Grade II – Club Stakes

Grade II Club Stakes – Nebraska

Fourteen of the best two year olds in the sim line up to contest the Grade 2 Club Stakes at the distance of a mile and one sixteenth on the main track. Upon looking at the morning line card the first thing that is eye popping is that four of the horses are the 7-1 morning line co-favorites and three additional horses are 8-1. How is that for a wide open contest for the $250,000 purse money? Here is the field for the Grade II Club Stakes.

1. Corinthian War – Running for trainer seacadet representing Pastures of the Green this late running son of Corinthian already has a graded score to his credit capturing the Grade III Trixy Delight’s Special at a mile back in August. Ran a sturdy 5^th last time out in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile and should be primed to give another solid effort for his connections today.

2. Sisson’s Sunday – Scratch bred Any Given Saturday has three lifetime wins on his resume including two in open stakes company at distances of 7 ½ and 8 furlongs. Finished seventh in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile whose field is well represented by today’s runners thus far. Has a late running style flair that should have him in position to run down the leaders when it counts the most. Trained by Binzaman this horse also represents the Pastures of the Green residency.

3. Saint Bernard – Topicount who is in more residencies then our beloved squirrel by quick visual inspection brings us this lightly raced but talented son of Bernardini. With only two career races Saint Bernard has been thrown up against it quickly against this solid battle tested field but odds makers think he will do just fine and have him as one of the co 7-1 favorites. Has the ever deadly Gone West X Sadler’s Wells backend that is good in any combination as 2008 Derby Winner Kissin Streetcry showed.

4. AP BULLIT – After two lackluster initial races on the main track trainer rockrace turned this son of AP Warrior loose on the turf where he has enjoyed tremendous success winning 3 races including a 7 furlong open stakes race. After 5 solid runs on the grass AP BULLIT attempts a return to the main track today. The odds of 8-1 make this unknown too big a gamble for me to enthusiastically back but if he surprises he very well could get on the Derby trail in 09.

5. Mindless Heresy – I award trainer Rockriver the highly subject award for best named horse in this bunch as I absolutely love the name on this son of Galileo. Despite having a pedigree that would appear made for turf (Galileo X Seeking The Gold X Green Desert) he flopped in his turf debut only to star on the main track after that initial failure. Last race out resulted in an open stakes win with a career high of a 91 and continued improvement could throw Mindless in the mix.

6. Dansaar – Trainer TGI has given a solid campaign to Dansaar (by Saarland) who has 3 wins in 7 career races including a nice open stakes score at 8.5 furlongs two back. Look for him close to the early pace if he is running his “A” race and if he recovers from his setback last out he could factor in today’s race.

7. Ghost Dancers – This royally bred “Super” entrant took five tries to break his maiden but finally broke through in a Delpenn Saratoga meet MSW with a smashing 3 length score. He followed that race up with a respectable 3^rd in an open stakes race. Performance wise this one is a notch below the best of this field but he has the pedigree to compete and I’d love to see him try turf next with the Kingmambo X Danehill backend.

8. One More Twine – I love the name for this son of Twining as it’s a fun play on the overused poker saying “One time”. This colt appears quite talented as he is 2 for 3 lifetime and is improving by leaps and bounds having run a solid 83 in an allowance score last out. That being said he appears to be taking to big a step up in today’s race as I would have preferred to see him get an open stakes try first. In any case I think this colt has a nice future ahead of him and could be dangerous if allowed loose on the lead.

9. Rock Slew – Wjobsports bring to post this son of Rock of Gibraltar who has found the main track to his liking after 4 respectable starts on the grass. He ran a solid 87 two back in his main track debut winning by 2 and looks to continue to build off of that race. Oddsmakers have him at 14-1 so he offers some exotic value if he can fight and claw himself into contention.

10. Nimzowitsch – Trainer jayjay has aggressively placed Nimzowitsch (son of Refuse to Bend) in this really tough race but at this point in the season it is nice to start trying to build stakes points for a 3 yr old campaign. This frontrunner has not yet run the big figures of the best of today’s field but he should help create a pretty fast pace that could set the race up for a midpack runner or closer. I think this one should continue to develop as a 3 yr old and would even be worth a turf try real soon.

11. Seattle Exploit – Another entry from Wjobsports this son of Exploit was given a royal Seattle Slew X Sadler’s Wells backend and has been doing that pedigree proud. He has 3 wins from 6 career starts and his open stakes score at 7 ½ furlongs last out shows he has earned this graded try. If he progresses a bit off of that race I really like his chances in this race and I believe he has an intriguing running style that could aid him today. I think he is a tremendous value at 10-1.

12. Floyd’s Boy – Trainer LSUMARK of Ireland has the luck of the Irish working with this Maybry’s Boy colt who has already earned over 150k in 8 lifetime starts. He has been competitive in big races like the Grade 3 Cryogenics and Closest Friend Stakes. He has a ton of stakes points from finishing ITM in so many big races and one would think he will eventually have his day to shine. Could today be that day? In any case bravo to you lsumark for getting it done and putting this sire on the map.

13. Finger Painting – Okdavid196 also used a breeding road less travelled by using Dutch Art (son of up and coming sire Medicean) and this colt has rewarded the lack of convention. He is 5-1-1-2 and ran a hard closing 3^rd with a 90 speed figure in an open stakes last out. He will need to improve quite a bit to take the prize in today’s affair but at odds of 18-1 and with an intriguing running style to pick up a minor share he offers a potential windfall to you exotic wagerers.

14. Destiny’s Gone – Trainer Pointblank has drawn the far outside post for Destiny’s Gone and that might be the lone knock for this frontrunner who will look to get out fast and run the rest of the field into the ground. Destiny’s Gone has been running every bit up to his royal Gone West X Nijinsky II X Alydar pedigree and showed he can mow over graded competition last out in the Grade 1 Sparkling Wine Stakes at a NY off-track. I am not sure I like his chances to grab an easy lead from the far outside so although I think he is likely the most talented of today’s horses I would likely seek others.

Prediction: An intriguing race that offers both colts that have earned their way into the Breeder’s Bowl and those taking a step up in class for their shot to be a contender. Oddsmaker’s have no idea what is going to happen so this race offers tremendous wagering value because no horse is lower than 7-1 odds wise. Destiny’s Gone looks every bit a future star but I look for one of the Breeder’s Bowl runners to run big and wind up in the winner’s circle today.