Variety Abounds At Smackdown
Last week, late, late, LATE one night, I got a call from my landlord. Naturally, this confused me, since my “apartment” is approximately one half of a storage closet somewhere in the boiler room and I didn’t think anyone would notice me there. My landlord informed me that it was the end of the month already. Rather than replying “far out” like I wanted to, I decided I should raise some quick cash. I’m kind of attached to the boiler room.
What better place to go than the racetrack?
Unfortunately, the track wanted several dollars for admission. I found myself discussing the matter with a large man named Rocky, and I did the only thing I could think to do: convince him I had a press pass. It didn’t work, and I had to jump the fence, but I figured I should keep up appearances and cover a race. I suppose if I had gotten a job in the first place it would have been simpler. The Smackdown Grade 1, 10 furlongs on the turf, looked to having quite the mixed field.
We have fifteen horses here today who have no trouble paying their rent. The first is a 5-year-old named Maverick from the desperado2 stable. This horse won the Square Melody Handicap in his last start, and was second in the Boogity Bear Stakes (G3), running a 111. Maverick, by Gone West, has generally run around 8 or 9 furlongs, so we’ll see if he can do 10 as well. He is at 5/1 today.
Second is Shouldn’t Matter, seekgold’s 4-year-old. Shouldn’t Matter is ranked 28 in the Turf Classic Division and won the Enough Knock Memorial with a 109. This son of North Light was also second in the Crock of Gold. He’s had some struggles recently, but improved in his last start to finish fourth. This turf specialist (he’s never run on dirt!) is at 8/1 here.
Number three is one to look out for. Tara is a 4-year-old filly from bredtosell’s stable, and this is not the first time she’s taken on the colts. Tara was second against colts in the Sand Castle Fee Duty (G1), running a 111 in that start. She won the Devil’s Slide Handicap (G1) and the Freiermuth Stakes (G3) running against fillies as well. This daughter of Generous is ranked 8th in her division, and has only 13 starts with $1.7 million earned. However, she’s only 18/1 today due to a presumed injury in her last start back in May. Will she make a comeback?
In the next stall we find High N Black, owned by tsunami9. This 8-year-old son of High Yield has a claiming tag of $2000 and has run 71 races. High N Black made his last three starts in Grade 1’s, finishing distant in all of them. However, this race was open to 20 entrants, and since it did not fill (we have 15 here) the field could be considered open to anyone. Hmm, wish I’d thought of that. The distance may be a bit much in this case, and the betters agree at 99/1.
Number five is DW Dubai, stormracin’s 4-year-old and another by Generous. This colt has won three of his last four races: two allowances and the Gold Saddle Challenge. DW Dubai has been running mostly allowances recently, so this will be a definite step up for him. He handled the jump to stakes well, so his connections should be optimistic. At 12/1 and only 18 starts, this one merits a second look.
Our sixth starter is S R King Oil. This 6-year-old by High Rolling is from the jeffdrew stable and has won allowances at 10 and 11 furlongs. His last two stakes attempts resulted in poor showings (a ninth and an eighth) but perhaps the third time is the charm. S R King Oil will have to improve significantly to do well here. He is 16/1.
Next door is Dancing Tenpin by Theatrical. Tenpin8’s 4-year-old is 49th in the Turf Classic Division. He won the Morris’s Devils Challenge and the Kamikaze Killa with a 108 speed. In his last start, Dancing Tenpin finished third in the Doomben Cup (G1). This son of Theatrical seems to run his best at longer that 9 furlongs, so he should do well here. He is 11/1.
The eighth starter is Mia Then Back, owned by madhibby5. In only sixteen starts he has nine wins and has $1 million dollars in earnings. He won the North Life Stakes and was second in the All Comers Stakes (G1) with a 115. Mia Then Back was also second to Shouldn’t Matter in the Enough Knock Memorial. At 4/1, this is a horse getting a lot of attention this week.
Number nine is The Nob Bot by Theatrical and out of the tsunami10 stable. She is an 8-year-old mare with a $2000 claiming tag and 72 starts. Her last two starts were Grade 1’s, but she finished distant in both efforts. I have heard some murmuring along the backstretch that a dirt run may give her more of a shot. The Nob Bot is at 99/1.
In the ten position is Joyofwild owned by turfsurf. This four-year-old son of Forest Wildcat is number 56 in his division, and is the winner of the Pink Bong Stakes. He was also second in the NY Island Cap (G1) where he ran a 110. Those last two starts were a great improvement the Florida Turf (G3) where Joyofwild appeared to struggle. He is 14/1 today.
The eleventh starter is George W. Loser. Monimonica’s seven-year-old has finished distant in his last seven races, all of which were stakes. Of 62 lifetime starts, this son of Polish Precedent has 3 wins. George W. Loser is another 99/1 entrant.
Our twelfth runner is Severe Warning. This four-year-old Theatrical colt is ranked ninth in the Turf Classic Division. Fairhaven5’s entry won his last two starts, which includes the NY Island Cap (G1) over Joyofwild. He appeared to be injured in March during the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic (G1) but has recovered nicely as those last two runs show. Severe Warning has eighteen starts, eight wins, $1.5 million, and is capable of running 113. He is the probable speed of the race, and is 7/1.
Thirteenth is Testikov, a four-year-old by Montjeu. Testikov has won at the allowance level multiple times for owner tremguis. He was also second in the Florida Turf (G3) with a 113. He is capable of running at the stakes level, and could easily be a factor in this race. Look for him at 11/1.
In the fourteen spot is Basketball Jones, the favorite here today. Guyinchit’s four-year-old Smarty Jones colt is the fourth ranked colt in his division. He won the SonRays Daily Devotional (G1) and the All Comers Stakes (G1) over Mia Then Back. Basketball Jones has run a 118, but his best speeds have come at a mile. We’ll see if he can stretch out a little longer, going at 7/2.
On the outside is Pleasant War. Layoff’s four-year-old won the 16 furlong Kenbar Tan Stakes, but struggled a bit in his last start. He finished second in a pair of stakes, and looks to make the jump to graded company here. Pleasant War, by Pleasant Tap, is 20/1.
Unfortunately, my boiler room closet had a giant lock on it when I returned, so I will be at the track all weekend to see how this one turns out. There’s something in this race for everyone: colts, fillies, favorites, extreme long-shots, anything you want. I would like to say this race is wide open, but if want a tip I would say keep an eye on number three.