of Storm Boot, and another that has yet to win with older horses. His career best speed figure is a 104 and that is not going to be enough. Only one of his five wins is with stakes competition, and this is his first crack at a graded stakes. I simply do not see any thing in his past performances that give any indication that he can find the kind of effort needed to win with these horses.
Pick: 14