Alabama Stakes Preview
The Gordon A.P. Memorial
The race- 8F on a firm turf for 3yos and up, here in humid Alabama. A 10 horse field going a mile, a setup for a great race.
PP #1 SEPTOPIA(AUS) Redoute’s Choice x Dynaformer x Lyphard, 10-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=149374
He likes to come from behind. He is a young horse against his elders. His last two races at 8.5F on the turf were low purse condition allowances, but he earned a 107 and a 103 speed #. In his win two back he was in 3rd but by 8 halfway through the race. Then around the turn he made a move to only be down by 3 ¾ then charged through the lane to win by 1 ¼. In his last effort he was down 6 ½ at the ½ mile pole. But around the turn he made up 3 lengths and kept coming to only get beat by ¾ to be 2nd. The horse he got beat by Coastal Fury came back to win a high classed allowance race next out. His two graded races were two 6th. In the G3 Haw Haw Derby he sat in the back then flattened out for the lane. In the G2 Boston Derby he was down by 12 down the back stretch and came down the lane to only get beat by 5 ¾. If he gets a good pace to run at he has a chance at minor awards.
PP #2 CK EL PULPO(JPN) Forty Niner x El Prado x Pulpit, 8-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=138897
He is a dead closer. In his last in the Festive Brook Special at 9.5F on the turf he was down by 14 at the ½ mile pole, and flattened out do to the long distance. But two back he won by 4 ½ in a condition allowance. He was again in the back and down by 8 at the ½ mile pole, and made up a 3 ½ length margin to win by 4 ½, blowing the field off their feet. In his only graded race, the G1 Crock Of Gold in the middle of March at 1M on the turf he was down 11 at the ½ mile pole and came with a good rally to only get beat by 4 ½ and get up for 5th. He is inconsistent in stakes and won’t have a rally late.
PP #3 POINT SLEW(KY) Point Given x Belong To Me x Septieme Ciel, 9-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=85955
He likes to stalk. Last out in a condition allowance he ran a 108 speed # but was only 3rd. He stalked the lead in 3rd by 2 lengths, and never had a move and was 3rd and got beat by 2 ¼. But the two horses he got beat by came back to win allowances. Three back in a condition allowance he had the lead throughout the race. He extended his lead all through the race. He ended up winning by 2 ¼. He has never raced in anything but an allowance or a maiden. He is a little under classed and will stalk and flatten out in the lane.
PP #4 ANY CHANCE Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew x Nijinsky II, 7-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=105124
He usually likes to be on the lead. He ran a poor race last out in an allowance. He didn’t get the lead and was down by three in 2nd, and flattened out to get beat 15 lengths for 7th. But in his two races before that he won by two and four lengths in condition allowances, with 107 and 103 speed #’s. They were both at 8.5F on the turf. He was on the lead throughout in both of those races. He has ran in in one G3 and stalked the pace and faded to 10th. He has run in 2 overnight stakes races and stayed around for 2nd in late May. In early August he was 3rd for most then faded to 8th. If he gets the lead he might stick around for some minor prizes.
PP #5 SNEAKER Forestry x Danzig x Miswaki x, 6-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=109529
He likes to take big leads and open up in the stretch. Last out in an open allowance he opened up a 5 ½ length lead at the ½ mile pole and opened up 7 ½ length lead around the turn and ended up hanging on to win by ¼ of a length. He ended up getting a 112 speed #. He also won a condition allowance two back, on the lead throughout winning by 2. He’s had two stakes tries this year, in the middle of September he had a 3 ½ length lead at the ½ mile pole and in the stretch faded to 4th, to get beat by 2 ½, with a 103 speed #. That race was the Soothing Limo Special at 8.5F on a good turf. In the California Ham Handicap in early May. A race at 7.5F on the turf, he had a 2 length lead at the ½ mile pole and around the turn he lost the lead and was down a ¼ of a length and faded to 6th and got beat by 8 ¾. If he has a commanding lead he could have a chance at an award.
PP #6 WEENA’S MISSION(IRE) Century City x In The Wings x Seattle Slew, 7-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=100130
He likes to be in mid pack but he can also be on the lead or stalk. His last three were all stakes. Last out in the Lizard Cat Memorial at 8F on the turf he was down 7 ¼ in 6th and kept falling behind and was beaten almost 30 lengths, but I would throw that one out. Two back in the CR Racers Stakes Special at 8F on the turf, he was down 3 ½ at the ½ mile pole and made a big run to only get beat by a ¼ for 2nd with a 109 speed #. Three back in the Crafty Dancer Memorial at 7.5 F on the turf he had a three length lead at the ½ mile pole and kept opening up and held on to win by 1 ½. In his only graded experience this year, the G1 F Arse Domination Continues at 1M on the turf he closely stalked for the 1st half mile and opened up a three length lead around the turn, then held on to win by l ½, with a 108 speed #. If you are willing to throw his last out he is a major contender.
PP #7 BERZERKO(KY) Mr. Greely x El Prado x Nureyev, 11-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=149299
He likes to stalk or sit in mid pack. He is another 3 year old against his elders. Last out in a 8F turf condition allowance he was in 7th down by 10 ¼ at the half and around the early turn and made up ground to be down 4 ¾ around the late turn. He came on to win by 2 ½ with a 106 speed #. Two back in the Culver City Challenge at 6.5F on the turf he was down 10 at the 3/8 pole and made a bit of a move to finish in 6th by 4 ¼. Before that he won a condition allowance by ¼ of a length. He’s made four graded stakes starts this year. With three 4ths and a 14th. His most recent stakes effort was the G2 Upper California Derby at 9.5F on the turf he was 7 ½ down around the turn and made a minor move to finish 4th beaten by 5 ½. He earned a 98 speed #. If he gets a pace to run at he could be a minor factor.
PP 8 BUSY QUICK(KY) Distorted Humor x Storm Cat x Affirmed, 5-2
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=131757
He likes to make his move from mid pack. Last out in the G3 Maclean Mile at 8F on the turf. At the ½ mile pole he was sitting in 5th down by 6 ¼, he made a move around the turn to be down by only 2 ½ and made a good move to come up with the win, winning by ¾ of a length. He got a 113 speed #. He’s run in five graded stakes races this year with a win and a 3rd. Two back in the Harry Carey Memorial Stakes at 1M on the turf, he was down 4 ½ at the ½ mile pole and came with a early move around the turn to only be down by ¼ of a length. But then he faded back to 5th beaten by 2 ¾. He earned a 112 speed #. If he gets a good enough pace to run he will be a major contender.
PP 9 YEAH(KY) Awesome Again x Rubiano x Polish Numbers, 7-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=41660
He likes to stalk the lead. Last out he took a class drop to an allowance, at 8F on the turf. He was down a length in 3rd, and took the lead around the turn then faded back to 3rd and got beat by 4 ¼, with a 105 speed #. Two back in the NWRC Cavalcade Cup Mile at 1M on the turf. He was down almost 5 at the half and fell back a little more and only made up a length around the turn faded to be 3rd beaten 4 ¾ earning a 104 speed #. He’s run in 5 graded races this year and his best effort was a 2nd at in the Deeproute.com Reserve in early May. He will be close to the front and might hang around late.
PP 10 KING OF CLOUT(KY) Kingmambo x Dixieland Band x Seattle Slew, 9-1
http://derbyfever.com/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=45075
He likes to stalk the lead or be on the lead. Last out in an allowance he had a 5 ¼ length lead going around the turn and faded but only got beat ½ length to be 2nd. He earned a 100 speed #. Two back in the Ray’s Sword Stakes at 9.5F on the turf he was down 5 ¼ in 5th at the half. He kept falling behind and had no move he ended up finishing 7th by 15 ¼ with a 97 speed #. He’s had one graded event this year the Harry Carey Memorial Stakes and was down by almost 5 at the half. He made a little bit of a move around the turn but fell back and got beat 9 and finished 8th. If he regains his old form he could be a player.
My picks
6-8-5-10