G2, Ivan Yamil Handicap

We are headed this week down to sunny Florida where on the card this Saturday we find the running of the G2, Ivan Yamil Handicap. This race will be restricted to 3 year old and older horses at the distance of 6 furlongs. This should be a sunny day with no rain in the forecast, and the track will be listed as fast at post time. The race has drawn the interest of nine horses, and this should be an exciting race as all horses are prior stakes winners. The morning line odds and post positions have been released so let us now take a preview of the nine horses that will make the start in the G2, Ivan Yamil Handicap.

1

TOM’S BATTLER

KY

5G

jakematt8

L Ingersoll

22

9

68%

$429,010

64.00

6/1

Heading out first we have this 5 year old Bay Gelding (TOM’S D’ETAT x DYNAFORMER x WOODMAN ) that would pick up the win this past September in the G3, Scottsdale BB Stakes. He would then head out in Virginia for his most recent start going 6 furlongs in the G3, JFK Street. He would find a narrow lead at the third call but would relinquish that lead down the stretch to cross the wire in second with a 105 speed rating. He has three nice starts for the owner in a row and would like to add another graded win to his list of accolades when he heads over to his gate representing the Only Stayers residency.

2

OLD GRANDPA JOE

KY

4G

champions18

M Grunhard

14

6

79%

$402,220

68.50

7/1

Next, we have this 4 year old Chestnut Gelding (CATALINA CRUISER x GHOSTZAPPER x STORM CAT ) that last season would pick up the win in the G3, The Bandido Sprint. He followed that up coming in third in the G2, Going Aerial Stakes. He then went off the boards in his next start which leads up to his most recent trip to the track in New York. He would go 6 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Gm Tech Lad Dirt Dash. He would put up a nice effort in this start but would miss by a head at the wire being held off to get second with a 110 speed rating. He looks good for the distance in this race and will head out of the paddock at race time to the cheers of an excited crowd.

3

AUDITORY ILLUSION

KY

4M

fastnsmall

B Orazio

9

3

56%

$228,386

54.00

10/1

Here we have this 4 year old Chestnut Colt (CHARLATAN x DISTORTED HUMOR x FIRST SAMURAI ) that would get a Listed Stakes win in the Greek Preist Dirt Dash. He would then make a G3 start of which he finished just off the boards. He then made his most recent start dropping in class in Kentucky to go 6.5 furlongs in a $52600 NW3x Allowance race. He found a spot in third out of the gate and would weave into second by the third call. But that is all he could do as he crossed the wire in second with a 104 speed rating. He is again moving back up in class for this graded start here in Florida this weekend representing the Florida Racing Club residency.

4

ABRASIVE VIOLENCE

KY

6G

3rdchance

D Esperado

21

8

67%

$417,395

48.00

7/2

This is a 6 year old Bay Gelding (SPEIGHTSTOWN x INDIAN CHARLIE x MACHIAVELLIAN ) that last year would get the win in the G3, Arizona Silver Spoon. He has had a couple of graded finishes on the boards last season and one of them would come in his most recent start in Virginia. He traveled 6 furlongs in the G3, JFK Street. He was in seventh at the third call but only a few strides back from the leaders. Down the stretch he would move himself up and cross the wire in third with a 105 speed rating. A little extra fire in his legs could score him a win if he brings a big effort to Florida representing The Mecca residency.

5

TAP DANZING CAT

KY

4M

cardz

K Bowen

10

4

70%

$158,084

28.00

11/1

Next, we will see this 4 year old Light Grey Colt (TAPIT x DANZIG x STORM CAT ) that has been running well for the owner in his most recent starts. After a couple of Allowance wins last season, he would move up in class and get third in the Really Wonder Dirt Sprint. He would then make his most recent start in West Virginia going 6 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Late Sum Dirt Sprint. He would stay just back from the front runners but would have a good stretch run when the jockey asked him for a little extra and would pick up the win with a 107 speed rating. He will be making his first graded start of his career this weekend as he moves up in class to represent the Empire State Racing residency.

6

URBAN RECON

KY

4M

simsters3

R Bokie

16

8

62%

$1,722,120

320.00

7/1

Here we have a 4 year old Bay Colt (BOLT D’ORO x DANZIG x QUALITY ROAD ) that picked up two G1 wins last season in the Kingabs Sprint and The Wallace Sprint. Those were earlier in the year, and he has been unable to find another hit on the boards since last May. His most recent start would come in California going 6 furlongs in the G3, Welcome To The Circus Stakes. He remained well back in the early going but would try turning up the heat in his stretch run. But it was too little too late as he again missed hitting the boards with a fourth place finish and a 107 speed rating. This horse may be ready to challenge this field this weekend if he is on point when he heads out here in Florida representing the GR Simsters residency.

7

KYMARI FACTION

TUR

4G

yamcheap04

J Duncan

9

5

56%

$195,080

21.00

9/1

Next, we have this 4 year old Chestnut Gelding (CUVEE x NOT THIS TIME x A.P. INDY ) that three starts back got the win in the Bustfully Dance Dirt. For his next start he would move up in class to a G2 start that would end in disappointment. He then came out for his most recent start in Arkansas to run at a much shorter distance than his normal only going 6.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Hoe Matt Dirt Sprint. He was well back out of the gate and in ninth at the third call. But he let go down the stretch and would get up for the win with a 110 speed rating. He is going an even shorter distance this weekend. We will have to see if there will be enough track for him when he breaks from his gate representing the Down Under Racing residency.

8

LAST CALL TEX

KY

4G

texasace10

B F Abman

12

5

75%

$246,521

37.00

6/1

Coming out next, we have this 4 year old Light Grey Gelding (TAPIT x SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY ) that only missed the boards one time last season. In his most recent and best start he would be seen going 6 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Gm Tech Lad Dirt Dash. When he got to the top of the stretch he would be found back in fifth. That would soon change as he started picking off horse and would get his third win in a row by a head and a 110 speed rating. He needs to drag that speed with him this weekend as he moves up in class to make this graded start representing the DelPenn National residency.

9

NO NAY NIGHT SCAT

IRE

6M

dkstables14

C Capper

22

7

64%

$480,306

96.00

3/1

Breaking from the final gate of this race will be this 6 year old Brown Horse (NO NAY NEVER x MIDNIGHT LUTE x AWESOME AGAIN ) had one win last season and that would come in the Dyalard Dirt Sprint which was three starts back. He followed that up coming in third in the G2, Sand Park Stakes. He would then make his most recent start in Ontario going 6 furlongs in the G3, Camelot Road. He would run back off the lead waiting for his opportunity and when he rounded the corner, he would start picking off several horses to get a second place finish with a 110 speed rating. He could be a challenger this weekend and has been running well for the owner in his recent start. He will make his way out of the paddock here in Florida on Saturday to the cheers of an excited crowd.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

1-Tom’s Battler: Has three good recent starts. Does he get a G2 win?

8-Last Call Tex: Three wins in a row. Found speed after gelding. Does he bring it to Florida?

9-No Nay Night Scat: Running well for the owner. Can he get to the winner’s circle on Saturday?