Gingo Bell, Last Groom T Head Small Field

Gingo Bell, Last Groom T Head Small Field

Massachusetts – Saturday will see a small field of older horses go to the post in the $70,000 Judge Lasso Challenge.  It will be run at a mile and a sixteenth over the turf course and the race was named after a son of Dayjur who won nine races from 46 starts.  He has one foal to race – a winner.

I made my way to the rail very early this morning and watched the field in their morning workouts.  The first to come by was a big raw-boned bay colt by Gone West, Last Groom T (8/5).  He is a 4 YO, owned and trained by Eastecho99 with six wins from 14 starts.  He is ranked # 29 in the Turf Classic division and has won three of his last eight starts.  Those include The Erica’s Well and the Grade III Philly Cheese Steak at a mile and the Grade II Merced at a mile and a sixteenth.  He comes into this race off a 6^th place finish in the Grade I Jack The Man.  He looked awfully strong as he went by with his neck bowed under a tight hold.

Gingo Bell (8/5) is the youngster in the group at three.  He is a light grey son of Pine Bluff and is conditioned by Notturna1.  He came by in a hobby horse canter, lolling his tongue out to the side and tossing his head as he asked for more rein.   Gingo Bell is a six time winner from 20 starts but is 5/7 in the money on the turf.  He has won four of his last eight including The Niner Tow and The Rapidash both at 7 1/2 furlongs.  He ran a very credible 5^th last time out in the Grade I Canada Mile.  He looked mature enough to handle the older horses and will be tough.

Buttery Move (3/1) is the old guy in the group and a veteran of 32 starts.  He had polos on all four of his bay feet and looked a bit creaky starting out.  He warmed out of it after a bout a half mile and was soon kicking up his heels as he went a mile with the pony.  Owned and trained by Pg46 he has eight wins and was a closing second last time out in The Bounded Que but his last win was an allowance race.

Sinohero is sending out the well-bred Sino Emperor (7/2) and he went by in a two minute lick.  The copper chestnut with four white socks by AP Indy has notched 5 wins from 28 starts.  His last win was a wire to wire effort in an allowance mile but even with the small field, one has to wonder if his trainer isn’t after residency points.  JJ