Shaft Bro Challenge draws diverse field
PP 1) Bones In Traction(KY) Sired by Empire Maker, Trained by 1stclass. Bones In Traction is a well run four year old colt, who makes his thrity second start in this race. Having run in everything from high level claims to stakes, he is still seeking his first victory at this level. Over his last 10 starts, he sports a record of 5-1-3-1-0 with eight 100+ speeds, capped by a 110.0 speed earlier this season. His last start was an A4x in Michigan, where he bested a field of twelve by two and a half lengths. After spending a good part of his early career on dirt, He’s spent the last year on turf, and it has paid off quite well for him. He loves the distance here, putting up five wins and nine top three finishes in twelve turf starts in this mile range. He generally prefers a stalker’s pace, laying just off the lead, but in this field, that should find him with a piece of the led early. He’s fared well in early duels, especially recently, only getting in trouble when he gets out in front early. He’s been doing some of the best running of his career this season, but his going to be going head to head with the elite of this field early. Look for him to force things early, but the pace could have him losing ground as they cross the half.
PP 2) Greenfromeartoear(JPN) Sired by Fantastic Light, Trained by dsanders. Greenfromeartoear is on of the youngsters of this field, a three year old colt, making his fourteenth career start. He has one stakes win to his credit, coming earlier this season and he faces his elders for the first time here. His last ten starts have seen him go 3-4-0-1-1, breaking the 100+ speed barrier for his first time in his last race. That race was a ten furlong stakes in Kentucky, where he ran what was arguably the best race of his career, making up nearly eleven lengths in the second half before falling just short, settling for second in a field of eight. Outside of one rather disappointing dirt start, he’s spent his entire career on turf, and is quite comfortable on the surface. He’s has wins from six to eight furlongs, and in the mile range, he has two wins and two places in five tries, with both wins coming on off tracks. He’s a deep closer, and his close has run the gamut from mediocre to brilliant. If this one was a bit longer, it might improve his lot here, but facing his elders for the first time, and with the race at a mile I can’t recommend him, though he might make a good pad for your trifecta boxes at 20/1 odds.
PP 3) Mighty Mite Morgan Sired by Rock Hard Ten, Trained by equistable. Mighty Mite Morgan is a lightly run four year old colt, taking his fifteenth trip in this race. This will be his first against stakes competition after spending last season in a combination of low level claims and allowances. His last ten starts have netted him a 2-1-3-1-1 with three 100+ speeds, topping out at 108.2 in his last start. That race was an A1x in Kentucky at this distane where he came from over twleve lengths off the pace to notch a two length victory. His career has been an even split between dirt and turf, with nearly all of his success coming on the grass. He is 2-1-1 in the mile range, with this distance seeming to be the perfect happy medium for him. He’s a deep closer and in races under nine furlongs, his close has been excellent. This colt has absolutely exploded this season, raising his speeds by over fifteen points and sporting a brilliant close. This rest should be a test for him, but if he runs the way he has thus far this season, he could be right in the mix at 9/1 odds.
PP 4) Shobiz Fireworks(KY) Sired by Nobiz Like Showbiz, Trained by jmk2. Shobiz Fireworks is a three year old colt, seeing action in his sixteenth race here. He has one stakes win to his credit, a Grade I victory as a two year old, and makes his first start under his new trainer after being relegated to claims this season. He has put up a 4-0-1-2-0 record in his last ten, with a best speed of 92.0 earned earlier this season. His last start was a $13500 open claim where he took a short field gate to wire for a length and three quarter victory. After a disappointing debut on dirt, he made the switch to turf and has run on the grass ever since. He’s been at his best in the seven to eight furlong range, and in this distance range, he has two wins and a show in six starts. He likes to run from the head of the mid pack, but has been at his best in slower breaking fields where this gives him a shot at the early lead. His record and divisional rank gives him the credentials to be here, but his lack of break out speed, and this being his first run against older horses looks to make this a long day for him here.
PP 5) Theatrical Trailer(IRE) Sired by Theatrical(IRE), Trained by coolk2. Theatrical Trailer is a six year old horse, entering this race, his thirty third, as the odds on favorite. He certainly comes in with alot to recommend him. Five wins, three of those graded, a number eight divisional rank, and four 110+ speeds in his last ten make a good case. In his last ten starts, against top competition, he’s amassed a 2-3-0-1-1 record with ten 100+ sppeds, capped by a 113.3 speed earlier this season. His last start was more of a tune up, an A2s in Texas, where he decimated a field of eight by nearly five lengths. He’s been on turf since his second career start, and has never looked back. He seems a bit more comfortable in the nine furlong range, but has a respectable four wins and three places in thirteen tries in this mile range. He prefers to run from just off the pace, but he’s shown himself capable of running from the front, as well, and with this field composition, that’s quite likely where he’ll find himself. If he runs the race he’s capable of, this one is his to win or lose. That being said, his speeds have been down recently, and that could make him vunerable to the closers late.
PP 6) Nostrovia(KY) Sired by Dynaformer, Trained by devil01. Nostrovia is the sole female in this field, a four year old filly making her twenty second career start. She brings in a 3-2-3-0-0 record from her last ten starts, with seven 100+ speeds, her best of 107.3 earned early this season> Her last start was a stakes at this distance in Massachusetts, where she couldn’t find any second half jump, settling for third in a field of six. She’s had a smattering of dirt starts, but they’ve only served to prove her strong turf preference. This is her distance of chooice, as well, with three wins and seven top three finishes in nine tries. She runs as a midpack to deep closer,but her close has been hit and miss over her last several starts. She’s shown some excellent speed, but the question is whether she can duplicate it agains the boys on a fast track. The step up in class is also worriesome, with her not having much luck in stakes fields while excelling at allowances. I’ll reserve judgement here, until I see if she can prove herself.
PP 7) Blackened Gold Sired by Strike The Gold, Trained by aurton11. Blackened Gold is the old man of the field, and eight year old horse, making his fifty fourth career start here. The old man still appears to have some jump in his step though, and is looking to put up his second career stakes victory. He’s 5-0-2-0-0 in his last ten, with nine 100+ speeds, capped by a 107.6 in his final start of last year. His last start was a nine and a half furlong stakes in DC, where he was pressing late, before settling for third in a field of five. He’s experienced some success on both surfaces, but far and away seems to perfer the turf. Hee’s been solid anywhere from seven furlongs to nine and a half, and in the mile range, hre has six wins and ten top three finishes in sixteen turf tries. He like to run from the midpack, and while his close has been fairly consistent, he’s had trouble bringing it all the way home. I think he has a thing or two to teach a few of the youngsters here, but a win is going to be a tall order here, even with his solid 2/1 odds.