Minnesota vs. Comedy Central 2YO Turf Challenge
Welcome race fans, to a sunny cool Minnesota Saturday of racing!!! The dirt is fast, and the grass firm and we should have a good crowd on hand to witness some very special racing this week. A very nice card at Minnesota is highlighted by the Minnesota owners and trainers taking on the clowns (I think this is a compliment for them BTW) from Comedy Central. This is a 2 race series, with the turf event being run at Minnesota Downs and the dirt race somewhere in Iowa I guess. I hope our horses make it there, but is there really a race track?
Our own Chuckrock races with these guys believe it or not. My guess is they probably drugged him. Why else would you leave NYC for Iowa? Of course he has been rarely heard from since this happened, so maybe he is in CMD’s out house, being forced to stay away from his summer home here in the lake state.
In addition there are several other minny traitors racing under the CC logo, many of them leaving under cover of darkness never to be heard from again. Coincidence? Diabolical plot? Probably, but by who; is anyone at that res really capable of hatching such an idea. Well they do think they are funny, but my daughter told me to tell them they’re snot. I’m sure the gang at CC will get that one, they’re big on intellectual humor over there.
Prize horses are on the line today, but that really doesn’t matter. It’s just about beating these guys even if we have to lower ourselves to tactics unbecoming of someone from the great white north. Wait a minute, I think that’s Canada. Anyway we want to beat them.
Let’s take a look at the 20 horse field for the turf race at Minny. It’s loaded with exceptional young talent, sure to develop into champions.
And then there’s the comedy central entries.
Out of post 1 comes Randy’s BLUES TRICK(JPN). This well bred colt will try to make Comedy Central blue. His first start was in the Future is Bright in Minny race and he looks to improve off of a decent 59 speed on turf. Given the quality of horses coming over from CC, he probably will.
#2 – HOT SUN COT(GER) – another local favorite out of the Cothill stables. This colt was very impressive, taking his only start easily with a 68 on turf. Cothill did a nice job breeding this one (MONSUN(GER) x AWESOME AGAIN x A.P. INDY) and he also rides him, so you know he is ready to roll. He is the second choice on the ML but he is well rested and I think he wins again today. The 3 year old from this broodmare has also been impressive so far.
#3 – Prebola sends out a first time starter in MAVERICK SENATOR(IRE). I like the colt’s turf pedigree (AZAMOUR (IRE) x REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) x UNBRIDLED), out of the E rated mare REFUSE TO CLOSE. We’ll see how he fares in his debut.
#4 – MIDNIGHT APPROACH(GB) – the first entry from CC could be running until midnight. Trained by Peachman, it looks like he’ll need to go to those fruit trees again for a better apple. Seriously though, this filly has a good jockey and may have a chance at 41-1.
#5 – M.J.’S ECLIPSE(KY) – this filly ran pretty well on dirt in her first start for Phillipj’s comedy central barn. She’s getting support at 9-1, but I bet she gets eclipsed by the speedier steeds from Minnesota.
#6 – At 16-1 comes CK PHOENIX(IRE) from Team CK’s strong MN stables. Very nice pedigree here, but I think this colt could use a bit more distance. His first start was a respectable 59 SP on turf, so he could be in the thick of things here. His jockey A Beasley is having a great year so far.
#7 – BOLD BELONGING(KY) represents the zman stables, who recently relocated to MN from Ohio, good choice! Zman has brought over a number of very nice horses. This colt also comes out of the Future is Bright in Minny race, where he ran 8th in a 60 sp, beaten by less than 4 lengths.
#8 – ICHIAN(GB) comes into this race as a first time starter. No one can say anything negative about this colt’s trainer, Taffy, even in jest. However, our crack undercover staff did find out that the colt actually represents Midas and not CC. At only 11-1 I’m smelling a humorous rat here.
#9 – ANY GIVEN STORM(KY) is trained by yours truly so of course she has a chance. The filly flopped in her dirt debut, but there are greener pastures ahead! MN certainly won the post position derby, with 6 out of the first 9 spots.
#10 – DON’T LET THE SUN(KY) – shine, and we’ll try not to. Unraced filly from the Old Dominion conglomerate over at CC. She’s sired by BOB AND JOHN and is 53-1. Is this a joke?
#11 – We’ll see if this horse is a prize on both surfaces, but DIRT PRIZE(KY) sure looked good first time out on the brown stuff. This colt out of Kodiak Kowboy dusted a short MSW in his first out, running a very nice 72, and has the services of one of the best young jocks at MN. Should be interesting to see how he runs (or not) here.
#12 – AWESOME COLAC(KY) is at 9-1 on the early board. I’m not sure why after a less than impressive initial try on dirt. CC traitor err trainer alishan tries the old dirt to turf switcheroo. Will in work, props not, especially with that meager breeding of AWESOME AGAIN x SECRETARIAT x SEATTLE SLEW! Deep pockets over at CC I guess.
#13 – Representing the great Residency of Minnesota, comes SPECIAL ME(JPN). Randy’s filly sired by Special Week out of a Belong To Me mare, looks dandy indeed. Randy has been a long time MN resident and knows how to get his young ones ready. This filly looked good in winning her debut on turf, and looks to add another win here. I would say a great value at 30-1.
#14 – Not the value of the previous entry but a pretender none the less comes DARK DETECTOR(KY). At 6-1; oh sorry really meant to say contender, that detector name got me mixed up – this filly has a real chance as much as I hate to admit it, based on her breeding. But of course breeding doesn’t win races, so seems a little over hyped being a first timer here.
#15 – GANGLEY CAT(KY) First time starter form CC. 9-1 just seems a bit low for this one. His breeding is respectable (ARTIE SCHILLER x STORM CAT x STAGE DOOR JOHNNY) but the broodmare, Florida Cat has not exactly over whelmed. She does have 1 stake winner from 9 foals, but that was 8 long years ago.
#16 – DEPUTY ARROW(SAF) continues the onslaught of unraced 2 year olds from comedy central. Can’t these guys give us a little more to go on? At 13-1 at least this one is not over bet. Sired by the promising young stud A.P. Arrow, but the Jockey would not be my first choice.
#17 – IN JOY THE RIDE(KY) – nice play on words, man these guys are funny. So, yeah another CC entry this time out of the Squirrel Empire. Hey Squirrel, having 478 stables does not make it an empire, you have to actually win something.
I really do like this breeding for a turf horse (KITTEN’S JOY x SADLER’S WELLS x DARSHAAN(ENG)), but guess what gang? Yes Miley, another first time starter. Plus the broodmare is 0 for life.
#18 – BEAT MY(KY) – OK, I’ll admit it. I bred this horse and I’m not really sure what that name means. Must have had a few earlier in the evening. This colt did look pretty good, running a closing 3rd in the Future is Bright in Minny turf race and has one of the best jocks here. 27-1???
#19 – SKY DROP(KY) – another entry from Randy’s barns but this one will have to turn it around on the green stuff.
She was over matched in her dirt debut but has a nice pedigree (SKY MESA x LEMON DROP KID x WHAT LUCK) and will need to improve to turn the tables here. Jockey is looking for win #1 in 2010, bad sign or is he just due?
#20 – I have it on good authority that SAFE TO DANCE(LA) was named after Mark Gastineau, and not the Men Without Hats song. Seems like MN got the short end of the odds stick, as this zman entry is 26-1. I know that first race was on dirt, and it was slow but it was a second place finish. The breeding is sound, and this filly has the best jock in the state. Rates a chance.
So that’s the bloated field for this annual event. Many first timers, a few dirt to turf options along with a couple that actually ran pretty well on grass in their debuts’. My picks are as follows:
- HOT SUN COT(GER) 8-1
- SPECIAL ME(JPN) 30-1
- BEAT MY(KY) 27-1
- M.J.’S ECLIPSE(KY) 9-1
- IN JOY THE RIDE(KY) 10-1
Oh and good luck to all our “friends” over at Comedy Central, looks like you’ll need it.