The ALYRAP ROAR Memorial

It’s Derby week and there’s a lot of buzz at all of the race tracks this week. Here in Tennessee all 3yo’s are gearing up for the $45,000 ALYRAP ROAR Memorial. This race will be run for one mile on the turf and we have an extremely evenly matched field this week. Even the handicappers had a difficult time determining the odds. The record time for this race was set back in 2005, 1:35 4/5. It was tied in 2006 and 2007 so let’s see if we can beat that this week.

Let’s meet the field.

Post Position: 1

LETHAL MAMBO 3yo colt (Kingmambo x Rainbow Quest x Nijinsky II)

After performing poorly in his first career start on the dirt, Lethal Mambo was switched over to the turf and he began to shine. His second start was a short 5.5 furlong sprint which he won easily by ¾ of a length. He was then put into a 6.5 furlong Allowance race where he would bring home another win for trainer lethargic. Wanting to try him at a longer distance, he was then put into a 7 furlong Allowance but he couldn’t quite get it together and he would bring home a fourth, 3 ½ lengths off the lead. Stretching the distance out just a little further, he was then placed into two 7.5 furlong Allowance races. The first one his speed improved but he still was unable to catch the winner and finished third. The second of the two, however, he came from 4 lengths back halfway through the race to take the win by ¾ of a length. His last time out was for a mile in another Allowance race. He battled it out with Vindinsky the entire race and at the wire Lethal Mambo held onto the lead to bring home his fourth career win with a high speed of 98. The handicappers have given him odds of 7/2 for this week’s race.

Post Position: 2

SHAW 3yo colt (Scrimshaw x Habitat x Northern Jove)

Shaw began his racing career in August 2007 on the dirt for 6.5 furlongs. Not liking the dirt too well, his trainer switched him over to the turf. After two races on the turf and finishing in fourth in both, he was then sold to vettstc. He would then be tried on the turf at three different distances. One at 9.5 furlongs, one at 8 and one at 11. Not able to get his speeds out of the 70’s, the best finish in those races was a third, 2 ½ lengths off the lead. His last time out was a 9 furlong MSW. He was finally able to break his maiden and was first under the wire, 2 ½ lengths ahead of the rest with a high speed of 89. I believe he is a little outclassed in this race and that after being unable to break his maiden until a good 7 months into his career I feel like this may be a very bold move on his trainer’s part. The distance is not a problem for him but he really needs to increase his speed if he wants to have a chance this week. The handicappers feel pretty much the same way by naming him the long shot with odds of 19/1.

Post Position: 3

MR. UNIVERSE 3yo colt (Rock Hard Ten x Storm Cat x A. P. Indy) Dam – First Edition

February 2007 was when this guy first stepped foot on the racetrack. His trainer tried him on the dirt first for 2 races before switching him over to the turf. The switch proved good and he broke his maiden his first time on the grass at 6 furlongs. He was then entered into two ungraded Stakes races, one at 5.5 furlongs and one at 6 and he brought home two more wins, making it 3 in a row. The more he raced, the more he improved his speed but he was unable to win another race until January 2008 in an 8 furlong Allowance race on a yielding turf track. It was then on to another 8 furlong turf race but this time he was unable to get the win and finished fifth. His last time out was April 19^th. It was an 8 furlong $40,000 Claimer. He stood in the winner’s circle once again but he was also claimed by his trainer appower. This will be his first race under his new trainer’s tutelage. If he can continue to improve upon his speed as he has been doing than he has a shot in this race. The handicappers have placed him with odds of 9/1, believing there is a chance that he may pose some threat this week.

Post Position: 4

KEPLER TOKYO 3yo colt (Charismatic x Carson City x El Gran Senor) Dam – Kepler Carson

Kepler Tokyo started racing in April 2007. His first trip out was on the turf for 6 furlongs. With 1 ½ lengths separating him from the horse behind him, he was first under the wire. He was then switched over to dirt for a 6 furlong Allowance where he won once again. He was then tried in a Grade 2 but was unable to keep up his winning streak and finished 3^rd. A switch back to the turf in an ungraded Stakes and he was back in the winner’s circle. After a loss by a head in a Grade 3, he brought home his first Graded Stakes win in a 6 furlong Grade 1 in September 2007. It was then time to try him at longer distances but he seemed to have problems coping with the added length. He managed a few thirds and a couple out of the money finishes until last month in an 8 furlong Allowance race. He set the speed early in the race and by the wire, it was all Kepler Tokyo, 2 lengths ahead of the pack with a high speed of 93. He will be one to keep your eyes on Saturday. The handicappers have given him odds of 9/2.

Post Position: 5

PARADISE DELAYED 3yo colt (Pleasantly Perfect x Kingmambo x Nijinsky II)

Dam – Girl Can’t Help It

5 furlongs on the dirt in April 2007 was this guy’s very first race. He took the lead right from the break and never relinquished it, finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field. After an unsuccessful try in his next race he was switched to the turf. That began a 6 race juggle, back and forth between the turf and dirt. Then finally in October 2007, in an 8 furlong Allowance on the turf he captured his second win. He would then be switched back to the dirt for an 8 furlong ungraded Stakes where he would get his first stakes win. It was then on to a Grade 3, 8.5 furlong run where after leading three quarters of the race, he dropped back to finish in eighth. He was put back into an 8 furlong Allowance race where he brought home another win for trainer driver1000. After another unsuccessful ungraded Stakes attempt he was back in an 8 furlong Allowance race and stood in the winner’s circle once again. His last three races were all ungraded Stakes, one at 9 furlongs and two at 8.5. The best finish he could get in those was a second his last time out. He did manage to reach a high speed of 106 which probably plays a role in the handicappers naming him the favorite with even odds.

Post Position: 6

BARB’S A COOL CAT 3yo colt (Tactical Cat x Red Ransom x Chief’s Crown)

Dam – Barb’s Amarilys

March 2007 Barb’s A Cool Cat started her career in a 5 furlong sprint on the good turf. She apparently didn’t like the off track much and placed third. Her next trip out, though, was another 5 furlong race but this time the turf was firm. She had more success on the dry grass and was first under the wire. Her trainer then tried her in a 5.5 furlong ungraded Stakes but was still a bit unexperienced for that level and placed sixth. So it was on to a 6 furlong Allowance and she began winning once again. With two Allowance wins under her girth, the one at 6 furlongs and one at 7, she was tried in an 8.5 furlong ungraded Stakes and this time was first under the wire for her first Stakes’ win and making it 3 wins in a row. That would be her last win, however. She was tried in two 8.5 furlong ungraded Stakes, two 8 furlong ungraded Stakes and one Grade 1, but the best she could do was a second and a high speed of 99. She has only finished out of the money once in her career, though. So, I believe that if she doesn’t end her losing streak this week she should at least be up there fighting hard for it. The handicappers seem to think she has a fighting chance, giving her odds of 7/2.

Barb’s A Cool Cat x Lethal Mambo x Paradise Delayed

I think that Barb’s A Cool Cat is going to be the first under the wire Saturday, especially if she continues to improve. Lethal Mambo has a fighting spirit and won’t be far behind in second. I don’t think that Paradise Delayed will be able to pull it together and will be third under the wire. Either way, it’s going to be a fun race to watch.

Good Luck and Happy Racing.

If you have any questions/comments, feel free to email me at wolfmagic6@yahoo.com I’d love to hear from you.