Unproven Juveniles Look to Drink Sparkling Wine

A field of 14 juveniles is set to go in this year’s renewal of the Grade1 Sparkling Wine Stakes in New York.  Among these thirteen colts and one filly are just three stakes winners, and none have a graded stakes win.  Furthermore, none have traveled today’s mile and a sixteenth distance before, and the track’s sloppy condition adds to the uncertainties facing trainers and bettors alike.  Here’s a closer look at the field:

1.  Destiny’s Gone – 8/1

Chloedawg2’s homebred son of Gone West jumps into stakes company at the highest level here, fresh from a handy allowance win over seven furlongs in California.  Two turns should pose no problem for this speedy colt, as he broke his maiden at a mile in early July.  This colt is developing nicely and seems to have much more room to improve, as his SRs (top of 83) have gradually increased in each of his four lifetime starts.  He’s also bred to love the sloppy going, and his debut performance over a good track should likely be forgiven.  Gets the experienced but slumping Haffner in the irons and has a chance to make all the running.

2.  Dial M – 7/1

This regally bred son of Kingmambo leads the field in career earnings by a considerable margin, having banked over $150K in his four lifetime starts.  Super20’s runner has a restricted stakes win over six furlongs to his credit two starts back, in which he earned his lifetime best 84 SR, and ran a fast-closing second in his last over seven panels.  He should relish the extra distance in today’s test.

3.  Relax Wolf – 16/1

Graywolf21’s son of the somewhat obscure Czech sire Relaxed Gesture is the most experienced colt in the field, having started eight times since making his two year-old debut way back in February.  He’s stakes-placed, having run a good second in the One Minstrel Memorial in Ireland two starts back.  It is interesting to note that he earned a lifetime best 87 SR in that race, a full 14 points better than any other in his mostly undistinguished career, and that it was earned on an off track around two turns.  His entry here is a cagey move by a veteran trainer.  A longshot worth a look.

4.  Regent – 14/1

A stakes-placed son of the hot freshman sire Corinthian, (already five stakes winners), alluvial’s homebred comes into this one off a third place finish in the Momentary Quest Memorial in Alabama in which he earned a lifetime best 82 SR.  He tried graded stakes company in June without much success but seems to have perked up since being tried at route distances.  Gets a solid rider in Er. Anderson.

5.  Dixie Party – 14/1

Ladyracer’s homebred son of Dixieland Band has just a maiden win to his credit, but it was earned over a good surface.  His best SR is also on the low side (just 76) in comparison to the others in here, and he regressed slightly in his last, his first start around two turns.  Factoring in a low-percentage rider, he must be considered an outsider in this Grade 1 event. 

6.  Rampart Red Glare – 6/1

Co-favorite comes into this race off a strong allowance win over seven furlongs in which he earned an 85 SR.  This son of Thunder Gulch gave notice of his talent with a big debut maiden win (in the slop) in May, but disappointed in two subsequent efforts in stakes company.  The win may have perked him up, and the added distance may prove to his liking, but a low percentage jock and some unanswered questions about his class loom as concerns.  Has every chance to win.

7.  Stake Your Claim – 19/1

Little used sire Acclamation is represented here by qwikvett’s homebred filly.  She broke her maiden at first asking in early May, in a somewhat slow time, and most recently beat first-level allowance fillies at a mile, in which she earned a lifetime best 77 SR.  She’ll need to improve dramatically to be a factor in here.

8.  Artist – 21/1

Lostthecode’s son of solid freshman sire Excellent Art has only a maiden win in his five lifetime starts, and a low career best SR of 77.  He tried a route of ground in his last start, a first-level allowance race in Ireland, and was a well-beaten third among just five starters.  On paper, he’s too slow to be competitive in here and is another that will need a dramatic improvement.

9.  Oscar Von Blotto – 12/1

Icbomber10’s lightly raced son of Andromeda’s Hero has two wins and a second from three lifetime starts.  He’s shown solid improvement with each start, earning an 86 SR in his last, a second place finish in the Dedicated Treasure Challenge at a mile in Colorado.  Gets a top jock in B. Child and appears very good value at 12/1.

10.  Sports Guy – 9/1

Another from the Super family of stables, super1’s son of Awesome Again was a late-closing second last time out in the King Guapo Memorial in Mexico at seven furlongs.  He earned a career best 86 SR in that one which undoubtedly gave his connections the confidence that he could contend against graded company.  This will be his first venture around two turns, however, and his recent improvement leaves questions about how much more room he has to develop in the short term.  Seems a fair price at 9/1.

11.  Canyouseemenow – 12/1

Kewmwa’s grey son of Giant’s Causeway won his first two starts in impressive come-from-behind fashion in Nevada before shipping toKentucky for the N. Clan Cap in his last.  His first start around two turns, he did not disgrace himself but could do no better than a well-beaten fifth.  His lifetime top is just 78, but if he gets a lot of pace to run at, and if he takes to the off going, he could surprise, as this colt seems to have alot of room to improve.

12.  El Acclaim – 8/1

Another offspring of Acclamation, this colt is that sire’s only stakes winner, having taken the Timeless S. Bonanza in his last start.  He earned a big 91 SR in that race, his first start around two turns, which was his third consecutive victory.  He’s in against tougher today, but a repeat of that effort will take some beating.  The extra sixteenth will also work to his advantage, and he gets the services of high-percentage jock N. Lawton.  A major contender.

13.  Dynamics– 8/1

Yet another from the Super group of stables, this son of Dynaformer comes into this race off a third place finish in a restricted one-mile stakes event in Upper New York. He equaled his career-best SR of 81 in that race and has every right to improve today.  Still, he’ll need some pace to run at and seems a bit of an underlay at 8/1.

14.  Xtra Tales– 6/1

This son of Tale of the Cat represents the high percentage ejdstable and has the most stakes experience of any in today’s field.  He won the Mr. Dinky Memorial two starts back, earning a career best 88 SR, and placed in another sprint stakes in June.  He tried graded company in his last, the G2 Dell Computer Futurity, but fell off the pace early and could only manage to close into a seventh place finish.  He’ll want to be closer to the pace in this one, his first try around two turns.  Deserves strong consideration, but perhaps a slight underlay as co-favorite at 6/1.

In a race where contention seems to run deep, El Acclaim represents good value on top and looms the horse to beat.  Destiny’s Gone appears a real danger on the front end, while Dial M and Rampart’s Red Glare are seemingly capable of firing an improved effort big enough to take down the top prize.  Oscar Von Blutto represents a solid longshot play.

Best of luck to all.