Lone Star Classic draws field of stars

This week in Texas, sees the running of the first ever Lone Star Classic, to be run over the distance of a mile and a quarter on the dirt track.  The race has attracted a number of top class runners in the division, all seeking to grab a share of the $1mil prize pool on offer.

PP1 DEMECO(KY) (AWESOME AGAIN x BROAD BRUSH x SECRETARIAT) fatattack 5/1
The number 5 ranked dirt classic colt will go from the inside gate, and will be sent out the marginal favourite in an open betting race.  This scratch-bred 4yo has amassed $5.6mil inprizemoney throughout his 24 career starts, and he comes here overdue to get back on the winner’s list, having had 5 outs in a row.  His last win was in the Grade IMovieland Shiny Cup, on an off-track, where he blitzed the field, coming from over 12 lengths off the lead, to win in an SP of 118.  Since that win he has made up huge amounts of ground late in his races, but just hasn’t been able to time his run to perfection, and reel in the front runners.  His last start was a credible 4th in the Breeder’s Bowl Classic, a race that he won last year as a 3yo.  Look for his mighty finishing burst again here.

PP2 STRIKE THE RED(KY) (SMART STRIKE x BROAD BRUSH x ALYDAR) catamount2 6/1
A 12 time stakes winner, including a Grade 3 victory in the Wikipedigree.org Challenge back in July, this 5yo colt out of a G-rated mare, has lifted his dirt classic ranking to 25 with placings in his last two races.  Most recently, he was a battling 3rd in a field of 4 for the West Virginia Air(IRE) Challenge, where he never threatened with an SP of 101.  Before that, he was more competitive in the Exeter Furniture(JPN) Memorial, where he improved from as far back as 9 lengths, to finish 2nd with an SP of 109, but beaten comfortably by 3 1/4 lengths.  He started the favourite at both starts before that, but was disappointing, finishing out of the placings and losing by 18 3/4, and then 8 1/2 lengths respectively.  A veteran of the track who, after 43 starts is going for what may be his last chance at Grade I glory, and after some below par results recently, he will be looking to turn his form around.

PP3 UNBRIDLED HOLIDAY(KY) (HARLAN’S HOLIDAY x UNBRIDLED x A.P. INDY) guroo2 13/1
The first of the 3yos going around here, this son of Harlan’s Holiday out of he-mare, The Undertaker, finds himself up in distance to the mile and a quarter for his first try against the older horses.  His last start was full of merit, when he sat just off the pace before hitting the front shortly before the home stretch, but was over run to finish 4th in the Grade II Bettis Handicap, with an SP of 110.  Before that he was able to pull away to a bigger margin, and just hold off a late swooper with an SP 116 in the Grade III Colorado Sophomore Classic.  Two massive restricted allowance wins preceded that, both by 4 1/4 lengths, and the second with an SP of 108.  His race experience may count against him here, as he faces a tough field, with only 9 starts under his belt, but he looks to be an improving type, and his recent form would suggest that if he can continue to show improvement here, he could figure in the finish.

PP4 BOULEVARD OF TEARS(KY) (STREET CRY (IRE) x BROAD BRUSH x PRIVATE ACCOUNT) theshark 9/1
A disappointing result last start in The Apple Pie (Grade III), where he was fancied by the punters who sent him out 2nd favourite, but he could only manage an SP 101 and a finish 10 lengths from the winner.  His win in the Corvette (Grade III) was much more impressive, where he raced right up on the pace, before edging to the frontagaint IACCHUS (KY), and drawing away to win, with an SP of 112, and a margin of over 5 lengths to the third horse.  That win at the end of October was somewhat unexpected by many, having spent most of the year running against allowance fields and goingwinless up until that race.  He will make his own luck with a forward position early, and despite not winning often, his best showing here will take some beating.

PP5 EMPTY RIVER(KY) (POINT GIVEN x RAISE A NATIVE x DANZIG) minnslew 7/1
Another who has gone winless for his last 5 starts, this scratch bred 5yo will be looking to turn it around here, at a distance which has troubled him at times in the past.  It was a big run last time out in the Grade III The Apple Pie, where he settled back toward the rear of the field before making up good ground late, to finish in 2nd place, running an SP of 110.  He was again doing his best work at the finish two starts ago, when he fell short of the money, running 6th of 10 in the Grade I The GoodyGood.  A disappointing run in the Gotta Fix The Sprinklers Classic (Grade II) three starts back when he made little impression, finishing over 13 lengths from the winner with an SP of 102.  His record over distances greater than 9 furlongs is 6 starts for 0-2-0, where both of his placings were at allowance class.  He will line up here after more than a month break, so he should be ready to fire, and if he runs the distance out, he will be hard to beat.

PP6 PIT BULLY TED(KY) (JOHAR x PULPIT x UNBRIDLED) highstable 10/1
The 13th ranked 3yo in the dirt classic division, comes here after a battling effort last time out in the listed, The Henianlauch(KY) Stakes, when he ran home fairly without ever truly threatening to finish in 5th place.  It was another dour effort before that in the Grade I The Maybe Next Year Special, where he settled just off the speed, and then ran home well, to finish 2nd with an SP of 106.  He started favourite in the Grade II LA Derby, where he sat right on the early speed before being edged out before the stretch, but held off the late closers to finish 2nd.  His best result to date was his previous start to that, when he got further back and showed a huge amount of speed to finish the race right off when he took out the Grade II Winchester Park Derby by 2 1/2 lengths, running an SP of 113.  His first time racing against the older horses will be a tough assignment, but we may not have seen his best yet, and he cannot be dismissed.

PP7 GRAVEMENTE(IRE) (SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY x GONE WEST) foxon5 7/1
The 19th ranked dirt classic older horse will line up here after crossing from the other division, where he finished an out of character 10th place in the Grade I Japan Dirt Cup.  Prior to that, his late closing style saw him go back to last place in the Breeder’s Bowl Classic last month, before he managed to pass half the field and finish a game 7th.  Three starts ago, an enormous finish saw him fly home in the Grade I Jockey Guild Gold Cup, coming from over 15 lengths off the lead at one stage, and just managing to hit the front on the wire, to score the biggest win of his career to date, beating home, amongst others, the favourite for this, DEMECO(KY).  A strong effort back in July is of note, when he again finished strongly to finish 3rd in the Grade III Wikipedigree.org Challenge, behind STRIKE THE RED(KY), running a career best SP 113.  Will be looking to bounce back after his disappointing run earlier this month.  Look for him to be flashing home here.

PP8 GO THE OX(IRE) (HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR x RAISE A CUP x BISCAY(AUS)) actmonaro 14/1
Boasting only a modest record in races he has contested that have been of a higher class than allowance, this scratch bred 4yo colt will be starting as the joint outsider of the field here.  He has also made the trip over from the Grade I Japan Dirt Cup, where he managed to make up some late ground, to improve his early position of 10th, up to a respectable finish of 4th, however still some 8 lengths shy of the winner.  Before that he was well beaten in a listed stakes in Dubai, where he finished with an SP of 94, which saw him fade off the pace, to end up almost 13 lengths from the winner.  Three starts ago, he settled well off the speed in 12th place of a full field of 14 in the Grade III Corvette, and he steadily held his ground, passing several runners to take a cheque home with a 5th place finish, but 7 lengths short of winner, BOULEVARD OF TEARS(KY), and 5 1/2 lengths off IACCHUS(KY) who finished 2nd.  Although he shows a lot of promise, with a career best SP of 107, he is yet to finish on the board in a stakes race, which makes this Grade I contest a very tough ask. 

PP9 SISSON’S SUNDAY(KY) (ANY GIVEN SATURDAY x NORTHERN DANCER x ROBERTO) levers 9/1
Stepping up to the mile and a quarter again for the first time since his first try at the classic distance which saw him finish last in the Grade I Travelers Stakes.  His form had dropped off since his last win back in June (when he took out the Grade II Flat Land Derby), until he showed an improved effort last start in the Grade I Japan Dirt Cup, running an SP of 112, and storming home late to finish 3rd in what was a leader dominated event.  Before that, he was doing his best work at the finish, but was no match for them in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile, making ground to finish 9th.  3 starts ago, he again he gave them a huge start in the listed Hudson Hawk Stakes, and just failed to make enough ground to finish 2 lengths from the winner in 2nd place.  His record over distances greater than 9 furlongs is terrible, finishing last twice in three attempts, and beaten more than 13 lengths in the other.  His last run gives him some hope, but would prefer him over a little less ground.

PP10 IACCHUS(KY) (AWESOME AGAIN x A.P. INDY x NIJINSKY II) catullus 8/1
Will go around here having reached his top form, stalking the front runner throughout the first half of the 9f trip last start, before charging away to win in the Grade II Lewis & Clark Stakes with an SP 110.  Before that, he ran the same SP, but the result was reversed, when he took up the front position and was stalked by BOULEVARD OF TEARS(KY), but was shaded in the stretch of the Grade III The Corvette.  He notched his first stakes win at his previous start, when he again stalked the early speed before breaking through and holding off a late closer to win comfortably by over a length with an SP of 108.  Yet to have much luck at his 4 attempts over this distance, with his best result being a 3rd in an allowance, running an SP of 106, but looks to have finally found another gear, and jockey, J Webb (21%) will put him into a forward position to give himself the best chance.

PP11 SPORTS JERSEY(KY) (EMPIRE MAKER x THEATRICAL(IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD) super5 6/1
He settled in 4th place last start in the Grade II Lewis & Clark Stakes, and that is where he finished, when beaten soundly by IACCHUS(KY), by over 4 lengths, running an SP of 105.  Before that he finished a very disappointing 11th place in a field of 14 in The Corvette (Grade III), managing an SP of only 100, and being beaten by 3 of the runners he faces here, including the 1st and 2nd placegetters.  It was a much better effort 3 starts ago in the Grade II Bluegrass Cup Classic, where he finished strongly to take ground off the winner, but fell 1 3/4 lengths short in 2nd place, with an SP of 115.  Has won only one race this year, and that was back in February, when he easily accounted for a listed stakes field.  Steps up to the mile and a quarter for the second time in his career, with his only other attempt resulting in a 6th place finish of 17 in his 3yo year in the Delpenn Derby.  On his best form he has to be considered a chance to be competitive here.

PP12 TAMINATION(KY) (DISTORTED HUMOR x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x ALYDAR) rocket24 14/1
Lightly raced 3yo having just his 11th career start here, and comes off a high class allowance race where he finished 2nd, with an SP of 110.  Before that, he ground out a respectable 5th place in the Travelers Stakes (Grade I) at his first try on an off-track.  Showed promise in the Grade II Shiny Gem Stakes 3 starts ago, when he settled third and held his position to finish in that place with an SP of 108.  His best result was his lone stakes win which occurred 4 starts ago, when he beat a short field of only 4 runners in the Forbidden Treasure Memorial by over 6 lengths.  A big ask to front up against the older horses for the first time in a Grade I, and the morning line has him equal as the outsider of the field, but he comes off his career best speed, and has been competitive over this distance.  A chance at long odds.

Despite his recent run of 5 outs, the class runner of the field is DEMECO(KY), and he is my top selection, in a wide open race, where several 3yos which show a lot of promise will be looking to finish off their seasons with a big win against the older horses, and may also prove very hard to beat.