A Field of Eight Older Horses Celebrate Thirteen Years of ESR History

A field of Eight Older Horses will enter the Big Apple starting gate for the for the $100,000 ESR 13 Years Celebration Series.  The race will be run at Twelve Furlongs over the Turf Course. The race is highlighted by BRUSHING, son of HOF Mare GUSHING, and JUST THE DREAM, a son of HOF Mare STREET CREDS. 

LARIKA – the valesa trained 4 Year Old Bay Filly by Galileo out of a stakes winning Deep Impact mare has not quite lived up to her pedigree in her two and three year old campaigns, but her previous two outings over the Dirt Course show a potential for successful 4yo campaign; while the distance of today’s ESR feature will not present a problem for the IRE bred, her presence in this Turf Stakes against the boys appears to be nothing more than a participatory gesture from her spirited connections; tab this one in her return to the Dirt and expect a marked improvement…watch list

BRUSHING – a long awaited return to the ESR circuit, the celebrated balata connections enter the equally celebrated, multi Graded stakes winning Sea the Stars 6 Year Old Bay Horse out of the HOF multi-G1 producing mare GUSHING into the ESR feature; unfortunately much of the hype stops there as the one time superstar hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since October of 2020; with two starts in 2021 under her belt, the fields lone millionaire may need to rely on past glory to factor into this weeks outcome; having said that, she still knows how to pop those triple digit speed figures and the rest of this field need to take notice; much the best if she’s up to it, but that’s a big IF…your call

GHOSTNTHEGRAVEYARD – the sremel traineeby Gleneagles out of a multi-stakes producing Ghostzapper mare has had a steady diet of Stakes appearances in her 2021 -22 campaign and has flashed some lofty triple digit speed figures in each of those starts, however the 6 Year Old has been unable to finish closer than second in any of those ten starts; with a 3^rd place finish LTO in a conditional allowance, the Morning line 5-1 odds might be a little more optimistic than his actual chances; strong second place finish o the G1 winning ROCK IT CADET last year  in the  ESR Trainer of the Year Stakes might suggest he fits with the ESR crowd but I prefer to look elsewhere…must show more

MORE THAN TOUGH – expect a strong performance from the kingab trained 5 Year Old Bay Gelding out of a stakes producing Dansil mare; the winner of the ESR Player Contribution Stakes 37 at this distance has propelled herself to a stakes victory in the Euro Test Stakes before contending the pace in the G2  Longstickgoboom Stakes in his following start; entering the field off of a three month layoff, the KY bred has done some of his best racing with time off and should be considered a major player in this field…dangerous

JUST THE DREAM – to say today’s appearance in the ESR feature is a welcome class relief for the 5-Year-Old Roan Horse by Medgalia D’Oro out of the multi-graded stakes producing HOF Mare STREET CREDS, might qualify as the understatement of the year; the spinround trainee has taken on nothing but the best in his last five starts while giving a good account of himself with three ITM finishes in those appearances; a glimmer of hope in beating this one to the wire might come from his last start, albeit a G2 Stakes, where he uncharacteristically lost ground , during the stretch running of the race, perhaps an indication of  waning form…class edge

CONCRETE KING – the trotter1 trainee by Bricks and Mortar out of a Frankel mare just missed LTO in the Southern Bird King Turf Stayer while boasting a 119-speed figure; the 5 Year Old Bay Gelding has found his best stride while excelling at today’s distance; listed as your morning line 2-1 favorite, the JPN bred looms the…one to beat

LUKADERO – the 4 Year Old Bay Gelding by Divisidero out of a Pivotal Mare will have his work cut out for himself here on Saturday despite three consecutive wins at the claiming level; the ace connections have done a great job climbing the ladder with this gelding, but mid 90 speed figures might be an indication that the reach is too far; nice test for this KY bred, but 59-1 says it all…not with these

HOMICIDIO – the woette trained 4-Year Old Bay Colt by Orfevre out of a Gleneagles mare was a clever $12,500 claim paying immediate dividends for his connections earning back 8x the claiming price while proving class worthy with a second place finish in the Mecca – Epsom Derby in June; speed figures may not be up to this level yet, but the start of his 4yo campaign brings lots of possibilities for this improving JPN bred…might surprise

HANDICAPPING THE FIELD

BRUSHING, MORE THAN TOUGH, JUST THE DREAM, and CONCRETE KING are the major players in this field.  BRUSHING could be much the best if he regains prior form, but as a betting man, I’m betting he won’t, at least not now and not here.  Looking for a horse that shows class and form, then look no further than JUST THE DREAM.  I just wish he didn’t lose so much ground in that last start, something he’s done only once, and that was 16 panels, a race he was far back throughout and wanted no part of.  MORE THAN TOUGH is a kingab trainee, and usually that’s all you need to know, and such may be the case here again today.  I can’t find a wrinkle in his armor and must be used here in all exotics.  At the risk of being a homer, I like CONCRETE KING’s chances against this field.  His form has been good, his last speed eye-popping and a 12-furlong specialist.  I wish I had a dollar for every time I have seen this type go up in flames, both SIM and real life.

GHOSTNTHEGRAVEYARD comes in just below the top four and could surprise based on his second place finish o the G1 winning ROCK IT CADET last year  in the  ESR Trainer of the Year Stakes.  I’d like LARIKA a lot more if this was a Dirt race, and although I like the direction HOMICIDIO is heading, I don’t think he’s ready for this kind just yet. I think by now ace want’s me to pick against her horses, she almost always make me eats my words, so I am fully prepared to eat crow if LUKADERO wins this race.

THE PICKS  

MORE THAN TOUGH – kingab’s the 2022 TOY for good reason

CONCRETE KING – in top form

JUST A DREAM – best chance to overthrow top two picks