Nine line up for 9f Chief Snow, led by narrow fave July Fifth
The Chief Snow Handicap highlights this weekend’s racecard in sunny California. It’s a G2 event for 3yos going 9f on the dirt. With the Bluegrass Derby next week the division’s best have chosen to take the week off, but take a look at the morning line and you’ll see this is a pretty good, well-matched field of horses.
Favorites have won the Chief Snow 3 times in its 8 year history. One of those faves, Carson and Dane (trained by Unreal) set the stakes record back in 2004. The record time of 1:48.1 doesn’t seem in danger, as we have several turfy horses taking a main track flyer, and the dirt horses haven’t shown a ton of 9f form, but you never know.
4-1 field favorite July Fifth show every indication of preferring 10f to 9 (neither of which he has ever tried). Hoffiebarn’s (aka Lilbitfarm) Pulpit colt just won the G3 B.P.S.R. Memorial at 9.5, and notched a 9.5 listed the race before. With his two best speeds at the longest distance he’s gone, shortening up even by a sixteenth doesn’t seem the optimal move. However, a top SP of 104 says he’s darn fast, and should be able to win even at a less than ideal distance.
Our 9-2 second choice, Panhandling, just popped a huge 106SP last out in winning the G3 Transylvania wire to wire. If Dixiedotco’s A.P. Indy colt gets clear of the pack after leaving the gate, watch out, he’s two for two on the lead. You have to wonder just how legit the 106 was, but Panhandling did manage a 97 last November, so it’s not out of range.
We’ve got four in at 5-1. The first is 40oz’s (aka Doza) Rode Me Hard. The Rahy colt is a multiple stake winner on turf, but switched to the main track two back with ease. On a wet track at a mile he ran a closing second, then went for the G3 Transylvania and picked up a great second to Panhandling after a solid closing effort. The 104SP wasn’t bad either. The extra sixteenth ought to help him get closer to the win. Likes to come from several lengths back, should be running hard down the stretch.If he wins, we may not see him on the grass for a long while.
In the 5-1 Danisha we have yet another multiple stakes winner on the grass. Paceman2’s (aka Theatrical) Dansili colt, however, has yet to try the main track. What impresses me about Danisha is that he’s graded-placed going 9f, something rare in this field. He’s also a very versatile horse, able to close form well back or stay much closer to the lead. The biggestquestion is whether his turf form will transfer to the main track.
Floralpark (aka Cvbear) enters the 5-1 Gideon’sTrumpet. Trumpet won the G3 Gary Asher is record-tying fashion two back,but when stepped up to G1 company in the Wooden Indian last out found himselfoutclassed. Was it the 9f distance of the Wooden Indian that did him in? Theclass? It surely wasn’t an especially difficult career, as the colt has racedonly 8 times. I suspect we’ll see a better Trumpet this race than last , especiallyif he can stay a bit closer to the front.
The final 5-1 horse is King of Indy. Owned by Roberto (aka Theatrical), the King Of Kings colt debuted on the dirt for a win, then promptly switched to turf. He’s found some success on grass, including a G3 win last month at 9f and a pair of sprint listed wins. Fully capable of handling distance, but like Danisha we must question his real dirt ability. At least with this one we know he can run on it. A 66 for a 2yo in March is pretty darn good.
For a bit of a change of pace we turn to the 8-1 entrant Desantis. Trainer Poolshoota (aka the Hillbilly Race Team) must have decided that is the Rhodes filly can’t beat her own sex at 8.5 in a G1, then a G2 versus boys would be just the ticket. Desantis is a two-time stakes winner (at 8 and 8.5f), and based on her speeds and running style looks like she’ll handle 9f well. With a top SP of 95 it’s tough to see her winning, but a minor placing isn’t out of the question against this crew.
At 9-1 we have Very Funny, trained by Kissnsocal (aka Flagdown). The It’s No Joke colt was a nose away from a G1 win in the Vermont Lovers 9f race in February, but couldn’t keep up the effort level in the G2 Fountain of Ute last out. What I love about this colt is the obvious willingness he has for going longer. What I hate about this colt is his inconsistency. He went from three straight wins to a World Cup failure last summer, and this spring put up that huge Vermont race only to return for a 12th place. If the good colt shows up, this could be his big break. If the puzzler shows up, it won’t be very funny at all.
Our final entrant is the only one double-digit odds. Taztiger (aka Binzaman) enters the 11-1 Sisson’s Outback off an impressive allowance win. The Gone West colt, making just his sixth start, took a huge leap forward once he was let loose longer than a mile. In two starts at 9.5f, he is 2 for 2. The most recent was a lovely 3/4 length score for a 101SP. Dropping back to 9f, while also skipping listed stakes to go straight for a G2 is a tall order, but if any horse could do it anywhere, this is the place to work miracles.
I’m calling Rode Me Hard for the win, with July Fifth getting up for second. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Sisson’s Outback sneak up for third.