Black Velvet Turf Stakes (Grade 3)

Saturday’s Black Velvet Turf Stakes (G3) has ten entries, all three-year-old colts, none of whom have raced for any other owner.

Collectively, they have made 103 starts, with an easy-to-figure 10.3 starts each. Only one has more than 11 starts. They have won 33 races, with 23 places, and 13 shows. Each horse has had at least 1 off-the-board finish.

Their sim-pedigrees show only two sires appearing more than once – Red Ransom and Mr. Prospector.

Two entrants have no stakes starts, the others have 42 stakes starts, including 19 graded starts. Other races : 39 allowances, 20 MSWs, and two claimers ($50,000; $150,000).

Average earning per race range from about $31,000 to about $6,000, with 5 above $10,000 and 5 below that figure.

In only one stakes races have two horses faced each other. That was the Grade 1 Mountain That Rides. Top Form missed winning that race by a head, with Washinsky 4 1/4 lengths back in third.

Observations (by post number):

1) Magnolia Lane 9 3-4-0 $59,685 10/1

One MSW, 7 allowances, one claimer ($150,000)

His two out-of-the-money finishes were a fourth and a fifth; he has never been more than 4 1/2 lengths back. He won his last race, a $150,000 claimer. Four of his 8 races have been at 8 furlongs, his best speed rating is a 90 (he finished second) but his last 5 races have been in Jamaica. He has raced 3 times on dirt and 6 on turf. His total dirt earnings are almost as much as his turf earnings, so he has earned almost twice as much per start on dirt.

2) Bite the Empire 16 4-2-5 $96,151 12/1

2 MSW, 6 allowances, 7 ungraded stakes, 1 claimer ($50,000)

Worst finish was 7th of 7, 5 3/4 lengths back. His speed figures have been inconsistent, with his best figure, 91, also his last. His most recent races have been at 8 furlongs. Only his first race was on dirt.
He has five stakes placings.

3) Big Giant Arse 10 7-3-0 $118,530 8/1

2 MSW, 4 stakes, 4 allowances

His last 4 races have been allowances at 9 to 9 1/2 furlongs and he won his last outing. Two of his stakes races were restricted. He has a win and a placement in the other two. His best speed figure is a 95. Only one race was on dirt and he was badly beaten (18th, 11 lengths back).

4) No Prizes 8 2-2-2 $51,489 9/1

5 MSW, 3 allowances

His speed figures are improving, with his last at 95. His worst finish was in his first race, which was also his only race on dirt. His last five races have been 8 furlongs on turf.

5) Brave Birdie 11 3-3-0 $377,340 5/1

1 MSW, 1 allowance, 9 stakes (8 graded, 8 on dirt)

He has 3 speed figures in the low 90s and a 102. He has run up to 9 furlongs, but has been 12th is each of his last two races. He has a Grade 2 win, plus 3 stakes placings.

6) Top Form 8 4-1-1 $248,249 3/1

2 MSW, 3 allowances, 3 stakes, all turf

He has never been worse than fourth and his speed figures for his last 5 races have been from 91 to 103. Six of his races have been at 8 furlongs; his other two were at 7 furlongs and 8 1/2 furlongs. He is a stakes winner (ungraded) and stakes-placed (Grade 1).

7) Ophidian Spawn 10 5-3-1 $242,395 9/2

1 MSW, 2 allowances, 7 stakes

He was 12th in his only graded stakes, but has 3 stakes wins and 3 placements in his other six stakes starts. His speed figures have been somewhat erratic, with his best at 101. He has raced up to 9 1/2 furlongs.

8) Trebre Red 10 2-2-1 $74,160 17/1

2 MSW, 8 allowances

All his races have been on turf, ranging up to 8 1/2 furlongs. His best speed figure is 88 and he was 8th in his last race at 6 1/2 furlongs.

9) Washinsky 11 4-0-3 $285,620 4/1

1 MSW, 1 allowance, 9 stakes

His last race was an allowance, which he won. However, his best speed figure is a 98. In 9 stakes starts, he has two wins and three placements, all in graded stakes.

10) Blake’s Miner 10 2-3-0 $65,244 16/1

3 MSW, 4 allowances, 3 stakes (ungraded)

He is the only horse in the field who has not run at least 8 furlongs, the distance of this race. His last, and longest, was 7 1/2 furlongs, which, at 91, is also his best and only 90 speed figure. He has run in 3 ungraded stakes races with two placements.