Guys Like Diamonds Too
The 9th running of The $500,000 Grade 1
Let’s take a look at the field from the rail out.
BOY SENSE (KY) 19/1 Divisional Rank: 213
2 Year Old Colt
STREET SENSE x FORTY NINER x SELKIRK
Jockey: K Saab ( 225 – 13 – 27 – 21 – 6% )
Record (7 : 3 – 0 – 0) $95,370
Best speed figure: 82
The longest shot in the field, this son of freshman sire Street Sense has been very inconsistent in seven career starts with three wins and four off the board finishes. He comes to
A VOW TO VINDICATE (KY) 15/1 Divisional Rank: 242
2 Year Old Colt
BROKEN VOW x VINDICATION x GONE WEST
Jockey: O Sweeney ( 116 – 11 – 12 – 11 – 9% )
Record (5 : 3 – 1 – 0) $106,110
Best speed figure: 87
In five trips to the post this chestnut colt has improved with each start and another improvement this weekend would make him very dangerous at generous odds. Last time out in the one mile I Wish I Was A Skunk Stakes he was a fast closing second in his first try around two turns, and the extra sixteenth of a mile on Saturday should serve him well. He has a race over the track and there is enough speed in this race to set up his closing run.
BLACK TIDE (JPN) 12/1 Divisional Rank: 36
2 Year Old Colt
RULE OF LAW x BLACK TIE AFFAIR(IRE) x PLUGGED NICKLE
Jockey: R Zombie ( 440 – 37 – 63 – 55 – 8% )
Record (5 : 2 – 3 – 0) $66,805
Best speed figure: 90
This Japanese speedball has been on the lead in every one of his five starts, with two wins and three seconds to his credit. He enters this race off a six week freshening and his connections believe he is primed for a big effort on Saturday. In his last start he easily wired the field in winning the one mile Financial Slap Memorial and his jockey Zombie sees no sense in changing his colt’s free running tactics. “I’ll let him run his race. It has been effective so far, so why change now.”
ONE SIZE FITS ALL (AUS) 7/1 Divisional Rank: 107
2 Year Old Colt
GREY SWALLOW (IRE) x A.P. INDY x STORM CAT
Jockey: L Sutton ( 134 – 14 – 14 – 16 – 10% )
Record (8 : 4 – 2 – 1) $358,420
Best speed figure: 87
This Australian bred colt has done all his running on the grass and has picked a tough spot to make his main track debut. He has the class, but how he will handle the dirt is anyone’s guess. Four weeks ago he ran in The Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf where he was off the board for the first time in his career. He never really got going that day and his connections have done him no favours by bringing him back in a race where he has to be at his very best to win. The distance is no problem and his versatile running style will leave his jockey with the options of laying close or coming from off the pace.
SPORTS GUY (KY) 13/1 Divisional Rank: 273
2 Year Old Colt
AWESOME AGAIN x CAPOTE x FAPPIANO
Jockey: S Ortiz ( 88 – 10 – 10 – 6 – 11% )
Record (6 : 2 – 1 – 0) $63,730
Best speed figure: 86
This colt’s three off the board finishes have all come against Graded Stakes company and that streak will have to end if he is to be a factor on Saturday. He has been away from the track for seven weeks after he finished a well beaten fifth last time out in The Grade 1 Sparkling Wine Stakes, and his trainer is hoping that rest will translate to a top performance off the layoff. Likes to close from far back, and the pace will be fast enough if he is good enough.
BRIDLED DANCER (KY) 5/1 Divisional Rank: 6
2 Year Old Colt
UNBRIDLED’S SONG x SKIP AWAY x GREY DAWN II
Jockey:
Record (7 : 4 – 1 – 1) $511,394
Best speed figure: 91
The highest earner and second highest ranked colt, this grey son of Unbridled’s Song is the only Grade 1 winner in the field. Accordingly the oddsmaker has tagged him as his joint morning line choice. Last time out he faded to finish eighth in The Breeders Bowl Juvenile after stalking the early pace. His connections were very disappointed with that performance because the big grey came to the Breeders Bowl off two consecutive Graded Stakes scores and was well regarded that day. If he can rebound on just four weeks rest he will be around at the finish.
INCREDIBLE LAW (KY) 5/1 Divisional Rank: 9
2 Year Old Colt
LAWYER RON x STORM CAT x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR
Jockey:
Record (8 : 3 – 1 – 0) $210,375
Best speed figure: 93
The other morning line choice, this brown colt also comes to
ON THE ROAD (KY) 8/1 Divisional Rank: 27
2 Year Old Colt
DYNAFORMER x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x NIJINSKY II
Jockey: A Martin ( 70 – 11 – 5 – 6 – 16% )
Record (7 : 2 – 5 – 0) $197,600
Best speed figure: 90
A consistent and steadily improving colt, this son of Dynaformer figures to get better with maturity and should flourish as the distances get longer. After two runners up finishes in Grade 3 events, he was somewhat disappointing last time out when he again finished second against minor Stakes company. He returns this weekend after five weeks off and his connections are hoping he can finally break through for his maiden Graded Stakes win.
KAT CALL (KY) 7/1 Divisional Rank: 5
2 Year Old Colt
STREET CRY (IRE) x A.P. INDY x STORM CAT
Jockey:
Record (6 : 4 – 1 – 0) $272,840
Best speed figure: 95
The highest ranked colt and the owner of the highest speed figure in the field. He comes into this race off back to back scores in The Grade 3 Closest Friend Stakes and The Grade 2 Darling Squash Futurity. He has been away for nine weeks and he will try to get back on track Saturday after he was forced to miss The Breeders Bowl. I don’t think he’ll be too far from the early pace and he figures to get a stalking trip.
SHOCK TACTICS (JPN) 10/1 Divisional Rank: 55
2 Year Old Colt
ALKAASED x DYNAFORMER x MR. PROSPECTOR
Jockey: B Watson ( 171 – 23 – 13 – 16 – 13% )
Record (6 : 3 – 1 – 2) $75,156
Best speed figure: 92
It took this Japanese bred four tries to break his maiden and he is unbeaten since. In fact his career began to take off after he was switched from the grass to the dirt. In his last start six weeks ago he made his Stakes debut and upset The Viking Don Special at 11/1. That win made him 3 for 3 on the dirt and his speed rating for that one mile event was a career best 92. He appears to be one of the colts that is on the rise.
PIRATE RADIO (KY) 12/1 Divisional Rank: 116
2 Year Old Colt
DEHERE x FORTY NINER x SUMMER SQUALL
Jockey: B Lussi ( 96 – 12 – 8 – 8 – 13% )
Record (6 : 1 – 3 – 1) $68,918
Best speed figure: 85
With only a maiden win to his credit, this colt has nonetheless been competitive in the Stakes ranks, with two runners up efforts. He steps up to the Graded Stakes competition on Saturday and would need a major improvement to be a factor in here. In his last outing he was a dull sixth behind Shock Tactics in The Viking Don Special. In spite of the off the board finish that performance resulted in a career best speed number. A repeat performance won’t get the job done against this group.
XTRA TALES (KY) 8/1 Divisional Rank: 8
2 Year Old Colt
TALE OF THE CAT x A.P. INDY x KRIS S.
Jockey: S Parker ( 127 – 6 – 13 – 5 – 5% )
Record (7 : 2 – 1 – 1) $186,195
Best speed figure: 89
His last race seven weeks ago where he was second in The Grade 1 Sparkling Wine Stakes was his most impressive outing so far. His past performances indicate he is not the most consistent performer and his trainer will be hoping the colt will bring his A game this weekend. He has been dropping far off the pace and leaving himself with too much to do in the stretch, and his rider may try to lay a little closer on Saturday.
MINING FOR LUCIFER (JPN) 18/1 Divisional Rank: N/A
2 Year Old Colt
MINING x DEVIL’S BAG x CLEVER TRICK
Jockey: S Sims ( 142 – 7 – 11 – 16 – 5% )
Record (2 : 1 – 0 – 1) $20,648
Best speed figure: 89
This colt is an intriguing longshot since he has only a maiden win to his credit in two career starts. In fact both his races have been against maidens and he takes a major jump up the class ladder this weekend. He was very impressive when breaking his maiden five weeks ago in
My Picks
1.) KAT CALL (KY) 7/1
2.) SHOCK TACTICS (JPN) 10/1
3.) MINING FOR LUCIFER (JPN) 18/1