Grade III Port Marshua Handicap

Port Marshua Handicap
Grade III
A mile and one sixteenth
Firm Turf
$125,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

A full field have shown up for what looks to be a very competitive Graded race.  The runners are:

CAT FIVE CYCLONE(KY)

Trainer: ydracing3

(Mr. Greeley x Storm Cat x Northern Dancer)

Odds:  14/1                 Earnings: 376,745                  Runs/Wins: 23/8

A 4yo scratch bred colt from Yellow Dog Racing (FNQ – Australia). After a reasonable number of dirt starts with a number of wins as a 2yo he was finally switched to turf with immediate success.  He has still yet to achieve a graded victory but that just looks to be a matter of time providing that he can maintain a slightly higher level of consistency in his running.  He’ll be jut off of the pace waiting for the chance to attack.

SHAKESPEARED

Trainer: glendowr

(Macho Uno x Theatrical(IRE) x Sadler’s Wells)

Odds:  9/1                   Earnings: 149,059                  Runs/Wins: 36/5

A 5yo horse from Tequila Mockingbird bred from an E class mare.  Another guy who spent most of his early races on dirt before being switched to turf.  He’s quite capable of putting in a good run but probably lacks the killer instinct needed to win the tighter races.  Could be good for a place here.

HOEGAARDEN(KY)

Trainer: simster6

(Gone West x Storm Cat x Nijinsky II)

Odds:  8/1                   Earnings: 866,506                  Runs/Wins: 16/5

A 4yo scratch bred colt from The Evil Empire.  An expensive breeding but a successful one with victories in G3-The Redalert Matchmaker Mile and G1-Penn Mile as a 3yo. This year has produced some mixed results so far but he is due a monster run very soon for sure.  A late runner he’ll be hoping he can pass the leading horses as they slow over the last furlong or so.

KEPLER BERZERK

Trainer: bobo

(Woodman x A.P. Indy x Danzig)

Odds:  12/1                 Earnings: 2,373,022               Runs/Wins: 46/18

A 5yo horse from Marre Stables bred from a C class mare (Berzerk A.P.).  Perhaps coming to the end of his successful career now after 46 runs and over $2m in earnings.  Winner of G1-Sand Castle Fee Duty, G2-Jacobsson Special and, earlier this year, G3-Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap.  Since that G3 win he seems to have rather lost interest and at this level that is not usually a good sign at this level.  In the past his owner has not been afraid to freshen him up in allowances when the occasion demanded so maybe that’s all that is needed to wake this fellah up.   

WOODYNA

Trainer: oneworld

(Woodman x Dynaformer x Compliance)

Odds:  7/1                   Earnings: 1.271,916               Runs/Wins: 31/8

A 5yo scratch bred horse from ONEWORLD Stables – Established Wk. 634.  Another member of the $1m club after wins in G3-High Lady Cup and G1-World Cup Turf Mile,  but this year has been a disappointment so far.  His last run, 4^th in a G1, showed a little more promise and there are signs that he could be ready to get back on the winning trail in this one.   He’ll be looking to track the early leaders – let’s just hope that he can find a clear run this time.

WHATITSALLABOUT(IRE)

Trainer: flippymom

(Galileo (IRE) x Blushing Groom(FR) x Majestic Light)

Odds:  16/1                 Earnings: 136,492                  Runs/Wins: 19/5

A 5yo scratch bred horse from Ozsteve Stables.  A lightly raced horse who hasn’t really proved himself at this level yet.  His one stakes win was a long time ago now and he struggled last time in an allowance despite having every chance in an average field.   

CRAZY SCOOB

Trainer: offdapace

(Awesome Again x Mr. Prospector x Northern Dancer)

Odds:  7/1                   Earnings: 268,617                  Runs/Wins: 29/12

A 5yo scratch bred horse from Robsscoobi Stables.  An in form horse who probably hasn’t been given enough chances at stakes and graded levels, but has performed well in stakes and restricted races in the past.  He looks in pretty good form just now and this could be the race where he makes his breakthrough at long last.

OTTO WHO(KY)

Trainer: pick4

(Ghostzapper x Elusive Quality x Seattle Slew)

Odds:  14/1                 Earnings: 182,145                  Runs/Wins: 16/6

A 4yo colt from Pierchinski Stables based on an F class horse.  An up-and-coming colt who has proved himself already this year with a nice stakes win last time out.  Looks to still be improving and could defy those juicy odds with a late run. 

RUSSELL BAZE(KY)

Trainer: seveii

(King Cugat x Theatrical(IRE) x Kingmambo)

Odds:  18/1                 Earnings: 103,769                  Runs/Wins: 17/6

A 4yo colt from Seveii Stables bred from a G class mare.  Looking to make it three wins in a row this colt may just find this race a bit too hot to handle.  He’ll certainly be one of the early leaders of this race but I feel he may not be able to fend off the competition over the last furlong.

DIXIE’S PAPPILLA(KY)

Trainer: doctahg1

(Dixieland Band x A.P. Indy x Round Table)

Odds:  12/1                 Earnings: 410,070                  Runs/Wins: 20/8

A 5yo horse from Dentition *No Do Claima’s* Stables based on an E class horse.  Since winning the G2-Fivestarnick Handicap back in August this colt seems to have lost his way a little and, other than a 2^nd place in an off-track G2 , he’s only managed to find a couple of 4^th places.  The signs are definitely not good for this one who at his best would have been the red hot favourite.

UNINTENTIONALLY(KY)

Trainer: pjlracing

(Dixiel;and Band x Wild Again x Fusaichi Pegasus)

Odds:  11/1                 Earnings: 790,080                  Runs/Wins: 22/8

A 4yo colt from Pedro’s Racing Empire bred from a D class mare.  Winner of the G3-Dracula Stakes, G2-Tette Mile Classic and proving he on good form just now,   his last race, the G2-Lone Star Mile.  However he is prone to some poor runs, especially after a big race so maybe you should hold off making too big a bet on this one here.

RICKY CASINO(AUS)

Trainer: nog1

(Redoute’s Choice x Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells)

Odds:  8/1                   Earnings: 269,175                  Runs/Wins: 15/5

A 4yo scratch bred colt from Hawk43 Stables.  A lightly raced colt who is in the form of his life just now in terms of consistency.  His only fault is that he perhaps settles for 2^nd place too often but as an out-and-out sprinter it may just be that the conditions here will be ideal for him, and barring any unforeseen problems his connections will be brimming with confidence..   

THE CITY FLY(IRE)

Trainer: dessie

(Theatrical(IRE) x Carson City x Danzig)

Odds:  9/1                   Earnings: 139,745                  Runs/Wins: 33/5

A 5yo horse from Brundlefly Stables bred from a G class mare.  This horse took forever to finally break his maiden tag and the fact that he subsequently found success in allowances was probably more surprising than anything.  He’s still to make the break through into stakes races and after 33 runs his time is surely running out.  I’m not sure he will find this the right spot, but with clever placing by his trainer he could find the right stakes race before too long.

ZANZABAR(IRE)

Trainer: peeps8

(Galileo (IRE) x Blushing Groom(FR) x Nureyev)

Odds:  7/1                   Earnings: 1,263,945               Runs/Wins: 31/11

A 5yo scratch bred horse from Cobra Kai Racing Stables.  This horse has a nice race  record with wins in the G3-Dracula Stakes and G2-Utah BB Mile, but 2008 has not been kind to him so far.  You have to feel that there are still a few big races left in this one but as the new crop of 4yo’s continue to improve you can see the writing on the wall.

Summary

It seems to be getting increasingly harder for the older horses to hold off the up-and-coming 4yo’s and with that in mind my picks are Ricky Casino(AUS) and, more of an each way, Otto Who(KY).