Smackdown 2 year Colts 7f Fast Dirt

— Owner Restricted
Stakes
Seven furlongs
Fast Dirt
$500,000

ORFORD(KY) TR Speedkills JKY A Mitchell ML 11/1

Not sure what happened to this one in his last race but he was nothing like the colt that dominated his MSW in his first race. Kitten Joy x Sadler’s Wells x Alydar is a deep inbreed and perhaps this leads to inconsistent performances. The GR Simsters team member is like the little girl with the curl. When he is good he is very very good but if he is bad he’s… well not so good. He likes to run from off the pace and with so much Sadler’s Wells in his pedigree the distance should not be a problem. If he steps up off his maiden score he is a force another like the last will find him just there.. last

COVER TOO(AR) Tr Dundey4 JKY P Fabre  ML 17/1

The Minnesota entrant also is mixed bag, running big in breaking his maiden in a rez race before being tried in a graded turf race with limited success. Pine Bluff x Crafty Prospector x Sadler’s Wells is a pedigree that could go either way but this guy seems to like the dust better. He runs his best on the front end and if he gets there he could be trouble. If he doesn’t it could be trouble for him. This is his fifth race of the season which is a lot for a youngster so freshness could be an issue as well.

WHERESANNA(KY) Tr newracing JKY  T Crow ML 11/1

The second of Minnesota Downs’ entries comes in off a powerful maiden score in a first time out performance. He took that maiden field wire to wire and may look to do the same here. Certainly fresh and ready, the Elusive Quality x Anabaa x Sadler’s Wells colt should be on the muscle.  Any step forward by this one should have him in the mix for glory.  Was the first race a portent to greatness? We will find out Saturday and I for one will not be shocked if this one is right there at the end

NO MORE PENCILS(KY) TR Simsters5 JKY M Kelly ML 12/1

GRSimsters second team member won first time out and followed it up with a near miss in a stakes race. Point Given x  Forty Niner x Seattle Slew says dirt all the way and this guy looks sharp. He won in his first race on the lead and tried to rate in his second, so look for him to be right up on the action early.  The pace battle will likely determine how this race shakes out and it would be surprising if this one was not a major factor in the pace war. If  things fall his way 12-1 may sound like an overlay before the pictures are taken in the winners circle.

ADMIRE SMOKE(JPN) TR Ratem JKY B Ironside ML 16/1

He won a slow maiden race and was just beaten in a quick March allowance.  He followed those two efforts with another near miss in a graded event.  His speed matches up with any in the field.  The third Minnesota team member is Admire Moon x Capote x Gulch so he is bred to sprint. He scored in his first out closing from 8^th late and has tried unsuccessfully to get there at the wire in his last two. He might need to be a bit closer this time and there is a doubt in my mind whether the extra furlong will help or not.  There should be a lot of pace early so he beware of this one late.

GHOSTGOLD(KY) TR Polandfarm JKY Z Wylde ML 9/1

The first member of the Del Penn team is regally bred. Ghostzapper x Nuryev x  Buckpasser makes you think undefeated colt which is just what this young guy is. He won his maiden easy and an allowance score he pushed a little harder. It is hard not seeing him rise to the occasion here as well. He likes to make a big move right before the third call and should love the extra furlong.  I have to admit looking at this guy would give a competitor chills and if he steps up they may be looking at his tail at the end.

SNAKE STRIKE(KY) TR Salamander JKY T J Cox ML 5/1

When this guy breezed an 81 in his debut back in March everyone at GRS knew he would be in this race. Smart Strike x Awesome Again x Danzig is not a pedigree that grows on trees and that is good news for all the other two year olds in the sim. He lost first out but bounced back with a new style, and rating allowed him to win easily in another sparkling time. If he sits just off the late charge he mounts will be fierce,  if he is to close to what should be a steamy pace he could get fried. I think he learned his lesson and the pre race favorite is the one to beat and it won’t be an easy task.

PERFECT STRANGER(KY) TR malekfarms JKY C O’Hara ML 7/1

He is a bit of a stranger with only one race under his belt, but he was perfect in it as well so he is living up to his name. 81 fto wins are usually a sign of a special horse and his pedigree Giant’s Causeway x Miswaki x Pleasant Colony makes it even more likely that he is. Del Penn has to be quietly optimistic about this one’s chances and who could blame them. In his first race toyed with an early leader before swallowing him up midway and cruising.  If he wants the lead again it could be trouble, but if he learns to rate here it could be a coronation.  Which will it be? The odds makers say get out the oil.

LORD LOCHINVAR(KY) TR waremblem8 JKY D Silver 27/1

This is a real GRS hook-up with D Silver in the saddle but the party could be short lived if this Dr Jekyl Mr Hyde has the wrong side of his personality show up. After opening the two year old season back in Feb with a blistering FTO score he followed up last month with a clunker. Master Command x Silver Ghost x Danzig Connection might be the reason for the up’s and downs. If he runs back to his first race he fits with any in the race, but if he is really the horse that showed up in race two well then it could be ugly. A stalker with a timing problem will count on a veteran jockey to guide him and I have no idea if the extra furlong will help or not. A full blown wildcard.

DEL PENN DUDE(KY) TR topicountc JKY H Ross ML 6/1

It is not a challenge to figure out which team this guy is on and the folks at Del Penn are glad to have him aboard.  Another February baby who started super fast and has been a bit in reverese time wise since.  That said he is also a nose away from being unbeaten in three starts. Unlike some he can’t blame his pedigree which is a red hot sim nick Forest Wildcat x Kingmabo x Seattle Slew. He is a stalker who likes to take command midway through the race and has been able to be just where he likes in each of his previous races. The pace should be steamy so if he gets his spot again look out. The only trouble might be created by getting caught too far back. I can’t see how he does not like the extra furlong.

PAGAN STONE(KY) TR avalanche3 JKY Pe Henderson ML 10/1

It is fitting that the winner of the GRS Future Stars race is here to try and live up to the title. He has been consistent in his spf’s but not in the results of his 3 races. He ran second in an allowance and fifth in a graded try. He likes to come from off the pace and like so many of these juveniles timing his move will be key.  The pace will be similar to his last race where he got caught with too much left to do and not enough time to it. Johannesburg x Danzig x Secretariat seems to indicate he will like having an extra furlong to run these. His owner will appreciate me saying he has no chance so I will. He has no chance.

 TIJUANA SUNSET(KY) TR strikerich JKY F Gunn ML 16/1

Always the bridesmaid but never the bride was this guys story until he broke his maiden last time out. The only problem is that win came on the grass. Minnesota would probably be pleased if this guy did take second again but it would not shock me if he managed to move up a spot and win. Henny Hughes x Gone West x Nureyev would indicate he is quick and 7f might be right in his wheel house. A dirt maiden winning a smackdown race, unheard of right? Well rules are made to be broken so keep an eye on this guy who seems to float around the lead but never take it all the way.

SPERO(MN) TR Roc81 JKY Y Paligaro ML 66/1

A Minnesota bred makes it to smackdown, will wonders never cease? Ogydoug x Dayjur x Capetown. Wait a minute who the heck is Ogydoug? He made the lead and won for fun in his first before getting his doors blown off in his stakes try last out. If he does not make the lead does he turn into a pumpkin, that seemed to be the case with his last race. Minnesota is rightfully proud of there homebred son, but the odds makers see him as a rank outsider. Who will be right? Tune in Saturday and find out, but this writer is leaning towards the money takers.

KAT CALL(KY) TR nathndtroi JKY Z Wango ML 9/1

Street Cry x AP Indy x Storm Cat now there is a pedigree for a smack down runner. I mean it’s no Ogydoug but then again who is.  The evil of Del Penn has lowered this horse demon upon the sim and many will wind up ruing the day he was born. All three of his efforts have been at 5.5f and his last two have been wins. He should be even better with an extra furlong and a half to show his beautiful blood is pumped by a big heart too. He seems to be able to make his move when the jock asks and that type of discipline may be the difference in this even matched field. Very hard to see anyone beating him if he runs his best.

TRY THE THEATRE(KY) TR pauldmd JKY I Wimpy ML 11/1

Theatrical x Seeking the Gold x Seattle Slew is another sharp pedigree in this race filled with blue blood progeny. He missed in his first but has been a sharp winner in his last two races. No soft field here as he was lucky enough to get in his last allowance. Del Penn has another fine looking colt who likes to come from behind. In this field his style is perfect as everyone else may be right up against it setting this one up for a little high drama at the end. He looks as good as any so why guess against him. Timing will dictate the result of his charge at the end.

FINAL THOUGHTs

This race is about as tight a call as possible with all 15 running fairly similar at some point of their short careers or another. It comes down to who runs the best on Saturday. I will go out on a limb and select three to cover their Residencies in glory. Snake Strike, Del Penn Dude and Admire Smoke in no particular order are my choices. I will also say Del Penn winds up on top points wise in this race.