Slow Tree Special
A surprisingly small fieldhas beendrawnto Arizona for the ninth running of the Slow Tree Special. The race will be run on the turf track and going the long distance of a mile and a half. The distance of the race maybe the reason for the small number of entrants as simowners had a wide variety of other stake events to consider this weekend at much shorter distances. The Slow Tree Special has a nice purse of $125,000 up for grabs, and with only 5 entries, all owners will walk away with something in this Grade 3 event.
1. Rosenthal 3-5
Trainer Simsters8 enters the only horse in the field to win over $1 million. In fact, he has won just under $2.5 million and a win here would surpase this threshold. Rosenthal finished third in his last after leading at the 3/4 pole, finishing a good 6 lengths back as the co-favorite. Two hard closing horses were able to goble up the ground late in the race leading to Rosenthals demise in that 12 furlong race. The race was a grade I event, and Rosenthal was rated with a well earned speed of 108. Since April of 2007 he’s only put in one race under a rating of 100. He’s been in the money 23 of 30 starts and figures to go well against this group.
2. Infinite Wisdom 7-2
Infinite Wisdom has an impressive career going for trainer Leestroyer with a record of 37-11-8-6. He likes to make his attack from the rear of the field and had a strong closing second, making up 7 lengths in the last quarter to get there. He has been running mostly in the ungraded stakes fields and makes only his thrid start in the graded class. He has yet to win a graded race, but is capable of scoring a speed of over 100. He does come with some concerns. As a late closer in these long distance routes, Infinite Wisdom has spotted the leaders too much of a lead and failed to catch them. If he’s within 15 lengths at the midway marker, he has a shot. Any further back could be his demise.
3. Kafziel Tete 4-1
Kafziel is also another horse with a nice record going of 17-6-5-1. Trainer Cyprus should have this one setting the pace and trying to do a wire job on the field. He just put in what looks like the worst two races of his career. He finished 9th last time out at 11f and never got to the front end finishing 9th a good distance back at 11f. Back in January, he battled early on for the lead and dropped off the radar after the half way point to finish a distanced 8th running 12f. Between those two races was a beautiful 2nd place finish at 13f and run in a speed of 104. He’s capable of pulling off the upset but I am leary of the two recent poor outings.
4. Maple Turf 12-1
Trainer Joss has his work cut out for him with this entry. Maple Turf is making his forth start in a stakes event and he hasn’t had any luck. He hasn’t finished closer than 24 lengths in any of the outings and has already put in 7 races this year which may be taking its toll. In early February, he did capture a win against allowance company with an encouraging speed of 108. He will need to have a similar effort to make a visit in the winners circle against this grouping.
5. Elvis Victory 5-1
Elvis Victory has been racing decently lately for trainer Dirtranch3. The colt’s last 3 races have all broken the 100 speed barrier resulting in a win and a show. Elvis finished 5th in his last outing, at a distance of 12f, in a lukewarm effort. He started his stakes races with 3 wins and a place in his first 4 stake starts. In his most recent 5 stake starts, he has hit the board only twice. He has the ability but his form is just a bit questionable at the moment.
It’s hard not to go with the heavy favorite Rosenthal. He’s become a horse with reliable speed ratings and is ranked 10th amongst all turf route simsters. I expect he will race near the front and should be able to catch the early leader. Hard closing Infinite Wisdom will be charging and I think jockey Gardner (who has won this stakes before) can keep him within striking range. Kafziel Tete will more than likely set the pace and if he doesn’t steel the race, he should be good enough to get the show spot.