Bargain Summer Classic – Bargain Bred Series
A Bargain lover’s dream field of 10 is set to line up and do battle in the Bargain Summer Classic. The field is filled with talent including last year’s winner Quart Low, Bargain Bowl 2 time champ Spare Key, and 2-1 favorite Colonial Golds. Here is a look at today’s field.
1. Quart Low – Six year old Texas breed is trained by Bargain president Knightmare. Has a very solid Bargain Series resume that includes a win in last year’s edition of this race, a strong 2nd in the Bargain Bowl Classic and a smashing win in this year’s Bargie Colt mile. Seems to be in reasonably good form and is a strong sentimental pick to repeat as champion here today at 7/2.
2. Change of Heart – Zman’s PA Bred was claimed 2 back for a rock bottom 2.5k and it paid immediate dividends to the tune of a strong 3rd place finish in the Bargain Dash last out. Six year old has won routes before so should have no trouble at today’s distance but he will have to navigate traffic as he prefers to come from far back with a big late run. 19-1 odds do offer exotic wagering value so he is worth using in some deeper tickets.
3. CT’s Rocket – Today’s 42-1 long shot has been a strong bargain 3 yr old finishing ITM in all the major races but his fastest lifetime speed figure of 88 is well below what is needed to compete here today. I have a hunch he is a good one and will get better with age but needs time to compete against the older established runners.
4. CT’s Gun Runner – Four year son of Gun Powder (Unbridled) is 11 for 16 lifetime in the money and has been a Bargain Series regular earning his keep quite nicely. Has finished 2nd in 3 straight bargain races between the distances of 6 and 8 furlongs so he has a lot of class but today’s distance seems to be a bit of a question mark since he faded badly in races at 8.5 furlongs and beyond. This horse has a strong chance to earn top bargain sprint season honors but I am going to have to pass today.
5. Vainest – Hawkz Racing Stables trained 7 yr old by West Cork has raced 50 times winning 13 of them banking over 128k in earnings. Was a nonthreatening 5th in last year’s Bargain Bowl and his recent form does not give much hope of enough improvement to beat those same rivals today. A price of 6-1 seems a bit short given all that.
6. Spare Key – Elenalag Stables trained 6yr old by French Envoy is a Bargain Series legend after having scored back to back Bargain Bowl Classic victories in 2008/9. His form has been terrible since that hallmark win but he always seems to fire big and is always a fan favourite regardless of current form. 9-1 odds reflect his poor 2010, but you never know when a crafty old vet will run big again on one of the most important days of the bargain calendar.
7. Spitting Fire – Four year old filly by Editor’s Note deserved a spot in the Summer Distaff but was shifted to the Classic to avoid doing battle with stable mate Slave to Tradition. Her only Bargain Series appearance was an awful 7th in the Chance for Delta but she clearly prefers longer distances so that loss can be easily dismissed. Her big win 2 back posting a 99 speed figure puts her in the mix today but she needs to prove it vs. the best bargains before I can get too excited about her chances.
8. Recon Shop – Axe’s 6 year old won The Cougar Bite Turf Classic last year in smashing form by 4 ¼ lengths but has faded badly in form since that big win. Has always been more of a turf horse then a dirt one so I am looking at this as more of a prep race for a bigger try in the Bargain Arc later in the year although his reasonable Death Valley Classic run shows I may be dismissing him too eagerly.
9. Colonial Golds – Hawkz’ trained 6 year old by Golden Snake is the 2-1 favorite in today’s race and a quick look at his recent form shows why. He has hit a career peak as of late with big wins in the Death Valley Classic and a big open stakes win posting a 106 speed figure 3 back. Should fire huge today and look for jockey O Parker to place him near the lead vs. placing him in the back but he has won both ways so the jockey has a lot of options.
10. Woftam Star – Hawkz trained 4 yr old colt is 6 for 13 ITM lifetime and has a big Bargain Series win to his credit when he won The Bronx Stakes by 3 ¼ lengths. Has two place finishes in his last 2 races with 99 speed figures so he is fast but his recent form doesn’t jump off the page at you like the stablemate to his inside. Could fire a big one but I will back more proven commodities today.
Outlook:
I will not pick a winner here today but instead list my wager preference. I would box Colonial Golds/Quart Low in an exacta and include the 4/6/7/8 in the trifecta spot.
Good luck to all of today’s runners and check out the Bargain Series message board to find out how you can get involved.
http://knightmarebbrs.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general