13 Clash in the 7F Kenny Joe (G3)
The Kenny Joe Stakes (G3) brings together a number of multiple stakes winners for this $125,000 event. 7 furlongs can be a tricky distance for some horses, with true sprinters often preferring to go shorter and routers often running out of ground the in stretch.
A bulky field of 13 goes postward, so let’s meet the field:
Selections:
2 – Procedure
3 – Black Arrow
6 – Made Myself
1 – CHEAP THRILLERS is a 7 furlong specialist, with a grade 3 win and multiple stakes placings to his credit at the distance. His last two efforts have been disappointments against tougher company, and today he gets back to his preferred distance in a grade 3 event in the hopes of turning things around. As a 3yo he’s improving all the time, and so it would be no suprise to see him turn in a lifetime best today, but he may well need it against this field. His come from behind style should serve him well here as a number of others will want the lead, while he will bide his time and rally on the far turn. He’s a factor in this race but off two tough races, he is a little tough to recommend as my top choice here. He is certainly a viable longshot if you are playing for a price.
2- PROCEDURE is proof that a little rest can do a horse a world of good. After hitting the wall in late summer, trainer super1 gave this son of Fusaichi Pegasus a 7 week freshener away from the races and he has fired two top efforts since returning the track, winning back to back listed stakes and posting a smashing 118 over the sloppy going two starts back. He’s also a 7 furlong specialist, with 5 wins in 9 starts going 7 panels including a previous grade 3 victory. Likes to sit off the pace and make his move around the final turn, and that strategy fits well with today’s field as there should be some speed to run at. There’s no reason to believe he won’t run his win streak to 3 today. The one to beat.
3 – BLACK ARROW exits the Breeders Bowl sprint where he was a solid fourth against the best sprinters in the sim. His last two victories have come with wire to wire efforts. Three starts ago going shorter in the G1 West State Sprint he employed a closing style through the lane and just missed. Has notched only two wins in 2008, and one was a lower level allowance score, however he seems to be in the best form of his career right now. His victory in the Halo Spanking listed stakes two starts back shows that he has the ability to compete today for his first graded victory. Others will want the lead in here so he could find himself caught up in an early duel. A good bet to hit the board, if not better.
4 – JAM TOMORROW was the second place finisher in this very race back in 2006. This classy 8 year old has almost half a million in the bank and 28 first or second place finishes. His last few starts in allowance company have seen him finish on the edges, and he’s now asked to step up and face graded stakes company. A few years back he regularly turned out triple digit speed figures, but he appears to have lost a step over the years. He’s deserving of our respect for a solid career, but he looks to be in a tough spot here today.
5 – TENPIN WOBBLE was on fire during the Spring and Summer this year, notching 5 wins at sprint distances between March and August, 4 of them listed stakes victories. He tried Grade 1 company twice in the Fall and seemed to be somewhat overmatched, which may have contributed to a decline in this form. His return to listed stakes company last time at 7.5 furlongs was the class relief he needed to hit the board. He’ll look to build on that performance today. A son of Seeking the Gold out of a Secretariat mare, he would seem to have the pedigree to go longer but he does his best running at shorter distances. The 115 speed rating he posted in the summer would be plenty to put him in the thick of this race, but he needs to step up from his recent efforts.
6 – MADE MYSELF spent most of 2008 in graded company, with the highlight being a second place finish in the 7F Pinto handicap in the summer. He runs triple digit speed figures nearly every time he sets foot on the track, and today is likely to be no exception. Trainer epcotlen3 spots him well here, going 7 furlongs today after a sparkling 113 speed figure last time out at 6F. This son of Pleasently Perfect has a speed style when he goes 7, and there are plenty in here who may have that same idea. Still, he’s been hanging around in some pretty tough company this year and if there’s one horse left standing at the end of a duel on the pace, it could very well be this guy.
7 – SISSIONS ALLEY is maturing into a very nice race horse for trainer v8mullet. He took the Grade 2 Texas Derby in the spring and has been putting up strong speed ratings in his last few outings. A proven route runner, he has turned back to distances under a mile in his last few starts and he relied on his stamina to propel him forward in the stretch, although he has hit the board just once in those three starts. He’ll likely turn into a very solid mile horse as he enters his 4yo campaign. This distance seems short of his best, and he likely won’t be able to get there in time against some good company.
8 – INDY PROSPECTOR is a versatile runner who has proven to be a stakes contender at both sprints and classic distances. As a 2yo he rattled off numerous victories going short, and then stretched out at 3 to take on graded company with mixed results. Trainer mayflowers may ultimately find that this guy is better going shorter distances. He cuts way back from 10 furlongs to 7 here today but given his solid credentials as a sprinter and the stamina he has built in recent races, he’s a very intriguing prospect to throw in a big effort today. He’s a 3yo taking on some tough older runners but I predict he’ll be right there at the finish.
9 – SEGUIN MOREAU went wire to wire last time over an allowance field, but prior to that was doing his best running at distances under today’s 7 furlongs. Yet another speedy type who will want to be on the engine and that could be a tall order in a field loaded with early speed. His speed ratings are very consistent but has largely been an allowance runner in recent months. Talented enough to make an impact in this race but may be leg weary in the stretch after expending himself early.
10 – MY PAL (AUS) is a case study in the benefits of switching surfaces for a horse who is not performing well. He started his career with 3 poor starts on turf, so trainer kodekracke introduced him to the dirt and he was lights out after that, at one point reeling off 4 straight wins and adding a listed stakes victory. The 111 speed figure he recorded in that stakes victory would make him a major player in this race. While he was hot in the Spring and Summer, he seems to have cooled with the weather in recent months, with 3 out of the money finishes recently including a hard charging fifth place finish against allowance company last out. If he recaptures his spring form he could be a closing steadily through the lane, but to back him with a wager you’d have to believe that he’s better than he’s showed in recent starts.
11 – HOLY REVERSE turned in a great effort in a listed stakes at this distance in July but hasn’t been the same since. In the 4 races following that win he was well behind at the wire, although his last start was encouraging as he stayed on to be fourth in a listed stakes. If he catches lightning in a bottle and goes back to that summer form he’ll be dangerous, but it looks like there are still some bugs in the system for this guy to work out. Its tough to see him winning today.
12 – MOON LIVER has been denied his first stakes win on two occassions this year depsite putting in outstanding efforts in both cases that would have been good enough to get it done on most days. His second place finishes in the Long Bozo and Busted Speech listed stakes were heartbreakers. An allowance runner most of his career, he seems to have stepped up in the last few months and is showing signs of being a true stakes runner. His game dam, LA Liver, produced a grade 1 winner who banked over $1 million in the sim. He steps up to graded company today and needs to repeat the effort he gave last time to take the victory. If he employs his usual speed tactics early, he won’t be alone which may hurt his chances.
13 – GIANT WARNING draws a tough post in this 13 horse field. He has done some very good running at distances around a mile and cuts back a bit today. Has one lifetime stakes win and seeks his first graded win in thsi event. The added stamina he’ll bring to the table could serve him well as there well be a load of speed to run at, but his last three efforts are not up to what he’ll need today to pull this off.