The BOOK LASS Cap
Nine horses will step onto the dirt track this week at Tennessee for the 4th running of the BOOK LASS CAP Stakes at 7 ½ furlongs. The stakes record, set in 2007, belongs to KINLOCHLEVEN (Forty Niner x A.P. Indy x El Gran Senor) who covered the sprint distance in 1:28. This year’s event should be quite competitive since the field assembled has earned over $2.5 million dollars in combined earnings.
PP1) BENNY MCSHAT (SD) – (Finn Mccool x Deputy Minister x Alydar) – 6/1 TR- Mia and Ben’s Acres
Today marks the 4th consecutive open stakes start for this 3 yr. old colt who was victorious during wk 3693 in the Who Needs Red Bull Challenge at 7 furlongs while posting a lifetime best SP# of 109. With one race since that win, and 5 weeks rest leading up to today’s race, this horse’s consistent 100+ SP#’s in his last four starts speaks well for his chances today.
PP2) IN TOTAL (JPN) – (Agnes World x Gone West x A.P. Indy) – 14/1 TR- Deadinthelane Stables
Winner of the Fast Break Bonanza Stakes at GA at odds of 58/1 during wk 3700 this 3 yr old has four lifetime victories to his credit with earnings over $130,000. This is his third 3yo+ stakes attempt on the dirt with his last race being a 7 furlong event in which he set fast early fractions in the race while finishing out of the money. Look for him to be on or near the lead in this race.
PP3) WELL’ARD – (Sadler’s Wells x Machiavellian x A.P. Indy) – 10/1 TR- Thechamp Stables
Making his 5th start of 2008 today this 6 yr old horse ran a lifetime best 108 SP# his last time out in an ANW2n race restricted to 5yo+ at WY way back in 6/08. The horse has been lightly raced the past 3 yrs with his record showing only one race in 2006 and no races during 2007. Even so, with stakes victories to his credit as a 3 yr. old on the dirt at or near today’s race distance, he should not be disregarded.
PP4) DEMPTOS (KY) – (Smarty Jones x Seeking The Gold x Storm Cat) – 4/1 TR- Rafa Stables
This 4 yr. old colt has proven to be an accomplished runner on both surfaces for his trainer boasting a 20+ win percentage on both surfaces while earning over $667,000. He recently has been brought back to dirt racing after running 15 out of his last 16 races on the turf while regularly tallying 100+ SP#’s. Look for him to come from well off the pace with a strong late kick as they turn for home.
PP5) OLD SUKHOTAI – (Red Ransom x Kingmambo x Shadeed) – 3/1 TR – Blueriband Stables
This 5 yr old earner of over $533,000 is going for his 20th lifetime victory today here at Tennessee. Four of those victories have come in open stakes competition and this veteran race runner has posted 100+ SP#’s in 21 out of his last 29 starts. His last two efforts have been out of the money finishes in open stakes races at 7.5 & 8F on the dirt but his consistent efforts and fondness for winning make him a deserving ML favorite today.
PP6) LITTLE CAESAR (FL) – (Macho Uno x Private Account x Hail To Reason) – 7/1 TR- Lgbost Stables
Since moving to his new trainer in 3/08 this 4 yr. old colt has been impressive winning two stakes races and posing five 104+SP’s out of his last six races. This horse shows amazing closing abilities at today’s race distance. His last four 7.5F dirt races have shown him setting no closer than 7th and averaging 8 ¾ length back at C3 while charging home twice to secure the winners share of the purse.
PP7) SPEIGHTSBAND – (Speightstown x Dixieland Band x Woodman) – 9/2 TR- B4rca Stables
Although winless since 2007 this 5 yr. old horse has been consistent posting eleven 100+ SP#’s in his last twelve races often in graded stakes competition. His last race, in the Cooperation Bucket Stakes at DC (wk 3735), he finished 6th while posing a 102 SP# while maintaining his 4th place running position in the race until late in the stretch.
PP8) ELVEN PRAYER (AUS) – (Elvstroem (AUS) x Gone West x Thunder Gulch) – 9/1 TR- PazJazz Stables
This 3 yr. old colt has mostly been racing against other 3 yr. old horses throughout his 2008 campaign and shows 3 victories out of 16 lifetime races. Twice the horse has tackled 3yo+ stakes competition this year with both resulting in out of the money finishes in those races. His last race showed improvement in his final SP# marking the 4th time the horse has ran a 100+ SP# during his career.
PP9) CRYIN BLUFF (IRE) – (Street Cry (IRE) x Pine Bluff x Fappiano) – 6/1 TR- Dentition Stables
The outside post brings us this 6 yr. old horse, winner of 14 lifetime starts and over $369,000 in earnings, who should be in no hurry early in the race. His last time out, in the Cash Hermitz Bonanza at GA two weeks ago, he also started from the outside post (PP11) and sat back in the field while charging home in the stretch finishing 2nd just ¾ lengths back of the winner while posting a nice 108 SP# at 6.5F.
2008 BOOK LASS Cap selections
Win – #5 OLD SUKHOTAI Place – #6 LITTLE CAESAR (FL) Show – #1 BENNY MCSHAT (SD)
Good Luck to all the horses and their trainers in this years race.