The TOLERANT TIDE Memorial Stakes
In Maryland this week, we have the Non-Graded Stakes, The TOLERANT TIDE Memorial. A 7.5 furlong sprint on the firm turf for all horses 4yo and up, this small field of five will be racing for their share of the $55,000 purse. The TOLERANT TIDE Memorial has only been run in Maryland 3 other times (2005, 2007, 2008) and the record time for this race is 1:27 3/5 set last year by Super Coverup, trained by taleofcat9 with a speed of 116 and jockey B J Hobert in the irons.
Let’s meet the field.
VICTORY BUDA (Victory Gallop x Unbridled x Mr. Prospector)
Trainer: lacostra Jockey: V Elliot Odds: 8/5
Victory Buda is a 5yo horse out of the dam Freedom’s Sal. Out of 29 starts, he has 5 wins, 7 places and 6 shows for career earnings of $460,729. He has a career high speed of 113 which he achieved back in November 2007 and has stayed in the 100’s since with the exception of one race at 94. He won the 7.5 Grade III Epsom Turf Special in August 2008 on an off track and hasn’t had a win since. He placed 4th in the Grade I Penn Dash back in December. He is ranked #68 for turf sprint.
ERMINGTON WHO.. (Point Given x Damascus x Mr. Prospector)
Trainer: pornstar Jockey: T Waters Odds: 21/1
Ermington Who.. is a 5 yo horse who will be looking for his first Stakes win, graded or non-graded. Out of 18 starts, he has 5 wins, 0 places and 0 shows for career earnings of $58,692. After spending the beginning of his career on the dirt where he broke his maiden, he was switched to the grass and began to show definite signs of improvement. He reached a career high speed of 107 back in May 2008 but has only had speed figures in the 3 digits twice since then, one 100 and a 102. Two of his wins are at 7.5 furlongs but after he pretty much trotted past the wire in his last start, I don’t see much of a threat here. He is ranked #522 for turf sprint.
EASE THE SMOKE (Arch x Smoke Glacken x Easy Goer)
Trainer: rocket23 Jockey: C Gerhke Odds: 4/1
Ease the Smoke is a 5yo horse who out of 29 starts has 7 wins, 10 places and 1 show for career earnings of $352,835. He spent most of 2008 in 2nd than in first and although capable of a high speed of 108 (February, 2008) he does not seem to be very consistent with his speed. He has 4 Non-Graded Stakes wins under his girth, his last one back in December, 2008 at the same distance of 7.5 furlongs with a speed of 103. His last time out in January, 2009, however, he only managed to finish sixth, 11 furlongs back. If he’s on his game this week, he could be a threat. He is ranked #114 for turf sprint.
QUIET PLEASE (Pleasantly Perfect x Quiet American x Silver Hawk)
Trainer: nerdbarn Jockey: D Ray Odds: 5/1
Quiet Please is a 5 yo horse who out of 20 career starts has 3 wins, 5 places and 3 shows for career earnings of $97,687. After spending most of his career on the dirt he was switched to the grass in April 2008 where he showed a little improvement but not too much. He has a career high speed of 104 which he has managed twice in his career, including his last time out on January 3, 2009 where he placed first in a 7.5 Allowance on the turf, his only win in 2008. He has only one start in a Non-Graded Stakes race where he placed 7th, 6 1/2 furlongs back. He is ranked #1053 for turf sprint.
GYROCASTER (Beat Hollow (GB) x Grand Slam x Risen Star)
Trainer: cajunbeat Jockey: N Prescott Odds: Even
Gyrocaster is a 5yo horse out of the dam D’You Do Voodoo. Out of 26 starts, he has 10 wins, 4 places and 3 shows for career earnings of $355,149. He has spent his entire career on the grass and has attained a high speed of 115 back in September 2008. In August, 2008, he faced off against Victory Buda and placed fifth, 8 furlongs behind Buda. Looking over his record, though, this is probably more due to the off track than anything. He has 2 Non-Graded Stakes wins, one at 7.5 and one at 8 furlongs. If he pours on the speed, standing in the winner’s circle shouldn’t be a problem for him this week. He is ranked #148 for turf sprint.
Gyrocaster x Victory Buda x Ease the Smoke
In my eyes this is really a 3 horse race but tough to call on exactly who will be first under the wire. I’m going to go with Gyrocaster as the winner, followed closely behind by Victory Buda with Ease the Smoke right on his heels. I think I’m going to box that bet, though, just in case.
Good Luck and Happy Racing!!!