Town of Tokyo (Grade III)
Twelve classy runners meet Saturday in the $100,000 Grade III Town of Tokyo at California Racetrack. Many of these competitors are looking to regain sharp form they have displayed in the not so distant past. Others in here climb the ladder looking to use this spot to break into the elite graded stake races that the revised stake schedule now offers. The lukewarm favorite at 7/2 is Non Negative, the 4th ranked horse in the Dirt Classic division from the powerful barn of keely. In post position order, here is the field for the Town of Tokyo.
Kitten No More draws the rail for the unreal division of Jef’s Thoroughbred Club. The Kitten’s Joy colt holds the 29th spot in the Classic Division. He’s been a consistent performer at the stakes level since taking the Grade I Eddie Haskell last year as a three year old. However, his lone win since that effort was in a minor stake in Mexico two starts back. That effort was on a wet track, as was his previous effort, a 5th in the Grade 2 Saints Handicap in Louisiana. If his form holds, we could see a big effort out of this one.
topicount‘s King Of The Wind is the old man of the dozen. At age 7, this Deputy Minister stallion has amassed over $1,000,000 in earnings, with 10 wins in 52 starts. The bad news is ‘King’ has lost his last two starts, both allowance heats, after winning against weak competition in North Dakota with a 97 SF. Just this past fall, we saw ‘King’ competing at the Grade 1 level, finishing 3rd in the Grade 1 Farewell to Cryptozot and 4th in the Grade 1 California Classic. He was certainly an excellent runner in his time, but is now showing signs of losing a step. Would be a surprise here.
The horse with the distinction of longest shot on the board is Crazy Miner from the blacksoxuk group of stables. ‘Miner’, a son of Stormin Fever, owns a stakes win but remains eligible for the ‘two other than’ condition. He’s ran in four stakes since winning a minor stake as a 3 year old. However, those last four starts have taken place over a year and a half and he ahs been trounced in each. He’s well deserving of the 99-1 billing that the oddsmaker has assigned.
Got A Headache is a speedy type from the JRogue Stables who leaps into the graded stakes level after knocking out two allowance conditions in back to back tries. Both were won in nearly wire to wire fashion, one of those races was over a distance of 12 furlongs. The son of Tiznow has the stamina, but class is a question mark. The jump in speed figs over the last three starts is encouraging. If we continue to see improvement, this one may be in for a minor award.
Sakh of Doja last visited the winner’s circle in the Minnesota resident restricted Minnesota Classic on December 20th. Since working his way through his allowance conditions for Team DOZA Racing, this son of Sakhee has rattled off eight 100+ SF’s in a row on varying distances and surfaces. He cuts back to 9 furlongs for the Town of Tokyo, which may be a little short for his liking. Will need some runners up front to duke it out in order to set the race up for his late kick.
Longshot Legendary Stud breaks from post 6 for the Shamrock Stables from Blazing Saddles. In his most recent start, the Afleet Alex colt won what amounted to a 4 horse public workout by 7 1/2 lengths down in Arizona. He registered a 67 SF for his effort, and ran 10 furlongs in a pedestrian 2:07 and change. The Stud has lost several marginally tougher allowance heats, and will need to do a lot more to take the prize here. He did compete in the Equinics back in the fall with some limited success. However, he has no graded stakes tries since. Tough assignment.
Vicissitude comes into the Town Of Tokyo on a bit of a winning streak. This son of Giant’s Causeway has won two straight stakes with speed figures in excess of 110. His style is to sit just off the pace and pounce in the stretch. He tries 9 furlongs today, which should further enhance his speed. Look for him to be the one saying “Come and get me” at the 1/8th pole. A very dangerous one for the barn of Tseals1.
Morning line favorite Non Negative, as previously mentioned, hails from the keely stables. An impeccably bred A.P. Indy stallion, this guy has notched 12 wins from 28 starts including the Grade 1 Bob Woodward Stakes last September at this distance. He finished last in the Breeders’ Bowl, but has rebounded and looks to be rounding into form. This is a perfect spot to pick up a graded stakes victory, as I’m sure Non Negative has bigger fish to fry this season.
Turmoil makes his graded stakes debut in his 19th start for the super stables. This son of Mineshaft discovered route racing in his most recent effort, winning a non winners of four allowance contest going away. All of his previous efforts were sprinting, so it is impossible to tell what this one is really all about. He’s well meant in this spot, however, and could make some noise at a price.
Thing One is an off and on performer from the barn of timolloy. He shows some toughness in allowance races, turning in triple digit SF’s in his most recent start. However, the two stake tries on his most recent form are complete disasters. He’s regally bred (Kingmambo) but one has to wonder if he is truly a stakes class critter. The 33/1 billing seems about right. It will be tough to knock down the door against this competition.
Gramid is a hard knocker who placed in the Grade 1 Parental Advisory just four starts back. He is proven at the distance and class level, and is by a hard knocking stallion in Peaks and Valleys. The wincountr stables have done a great job spotting this horse where he can run well. His last effort in Wisconsin may have been a bit of an aberration as that Grade 3 spot may have came up a little tough. Look for this one to strike, especially if they’re rockin’ on the engine.
Shamalangadingdong has a name that is an announcer’s headache, but that’s too bad as he’s been getting a lot of calls here lately, especially down the lane. Foxon stables collected a Grade 3 victory in the Maxxed Platinum Plate. He was trounced in the Grade 1 California Cap, but slides back down to a more appropriate level here. This one is another closer that could be running if the pace is quick.