Fourteen To Battle In Tri-City Sprint
Nearing the tail end of summer brings us a variety of noteworthy races filled with top class horses looking for their shot of fame, all hoping, whether realistically or hopefully, seeking a post in the Breeders Bowl. We may or may not see any of these hopefuls here, but the Grade I Tri-City Sprint is sure to be an exciting race over its six and a half furlongs over the dirt track. The race, with its $500,000 purse is open to three year old horses and older. The Tri-City Sprint has seen its number of impressive horses throughout its years since its inception in 2000 including such greats as 2000 Breeders Bowl Sprint winner Blue Ant and 2002 Breeders Bowl Sprint winner and Bluegrass Sprint placed Barely That Auggie. The current stakes record for the Tri-City Sprint is held by one of these two horses, Barely That Auggie broke Blue Ant’s previous stakes record by just a few quarter-seconds to make the current stakes record 1:14 2/5 in the memorable race of the great champion owned and trained by lasthope. The record has stood since 2002, and with the son of Mr. Prospector running a blazing 125 speed figure, chances are we won’t see that stakes record fall this weekend either. The weather has been comfortably in the 70 degree Fahrenheight region all week with bright sunny skies that are expected to continue throughout the weekend, leaving us with a perfect day for racing here in Northern California. We will have a full field of fourteen horses running in this years Tri-City Sprint, lets take a look at the contenders.
1. Antique Gold – (Seeking The Gold x Wild Again x Danzig) – pureluck – T. McGriggs – 11/1
Drawing the rail in our six and one half furlong race is this nicely bred four-year-old brown colt who is out of the dam Tide W. The dam never won a race in her career but she has certainly produced a nice colt in Antique Gold. The colt had a very impressive last race in the Sooner-Husker Stakes (G2) over six furlongs in which he finished just half a length behind in second after leading from the gate, but coming off with a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred thirteen. This colt has been out of the gate and on the lead in every single one of his races with the exception for the listed May Brunette (GB) Challenge over seven furlongs late last year. The colt had an off day here an finished sixth. Look for Antique Gold to show some major speed early on in this race, the question will be for this colt, can he hold on until the wire?
2. Viking Rush – (Selkirk x Forty Niner x Storm Cat) – iant8 -B. Dickerson – 8/1
Settling for the second post to the inside is a five-year-old chestnut horse out of the English-based stallion Selkirk. Viking Rush finished third in his last race, this a six and a half furlong sprint in the ASPCA Restricted (G1). The horses running in the Tri-City Sprint this weekend will be his first graded stakes race open to all horses. Though he is accomplished at listed stakes level, it may be interesting to see how the chestnut horse handles the jump up in class to graded stakes. The horse has been all over the board in terms of past running styles. The horse has run on the pace and come from behind and has won with both styles of running. How he goes this Saturday will probably depend on how the race plays out as they go along.
3. Corporate Finance (ENG) – (With Approval x Belong To Me x Seattle Slew) – grandview – S. Munoz – 17/1
Next up in the field is this three-year-old roan colt out of the graded placed dam Paris Seattle. The striking colt won his last race in the six furlong International Committee of the Red Cross Restricted (G1) late last month in Vermont. The colt also recorded a speed figure of one hundred fourteen, a new lifetime best speed figure for the colt, increasing his previous top speed figure by three. Look for this colt to be possibly running just off the pace or to settle back in the middle of the pack and make a bid for the lead late in the stretch. The colt has had a few stumbles, including a tenth place finish in the Bluegrass Sprint (G1), but has been fairly consistent in his races, finishing in the money in fourteen of his seventeen career starts.
4. Grand Arbiter (JPN) – (Agnes World x Gone West x Deputy Minister) – lender2 – Ti. Matthews – 15/1
In the trademark black and green silks of Deadinthelane Stables will be this four-year-old brown colt, which will be loaded into the fourth post. The colt has been in a racing slump lately, his last win coming in an allowance caliber race over five and a half furlongs on the turf last June. His last graded start came early last month in the six furlong Middle of Nowhere Sprint (G3) in which the brown colt finished sixth, making a move that came a little too late in the stretch. The colt hasn’t managed to win a graded race since the six and a half furlong Super Bowl Stakes in February of last year. The colt will probably leave the gate near the back of the field and slowly move up on other horses in the later part of the race.
5.Mr Toms River NJ – (Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector x A.P. Iny) – honeyj – M. Atie – 5/1
Following in the fifth post is this blue-blooded four-year-old brown colt by top sire Storm Cat. This is an impressive colt coming out of a one and one-half length win in the seven furlong listed Voluptuous Count Special. The brown colt also has the distinction of being this the second place finisher in this years Bluegrass Sprint (G2). The colt is on an impressive streak and has finished in the money in his last seven races, all of them at least stakes caliber races an all of these with speed figures over the one hundred mark. The brown colt will likely be forwardly placed in the Tri-City Stakes, sitting off in second behind the pacesetter or possibly a little further back in a front-placed stalking position. He should make a bid for the lead in the stretch with the rest of the closers, and might very well get the job done here on Saturday.
6. Western Romp Ted – (Gone West x Blushing Groom (FR) x Creme Dela Creme) – apacolypse – J. White – 26/1
Settling into the sixth post is this Kentucky-bred four-year-old colt who will be running under Apacolypse Stables. The colt finished second in his last race, a comeback to stakes level after being stepped down briefly in class to allowance caliber races. This second place finish was in the seven and a half furlong Believing The Love Cap overseas in Sweden. While the colt has managed a few valiant efforts at placing in the money during his last few starts, he hasn’t won a race since the six furlong DPCD Sprint Championship (G1) in December of last year. You can probably expect this brown colt to run near the pace on Saturday, back anywhere from three to five from the leader. The colt may be sent forward towards the lead as well, if he goes unchallenged out of the gate.
7. In A Simple Rhyme – (Forty Niner x Mr. Prospector x Secretariat) – zewango4 – C. Winter – 8/1
Out towards the middle of the starting gates this brown five-year-old will be loading into the seventh start gate. The colt hasn’t had too good a time of late with two sixth place finishes in both the ASPCA Restricted (G1) and the Smackdown Restricted, over six and a half and six furlongs respectively. His last win came in a photo finish in the Sand Castle Golden Sprint (G1) overseas in Dubai this past March. Look for this horse to be one of the last out of the gate on Saturday and settle down near the back of the field, if not trailing the entire pack, and catching his gear as the field comes for home and attempt to go on to make a late run at the wire.
8. Tenpin Wobble – (Seeking The Gold x Northern Dancer x Secretariat) – tenpin7 – T. Silk – 8/1
Again towards the middle of the starting gates will be this four-year-old brown colt foaled in Kentucky. This Kentucky-bred colt will be making his graded stakes debut here in the Tri-City Stakes after securing back to back wins in the listed Believing The Love Cap and The Nightyl Touch Challenge, with speed figures of one hundred twelve and one hundred fifteen respectively. It will be interesting to see how this son of Seeking The Gold handles a slight step up in competition and if he manages to win in his graded debut. To date, the colt has only finished out of the money twice in a stakes race. Look for this colt to be rated back anywhere from just off the pace to mid-pack on Saturday, picking off horses gradually as the race progresses.
9. Brave Birdie (ENG) – (Green Desert x Cape Town x Storm Cat) – jsimpson – V. Naugle – 28/1
Up next going down our line up of race entries is this English-bred three-year-old colt who is out of the graded placed dam Captain’s Cats. The brown colt has finished on the board in his last three starts, including a graded win in the seven furlong Prince’s Knight STakes (G1) over a sloppy dirt track late last month. This colt is on an upward climb after a slight slump, including a twelfth place finish in the California Derby (G1) earlier this year. With any luck the colt will continue to show signs of improvement during the Tri-City Stakes. Look for this colt to possibly go into a battle for the lead coming out of the gate or to sit just of the lead in second or third, and hopefully, be able to maintain his momentum until the wire.
10. Moneygrowsontrees – (Forestry x Mr. Prospector x I Am The Game) – cheadle – T. Bay – 10/1
This five-year old chestnut horse is out of the race-winning dam Miss Carby, who won her single and only race over an eight furlong maiden claiming race. Her five-year-old son is more accomplished and is a graded stakes winner. However, he’s been in a downward spiral recently with a sixth place finish in the Booker T. Handicap (G2) and a seventh place finish in The Smokey Project Memorial (G1). The chestnut horse hasn’t won a race since late last year in the listed Gaelic Dictator (GB) Memorial over seven and a half furlongs. This horse could pull an upset Saturday during the Tri-City Stakes however. Look for the horse to be rated coming out of the gate towards the rear of the field and to start making a move on the field just before the leaders go into the stretch.
11. Sobron – (Unbridled’s Song x Carson City x Mill Reef) – palmisland – Ki. Murray – 6/1
Nearing the posts closest to the grandstand side now will be this striking roan four-year-old colt sired by Unbridled’s Song. The three-year-old has achieved career earnings of almost one million dollars, a feat that will be attainable with the help of a win here in the Tri-City Stakes. The colt is coming off of a three-fourths length win the six and a half furlong ASPCA Restricted (G1) from earlier last month. The only recent stumbling block for the horse was an eighth place finish on an off track during the Sin City Handicap this past may. The connections around Sobron are hoping that the Tri-City will treat the horse better than the Sin City did a few months ago. This horse will likely be sent towards the middle of the pack in Saturdays race out of the gate, and will make his move just prior to when the field enters the stretch.
12. Epistle – (Ghostzapper x Seattle Slew x Forli) – bookworm – L. McNeil – 11/1
On to the twelfth post will be this four-year-old brown colt who is out of the dam Post Script, who never won a race during her racing career. Not so for her any of her offspring. The mare is a three-time graded stakes producer, with offspring also out of Kingmambo and Fusaichi Pegasus that have earned graded placed or graded stakes winner status. This particular colt finished in the money in his last race during the listed Exciting Sal Challenge over six furlongs, this following a win in the listed Marvel Stakes over six and a half furlongs. The colt will likely be out of the gate late on Saturday and trail towards the back of the field, not making his move until late in the stretch.
13. Made Myself – (Pleasantly Perfect x Mt. Livermore x Roar) – epcotlen3 – F. McHale – 7/1
Drawing the lucky thirteen position is this tall four-year-old brown colt who is out of the stakes placed dam Black Mountain Run. As a broodmare she has produced one graded winner and one stakes winner so far after her retirement from racing. This colt by Pleasantly Perfect won his last race by half a length and a speed figure of one hundred eleven. This coming in the six and a half furlong Frisco Capote Cap late last month in Utah. The colt will likely be sent forward out of the gates to be just off the pace of the leaders, settling in possibly in second or third and hopefully making a bid for the lead if the pace should start to tire in the stretch.
14. Sandstone Park – (Kingmambo x Pleasant Colony x Nijinsky II) – stupor – G. Kermutt – 11/1
This impressively bred four-year-old chestnut colt will be in our far outside post, nearest to the grandstand in gate fourteen. The chestnut colt won his last start in the six and a half furlong listed Shelly’s Cigar Bonanza early last month by one length after securing a speed figure of one hundred eleven. The colt has been impressive his entire career to date, his worst finish in his racing career being a fourth place finish in the six furlong Smackdown Restricted this past July. Of the colts twelve starts, half of them have ended in wins for the son of Kingmambo. The colts running in the Tri-City Stakes this weekend will mark his first start in a graded stakes race so far in his career. If the colt handles the step up in class this weekend, we could be looking at one of a few potential winners for this field come post time on Saturday.
Tellnotale’s Picks
Win: Mr Toms River NJ
Place: Corporate Finance (ENG)
Show:Tenpin Wobble
To all with runners in the Tri-City Stakes this weekend, good luck. This is tellnotale signing off.