Stayer Supremacy up for grabs in the Gallant Socks Hcp

All roads lead to Idaho for the 9^th Annual running of the Grade III Gallant Socks Handicap. This prestigious race is run over 13 Furlongs on the Dirt track and is a true test of stamina and character from both horses and rider and it takes a good stayer to win it. As horses start a fresh preparation and are now a year older, it is a new season for these horses to go on to better and bigger things. Previous runnings have attracted high quality stayers and the 2009 Gallant Socks Handicap is no different.

1 – Callison – 5yo Horse

Form: 24321

Rank: 22

Jockey: M Lund (12%)

Pole Position goes the way of the son of Silver Deputy, Callison. Previous stakes form is really encouraging here as he has consistently finished in the top 4 in his last six ungraded stakes attempts. The distance will be no problem with a previous stakes placing at the distance and a last start stakes winner over 12 furlongs by 2 ¾ lengths with a 106 Speed Figure. Callison is a model of consistency as his record shows with 27 starts, 8 wins and 14 minor placings which is an impressive 22 out of 27 finished In The Money. Callison will be right in this race and be alarmed when he drifts to the back of the field. That is how he races and he will be flying home at the finish. Callison has everything going for him here with position 1 in the barrier, a very good jockey in M Lund and good form as a long dirt stayer. The only hard thing to judge with this horse is that in his last 8 starts he has run well in stakes but finished mid-field in Grade I’s. This Grade III will be a step down in class from his recent efforts but expect an improvement on his Grade I form. Right in this.

2 – Indyan Pride – 5yo Horse

Form: 11122

Rank: 43

Jockey: A Dondero (7%)

Out of barrier 2 is this son of Indian Ridge that comes into this race with impressive and consistent stakes form which will place him nicely in the field. His last 4 starts have been very good with 2 wins and 2 seconds in stakes races over the long trip. My only concerns with this horse is that he is stepping up in grade and his last 2 starts he has been beaten convincingly by the winner. Also he likes to race on the pace but A Dondero isn’t one of the better riders here in Idaho and his judgement of the pace up front will be crucial for Indyan Pride. Has Claims

3 – Silvergore – 4yo Colt

Form: 11124

Rank: 13

Jockey: M Proudfoot (8%)

Coming out of barrier 3 we see Silvergore a son of Silver Deputy and the bookmakers have labelled him at 6/1. He is a fresh horse on the scene to the older racers but his 3yo form is more than impressive. His long distance record is impeccable with 4 starts for 4 wins from 11 to 13 furlongs. He stakes his claims with his 4 length victory against older horses in a Stakes race over this distance 4 starts back. He followed that up with a stylish 1 ½ length victory in the Grade III Derby De Swish which is Sweden’s premier 3yo race. On that occasion he was rated with an 113 speed figure which is top notch. Despite two defeats in his last 2 starts, those races are more than important form-wise for this race. 2 starts back over 10 furlongs, Silvergore faced older company for the 3^rd time in his career in the Grade I California Classic which attracted a high quality field. Silvergore managed second place, defeated by only 1 ½

Lengths. Last start he led for most of the race in the Grade I LA Derby when run down to finish in 4^th place. Silvergore has earned over $500,000 in his career and if he gets his own way out in front here, the opposition is going to find him hard to beat here. The only query I can find for his chances is that it has been 3 months since his last start and he may be a bit on the fresh side and unfit.

4 – Clash City Rocker – 5yo Horse

Form: 11117

Rank: 230

Jockey: M Essenpries (7%)

This son of Beat Hollow Is flying through the grades. He was running in claimers in April and progressed to Starters where he won 3 in a row with high Speed Figures and then moved on to an Allowance which he won and then a Stakes race over 12 Furlongs which he won by over 2 lengths. Last start was disappointing in the Victory Marathon but I believe the distance was too far. This trip is slightly shorter and may be a Place Chance. Bookmakers have him at 11/1 but those odds seem a bit short for me.

5 – Tremptim – 5yo Horse

Form: 23126

Rank: 12

Jockey: A Thelander (10%)

Tremptim is a 5yo son of Trempolino and is a highly rated horse trained by the bigblueone barn. Tremptim’s past performances show everything that he needs to win this race. He likes the surface he flourishes at the long route’s and is a proven stakes performer and is also competitive in Grade I’s. 5 starts back he finished 2^nd place in the G1 Smackdown over 12 furlongs beaten by just 1 ½ lengths. That was only 1 furlong shorter than this race today and if he can bring that performance to this race, he will be right up there and a top chance. He is stepping down in class from his last engagement where he finished midfield in the Grade I Breeders Bowl Marathon. The bookmakers seem to be giving out some value on Tremptim at 9/1. He is ranked 12^th in this division and is one of the winning chances and if you’re looking for a value bet he is your horse. He likes to race toward the front of the field and will be up there at the start and still plugging away, giving his all at the end. 

6 – Second Grade – 4yo Colt

Form: 21116

Rank: 50

Jockey: U Wasko (9%)

This son of Giacomo has very good form in races a few levels below this class but this task does look a bit beyond him. He was racing in Allowances for awhile before stepping up to a Stakes race which he won by 2 ¾ length with a 107SP. Last start was a decent effort in a GIII over 14 furlongs where he finished 6^th but did have to come from 20 lengths off the pace. I think the grade is the key factor in his performance in this race because he has proven he can win at the distance in a stakes race but stepping up to a Grade III is an a lot more challenging task. Bookmakers have Second Grade at 17/1 which is possibly some value for a stakes winner at the distance two starts back. I think he is a place chance if he doesn’t get too far back.

7 – Fathertime – 4yo Colt

Form: 24511

Rank: 22

Jockey: C Lane (14%)

This striking son of Gulch has his first start as an older horse. He was very consistent through his 3yo preparation running in Allowances and Stakes but with his maturing towards the end of the season his last 2 starts really caught the eye. Impressively winning an allowance he moved on to better things in his first run against older horses he put pay to a quality field by ½ a length in the G3 Grey Fox. Definetly improving with age and if he can repeat his efforts last start he will be right in this. Bookmakers have gone crazy when they labelled Fathertime a 25/1 hope and although I don’t consider him the number one pick in the field he is a danger and 25/1 is ludicrous odds for a last start Grade III Winner at the distance. Another thing going for him is he has an in form jockey in C Lane on his back and he will get every last inch out of this horse and will be flying home at the end.

8 – Marmelo – 6yo Horse

Form: 12324

Rank: 10

Jockey: K Kirby (19%)

Marmelo is a 6yo son of Refuse To Bend and is the second pick at 5/1. This guy has serious staying ability and form. From June to September he pulled together 4 straight wins including 3 stakes all over the long trip. Without winning his form has been great since stepping up in class. He led most of the way in the Breeders Bowl Marathon but was beaten by the classy Rockingham. His last two starts were a 2^nd in a Grade III and a 4^th In the Grade I Topicount Special. Marmelo definetly has the form to win this race and if he can get out easy in front its going to be hard to come from behind to beat him. A nice combination here with the Number 10 ranked horse in this division combining with K Kirby who is riding with a 19% Winning Strike Rate. Definite danger

9 – Samalaman Island – 5yo Horse

Form: 33451

Rank: 9

Jockey: B Gulch (26%)

Samalaman Island is a 5yo son of well performing stallion Fantastic Light and is at 7/1. In 24 starts he has rapped up 6 victories and over $400,000 in earnings and is placed at Number 9 in the Long Dirt Route division which is the highest in the field. Unlike most of the other runners this horse has been running against the graded opposition for most of 2008. He seems to run his best races when he gets running in the more extreme distances towards the 16 furlongs journey. Back in the middle of the year he stormed home from nowhere to finish second in the G1 South Australian Cup over 16 furlongs. Last start he produced and outstanding effort to take out the Grade III Victory Marathon by 3 lengths with an 110 Speed figure. The Victory Marathon is a good race to get your form for this race as they a very similar races and considering he won it last start he is my pick for the race and the horse to beat. Expect him to get way way back but don’t worry because he will be storming home from the clouds with one of the world’s top jockeys in B Gulch.

10 – Verus – 6yo Horse

Form: 55020

Rank: 346

Jockey: S Edwards (6%)

Verus is a well bred son of Kingmambo who comes off a down the track finish in the 16 furlong Kelso Cup. He stakes his claims in this race with an appealing 5^th in a G1 10 Furlong race and also a second place over the distance in a Stakes race back in November. S Edwards rode poorly last year and with his low winning percentage its hard to see him getting a 38/1 shot home in a Grade III. If they go slow up front, Verus will get back in the field and drop off when the speed goes on, so for Verus to have any chance, speed will be necessary early and throughout the race. Despite good form at the distance I don’t think the horse Is up for the challenge.

11 – Pye Are Squared – 6yo Mare

Form: 20216

Rank: 131

Jockey: M Teising (9%)

Pye Are Squared is a 6yo Mare by Australian stallion Viscount and has open up at 18/1 in the betting ring. This mare is a Grade III Winner at 9 furlongs but her only form over the longer distances was very encouraging with a 2^nd in an ungraded stakes. Its hard to say how she will go at the distance but the class of the race isn’t beyond her ability. If M Teising can get her to lead and set up a pace that suits her she may be able fill up a place position but that all depends on her and the distance.

12 – My Secret Delta – 5yo Horse

Form: 53113

Rank: 45

Jockey: S Morris (11%)

My Secret Dela is a 5yo son of the great Kingmambo and is in strong contention according to the bookmakers at 6/1. His ungraded stakes form is very good with 3 wins in 5 starts with another placing. He comes out of another great form race which was the Grade III Grey Fox over 13 furlongs which he finished an honest third placing. I don’t think this race is much different and a third placing is definitely around where he will be finishing. S Morris is a good jockey and if he places My Secret Delta well he will be right in the finish.

13 – Joy Buzzer – 6yo Horse

Form: 19212

Rank: 113

Jockey: J Snowden (7%)

This son of Dynaformer comes into this race as the 9/2 favourite with the bookmakers and has good stakes form over the classic distance. In his last 5 stakes runs he has won 1 and ran second in 3 which shows his consistency. 2 starts back he won the G2 Bluegrass Cup with a 117SP by 2 ¾ lengths but that race was over 9 Furlongs. The Bluegrass cup was a very big win but the distance was 4 furlongs shorter than this. He is a previous Allowance winner over 12 furlongs but its hard to line him up in this field. I rate him as a place chance but if he can get the distance then he will have a bold showing.

Overall for a 13 furlong dirt race there is a lot of depth and potential in these horses. Its hard to line these horses up with their differences in class and distances in their past performances. 9) Samalaman Island is my top pick due to his last start Grade III Win at 14 furlongs however 3) Silvergore won’t be far behind with his impressive 3yo form and 8) Marmelo will also be there at the finish.

Good Luck!