Count Fingers Sprint
The Count Fingers Sprint attracted only a small field of 7 4yo+ sprinters, and while some of the top sprinters rest up for the big challenges, the Grade 3 price looks to get interesting nonetheless, with 5 of the 7 horses almost even in odds predictions. While the ground came up very fast and the sun shines on the seven competitors, 5/2 favourite Salty tiger would like to add another Graded win to his career. But, let’s take an in-depth look at the starters:
At #1 we have Chronic Addiction, rated as the #1 sprinter on dirt, he is looking for a win since November last year, and his last 4 starts have not really looked like one of a superstar. Nevertheless, he may be one of the reasons for the small field in this feature race. Chronic Addiction was welcomed as a millionaire in the sim, when winning the Bernie Mac Special, and looked like the next sprinting superstar, when he beat Eclipse Winner Mr. Tom’s River NJ that day, but his last three starts have been rather average, missing the top 3 in all 3, but thats what happens, when always running in Graded sprint races. At the age of 6, he still looks competitive, and at odds of 3/1, could get his next Graded win today.
In #2 we have Vingeance(KY) a 4yo sprinter, that has not yet won a graded race. He enters todays race, after winning a ungraded stakes race at massachusettes last time out, running a confident 108, which was just 2 of his career high mark. He likes to close late, and shows an enormous speed, when hitting the final 2 furlongs. He’ very consistent with in the money finishes(12 out of 16 dirt sprints he ended in the top 3), but seems to lack the final winning spirit, which he may have gained with his last win.
In #3 we see Mishra’s Bauble(KY) a 5yo FuPeg horse, that had most his success at ALW level. He won his first stakes race in October last year, but has yet to show, this was not a one time fluke, his tries at Graded level have been very disappointing(a 10th and 8th place in 2 Grade 2 starts, with him failing to produce a 100 speed in both tries. He looked great however in january, when running a 115 to finish 2nd in a Stakes race at Maine. He likes to stalk a nice pace, and needs to be in the top 4 after the start, to find his running speed.
At #4 the early morning favourite Salty Tiger is a 6yo Awesome Again horse, who gained his first Graded win in the Grade 3 JFK Street late November last year. He backed his 113 speed from that win, with nice showings in the Back Seat Driver(2nd) and the Pablo Verces(4th), when both times his late closings came too late. Like Vingeance(KY) he’s a sprinter, that likes to close fast, however he usually doesn’t fall back that much, so his runs don’t come from the total back, but like the others we seen so far, he needs someone to set the early pace and run from it.
At #5 Gilbreth(KY) is only a 18/1 outside shot, but the 4yo is the one to likely save the race, as he’s not only a quick starter on a 3 race winning streak, but also not shy to set the early pace, so he could deliver the needed speed. After breaking his maiden last july, he only raced 4 times, winning 3 of those ALW races, being handled very slowly, and only running every other month. So he should enter his first stakes test well rested, and could bring a huge upset, if he keeps maturing at the rate he has before.
#6 sees another outside shot at 13/1 Prospecfuhr(KY) is another ALW horse making the big step, however I see no winning streak here, winning 2 of his last 6, often with speed way beyond the 100 number, at top 3 finish would be a wild surprise for the Langfuhr colt, who’ll face the toughest task of his race life.
At #7 The Principal(KY) makes an attempt to return to winning form. The horse looked to get his breakthrough, when winning the NWRC Calvacade Cup Mile in October, but the nice 113 at a mile now looks like a one-day wonder, as the usual early leader got caught and beaten badly in his next 3 tries. Today he’ll make another attempt at sprinting, but last time out, he was well beaten over 7f, and was dead last in the Florida BB Sprint Championship. It seems his early lead style often leads to big defeats, and if we he tries to set the early pace today again, look for him to be caught on the final furlong badly.
My pick would be Salty Tiger over Vingeance, with a lively chance for big odds Gilbreth.