G3 – The Negative Stakes

PP 1 – 4/1 MAX RICHTER(KY) ID# 152169   C Roser ( 51 – 6 – 9 – 5 – 12% )

Max Richter is a scratch bred horse trying graded stakes competition for the first time. He comes into the race with a win in a 4 horse listed stakes race and finished 2^nd twice before that in listed stakes races. He has a top figure of 112 which makes him competitive in this field but he’s only been running low 100’s since that top figure. Seems to like 7.5 furlongs as he is 3 for 3 at that distance but this race is a half a furlong short of that.

PP 2 – 15/1 FORT NAPOLEON(KY) ID# 31865   A Hudson ( 41 – 6 – 4 – 8 – 15% )

Fort Napoleon was bred from a “C’ mare and is one of the long shots in today’s race. He had two listed stakes win as a 3 year old but the times were not that impressive and he will need to run a lot faster than his top of 102.

PP 3 – 4/1 ARRANGED BY KINGS(KY) ID# 159972 K Ledwith (72 – 21 – 15 – 13 – 29%)

Arranged by Kings was bred from a “E” mare and is coming into today’s race off a nice 2nd place finish in the G1 Malibu stakes. After trying routing throughout the middle of his 3 year old year he finished off the year in two seven furlongs sprints and finished first and second. He has never finished worse than 2^nd sprinting and looks to have a good future as a sprinter.

PP 4 – 5/1 SET THE STANDARD(CA) ID# 118777   M Widell ( 7 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 14% )

Set the Standard is a scratch bred and has a two race win streak coming into today’s race. This former claimer has moved up the ranks from allowance to stakes winner and posted his career best figure of 109 in his last race. He also has a good off-track record with 4 wins and 2 seconds from 7 starts. His 109 is competitive in this field but I’m just not sure he can duplicate that number against better competition.

Prayer Lake is a scratch bred and is coming off a fourth place finish in his graded stakes debut in the Pablo Verces Handicap. He is a closer and today’s race does not look to have too much pace in it. He is a consistent horse that always finishes at the end of races but doesn’t seem to win often. Has one decent try over an off track and a not so good attempt so not sure if he will move up on the off track.

PP 6 – 13/1 THUNDERBERG(KY) ID# 47513   B Parker ( 11 – 1 – 0 – 0 – 9% )

Thunderberg was bred from a “D” mare and is another horse making his graded stakes debut today. He comes into today’s race off of a win against allowance company but with a figure of 103 he will need to do more today to be competitive.

PP 7 – 15/1 AMERICAN TANGO(IRE) ID# 16766   N Tippins ( 23 – 3 – 2 – 3 – 13% )

American Tango was bred from a “F” mare and another one of the long shots in today’s field. While this horse does not have impressive speed figures the one thing this horse does have is speed and the rest of the field does not have speed except for possibly the #1. I think it’s highly unlikely he will go gate to wire but he picked a nice race to try and get his first graded win. He also is 2 for 2 on the off track.

PP 8 – 2/1 BODDINGTON(KY) ID# 18095   G Arnold ( 69 – 14 – 12 – 11 – 20% )

Boddington was bred from a “D” mare and is the favorite in today’s race. He comes into today’s race with a win last race out versus listed stakes competition where he posted a 113 speed figure. This will be his first try against graded stakes competition and seems to be a very similar runner to the #5. He likes to close and will usually give a good effort at the end of the race but not always win. No races on a off track so not much to go on there.

Handicapper’s Picks:

I like speed. Sometimes speed doesn’t always win but at least the horse I pick will lead for some part of the race. So with that being said I’m going to try the long shot and speed of the race #7 American Tango. For 2^nd I’ll take #1 Max Richter who might get a perfect trip stalking the pacesetter. For 3^rd I will take #3 Arranged by Kings who I think is the most likely winner if I was trying to predict pace scenarios.

1^st: 7

2^nd: 1

3^rd: 3

Handicapper’s Record:

Lost last week though I did give a sparkling preview of the winner, I just wasn’t sure if he was going to shine early in the year. Not expecting to win this week but you never know.

4204  Pablo Verces Handicap – Winner

4211 Gas Station Mile – Loser