A Hollywood Knight in Germany
Hollywood Knights Classic
Grade III
A mile and one eighth
Fast Dirt
$125,000
All horses, 3 years old
13 3 yr olds came to Germany for this Grade III Race, some have been trying to Derby Prep, but now ended here, for others running in a Group 3 is the dream of a lifetime, so let’s take a look at the field in this competitive race.
#1 Lucky’s Carpet 7/1
Owner naracing2 hopes for a big rebound by his horse, coming all the way from New York to get this horse back on track, back in March he came 2nd in the All Saints Derby, but a trip to Florida proved heart breaking, and made him miss the Big Dance. His last bad outing in New York can be blamed on the off track, look for this Kingmambo x Storm Cat to fly again in Germany.
# 2 SAHARA DESERT(AUS) 6 /1
Shipping in from Kenntucky Sahara Desert has a solid Graded Stakes record, he finished 3rd just behind Lucky’s Carpet in the All Saints Derby, and finished in 4th in his last two outings, 9f seems his favourite distance, no trifecta should leave this horse out, owner godmother would love a 4th trip to the winners circle for this nice 3yr old.
# 3 HIGHPOWERED(KY) 14/1
Making his first appearance in stakes races at all, this nice Empire Maker x Seattle Slew Brown Colt is one of the powerful outsiders, he has proven to be good at 9.5 f, winning ALWs, so you shouldn’t count him out over this 9f trip, however a win would be a certain surprise, however owner simsters6 seems confident of his colt being able to step up in competition here in Germany.
#4 HOOKAH(KY) 5/1
Early Odds see this horse as the jf by the Bookmakers, and his step up in class seems to come at the right time, he was flying in a 9f stakes Race in Colorado, 3 weeks ago, the step up to Grade III is the logic step after 2 ungraded stakes wins back to back, owner zwango 1 can look confident about his Unbridled’s Song x Gone West Colt. It would be no surprise if he could win this race.
#5 EXTERMINATE(ENG) 7/1
Owner younggroup has decided to Stepp down in class, after recent outings in Graded Races haven’t brought the success he hoped for, 2 disappointing runs in the last 3 races and a nice 2nd Place finish in Dubai. The horse might have prefered a little rain, but there’s a heat wave in Germany, and with the fast ground, this field may still be too strong for the Red Ransom x Fusaichi Pegasus Colt.
#6 HUECO MUNDO(NY) 20/1
The bookies say „no“ to Hueco Mundo, however his recent outing in a New York Stakes race suggests better, it will be crucial for the horse to get the lead, and then hope he can stay on. He is very succesful on dirt having won 3 out of 7 races in lower class racing. A couple more Ungraded Stakes races might have given him more experience, however me and owner ace3 would give him better odds than the bookies.
#7 BOULEVARD OF TEARS(KY) 23/1
Coming off back to back ALW wins may have given owner theshark the rush to enter this horse, I fear it will be too much for this nice Street Cry x Broad Brush colt. He likes the dirt and has been flying at route distances lately, but that alone should not have sent him in Graded Company. He will pick up experience, and look for him to be succesful in stakes races later this year, but this race is too tough for him.
#8 OTTO GRENADES(KY) 11/1
A stakes winner at 8f, this ist he first 9f race for this Bernardini x Fusaichi Pegasus Colt, he flopped badly in a Grade 3 Outing in may, nevertheless owner mardigras has faith in his homebred horse. I doubt he will get the 9f in this class, look for him to challenge for the early lead, but if he can’t get it, this will be asking too much from him.
#9 NINE O NINE(KY) 10/1
After starting his career with 3 wins Nine O Nine felt the heat in a Group 1 Race. He failed to deliver in Graded races so far, and the trip looks to long for him. The Awesome Again x Unbridled Colt brings lots of Speed, and shouldn’t be counted out, but when they head for home, I doubt he will be within the first 5, Owner biggray should establish him at 8f Graded Stakes Races until aiming back at graded company.
#10 CAT CHARM TED(JPN) 10/1
This Silver Charm x Storm Cat colt may face a long 9f trip, with not beating home a lot of horses, he has lots of experience in stakes races, but more often returned home without a check. Recent Outings suggest this trip is too far for him, being mainly succesful at 1m, however owner ted is aiming high with the nice breeding.
#11 FIRST CLASS CAT(KY) 20/1
Another horse the bookies have no faith in, but I give this Storm Cat x Kingmambo Colt lots better odds, winning 3 out of 5, he seems to be stepping up the right way, at least in distance winning comfortable at 8.5f last time in an allowance, look for this horse to come flying late. Owner chilchili’s Colt likes to estanlish himself in the middle of the pack, to make a big finish, at 20/1 consider a place bet here.
#12 BUDGET DAY(KY) 5/1
The other jf still has to proove he can win at that Class. He comes off solid 3rd places in back to back grade 3’s. However this Awesome Again x A.P. Indy has had trouble finishing with speed in his only outing longer than 8.5f back in March, he is progressing nicely, but I would keep him of my list if I had to pick a winner.
#13 SEVEN STRIKES(KY) 12/1
A try at turf last time out proofed unsuccesful fort his nice Smart strike x Septime Ciel Colt, however his outings on dirt make him a more interesting horse here, in April he finsihed 2nd in the Corkscrew Stakes, finishing 4 ½ lengths ahead of Sahara Desert, who he will meet again here. Don’t get fooled by some off days this colt had, if he can stalk the lead horses and finish well he can take this race down.
This is a classy race with some nice horses, if I had to pick, I’d go for 4,11 and 13 but don’t count on me being a good Handicapper, I would give at least 5 or 6 horses a good chance to make a trip to the winner’s circle here.