Soupy Sails Classic G2
The Soupy Sails Classic G2 race for all horses 3 years old and up going a mile and an eighth on dirt.
1. (7/1) Non Negative – Mook – (A.P. Indy X Gone West) This solid 4 year old has won 9 of his 17 starts which include 2 graded races and 3 stakes races. The last graded win came last time out where this boy finished 9 furlongs with a whopping 114 speed. He also ran a very close second 3 starts back in the G3 Warsaw Classic. He looks to be improving and has run two solid races recently, he looks ready to take on the big dogs and prove his place among them.
2. (14/1) Turko’s Ghost – Knightmare- (Ghostzapper X Turkoman) 4 year old Chestnut Colt. He has been a late bloomer only showing real spark in the last year. Since then however, he has continued to improve which prompted trainer Knightmare to give him some stakes tries. After a 2nd on off track and a dismal 8th on a fast track he had two solid allowance starts. His last two starts were stakes attempts where the colt showed marked improvement finishing 3rd and 2nd both times closing well. The distance of those races, 9.5 furlongs, appeared to be too much and this 9 furlong distance should be more to his liking.
3. (20/1) Paul the Apostle – Theprofit5 – (Dixieland Band X Unbridled) This up and coming star made his first try at graded competition with success. Last time out he ran in the Grade 2 Bertrando Handicap. He broke last and settled in at the rail. He then closed with lots of fire to finish 3rd by 5 lengths but with a 108 speed and confirming trainer Theprofit5’s thoughts on the colt. Now entered in a Grade 2 race at the same distance he gets another shot to get in the money. Though this is a tough spot this horse is improving and could easily bring home a check.
4. (26/1) Ransom Phyl (Saf) – Adonai – (Horse Chestnut X Red Ransom) – A former claimer takes the 4 post and a successful one at that. Dropped to claiming because of bankruptcy this colt was expertly bought and trained by Adonai who had gotten 3 allowance wins out of him. Including a 9 furlong allowance race where he won by 4 holding off the closers with a 109 speed. Since he has tried stakes with a disappointing result. But continues to do well in allowances, might be over matched here but if he can run his best he is a viable contender.
5. (5/1) Winter Morn – Calmriver2 – (E Dubai X A.P. Indy) This 5 year old colt has had an excellent career so far, breaking his maiden first time out and then going on to win his two graded attempts the G2 Bluegrass Cup Classic covering 9 furlongs with a brilliant 116 speed. Then in his last start he became a grade 1 winner in the Oak Tree Handicap winning with a 113 speed. I can’t find anything to fault. He is at the right distance and thrives on graded competition.
6. (7/1) Ataun – Palmisland- (Gone West X Sadler’s Wells) This colt is last year’s Bluegrass Derby Winner and he placed 2nd in the Middle Jewel and then on to third in the New Yorker. After that trainer Palmisland made the call to give him a break after a few disappointing performances. Since that break Ataun has been rocking the boat with a solid stakes win and 2nd in a grade 2 race. His speeds are competitive despite his last two efforts but he’s looking strong and showing some old spunk here today.
7. (9/1) Iron Bock – Ironmrcc – (Grand Slam X Halo) This 4 year old light grey colt has run three times at this distance and won twice, the one he lost was a dismal turf start so an understandable loss. The wins were both solid with the last one being the Grade 2 Able and Willing Stakes where he rocketed to a win with a 116 speed. Since he has run longer and shown he does not like it much even though he placed in the 10 furlong G2 Vermont is for Lovers. He will be better placed here and looking to beat some tough competition.
8. (15/1) Sissonhill – Anzstable – (Danzig X His Majesty) This 6 year old colt has been running in stakes almost exclusively since he was 3 years old, giving him 4 stakes wins and 2 grade 2 wins. Not to mention the countless places and shows. He is all-round consistent horse that has been off a bit as of late, showing the wear and tear. He had a small rest after a 3rd in the Bob Wood Memorial where he came back to win an allowance and then bomb his next 5 starts 2 on an off track. He seems tired but with a win last time out to rekindle the hope, he is qualified and welcome to run here.
9. (9/1) Private Cat Two – Redbullet5 – (Storm Cat X Private Account) This 7 year old horse is a tough nut with many wins before he got his first stakes win back in 04/07. With only one other stakes win he has shown speed wise to be competitive with the best of them but seems to prefer an off track which is not what he will find today. Still he has performed well on the fast track and if he runs he could be dangerous.
10. (9/1) Atlantis King – Crown – (Dixieland Band X Unbridled) ¾ Brother to horse above this 4 year old colt also shows a lot of promise. He is a little more experienced but that didn’t stop him from getting beat soundly last time out. He shows a love of the 8.5 distance which did not transfer over to 9 furlongs. Though 9 furlongs is a close second in distance preference, having placed a few times at 9 furlongs. Though his last start was disturbing you can scratch it out, Trainer Crown confided the colt threw a shoe about ½ way through the race and with that difficulty still finished 8th. Should Show his courage here.
11. (12/1) K’s Dolce Koncerto – Kudovas- (A.P. Indy X Mr. Prospector) This 7 year old horse is one of the older horses in the field. He has 4 stakes wins to his name and no graded wins. He had a nice 3 month break from December to March and with one prep start, came in to his last race very strong. He closed to a valid second with a 108 speed in the Your Pigeon Stakes going 8.5 furlongs. Indicating a desire for a bit more ground, and he should find it here.
12. (10/1) Verlander – Buffy8 – (Aptitude X Rahy) With a winning note in his first race this little man got off to a good start. Got his first stakes win 3 starts later and has never looked back. Though his only tow board hits since October of last year have come in allowances. This is puzzling as he’s young and obviously has lots of talent. He has posted nice speed of 114, 110, and 109, two coming in allowances and the 110 in a stakes where he ran second. Hope he is on his game today.
13. (9/1) S R Oil Fire – Earthsong – (Hazaam X Well Decorated) This colt has recently gone from one stable to another but under the same owner. This shift however shows that this 5 year old horse is moving up in the world, moving from the claiming barn to the stakes barn. With 4 recent stakes wins 3 with 110+ speeds this colt is tough. Though I am not sure 9 furlongs is his best distance all 4 wins came at a greater distance and the one at 9.5 was a win by a nose where as the two others at 10 and 11 were won by 2 lengths or greater. 9.5 is not that different so should still be strong here.
14. (12/1) A Vow To Be A Slew – Willyam37- (Broken Vow X Slewpy) This colt was the GR Simsters Derby winner last year as well as a place in the GR Simsters Belmont. Since then his only wins have come in restricted races though he got very close to a win in the G1 La Derby where he finished 2nd. He has had a decent rest having not run for a little over a month hopefully that rest will revive him as he has not been looking spectacular as of late. With a little rest this colt will be as good as new and hopefully will show his quality.
5,6,7, 13 all look tough here I could see any one of them taking the race by storm. It just depends on who has lightening under their feet today.