FOREGONE SHOWCASES TOP-RANKED SPRINTERS
This year’s renewal of the Grade 1 THE FOREGONE will be a showcase for some of the best sprinters in the country, including five of the top 10-ranked sprinters. These speedsters will be battling it out over 7 furlongs on Upper New York’s fast main track. The quality of this field makes it impossible to predict the winner as evidenced by morning line odds no lower than 6/1. There is a good combination of early speed and closers, so it really is just a matter of which horse is ready to step it up on Saturday.
Meet the field:
1. FERNANDO HERO (9/1) – This front-running speedball has been ultra consistent this year, finishing first or second in 6 of his 7 races (all stakes). However, the one in which he failed to hit the board was his only attempt at 7 furlongs, where he faded to 10th. He held on for the win in the Grade 2 VANDERBUILT on August 7 over this same track at 6 furlongs, defeating Cranky Squirrel and Shetan. Trained by Fernando, the 5yo son of Dehere will hope to run his competition off their feet.
2. MASTER FULL (11/1) – This 4yo son of Forest Wildcat has the most versatile running style of the group, with wins on the lead, stalking, and from the back. He was disappointing last out in the Grade 2 SMILE, but comes into this race fresh after trainer Themaster decided to give him a bit of time off. His highest speed figure this year was a 114 in winning the Grade 3 COUNT FINGERS SPRINT back in March at 6 furlongs.
3. REBEL RING (7/1) – This regally bred Storm Cat horse gave the morning line favorite all that he could handle in the Grade 1 THREE BENDER last time out. In that race, the 5yo was narrowly edged out at the wire by Boddington while earning a career-high 118 speed factor. Trainer ceclaim20 has given him a bit of rest since that effort and he is coming into this race fresh. He will likely tuck in just behind the early leaders.
4. GOLDEN SILK (13/1) – This dual Grade 1 winner has been slightly off form recently and looks to get it turned around here. The 4yo faded to third in an ungraded stakes last time out, but has tactical speed and has shown he can win either on the lead or stalking. Trained by Muninn240, the A.P. Indy colt gets the services of leading jockey Z. Ayya.
5. RAINS OF CASTEMERE (11/1) – Given trains this Giant’s Causeway colt that is as consistent as they come. The 4yo has hit the board in 19 of 22 lifetime starts and is a graded winner at this 7 furlong distance. He ran a respectable 3rd in his first Grade 1 attempt last out in the BINGER HANDICAP at 6 furlongs, which may have been a bit too short for him due to his “from the clouds” running style.
6. K’S STORM MAKER (11/1) – The 2009 Eclipse-winning sprinter and older horse returns to try and take THE FOREGONE again this year off just one week’s rest. After a stellar campaign in 2009 where he won 5 straight graded races (including three Grade 1), this 6yo son of Empire Maker has struggled a bit this year with 2 non-graded stakes wins in 5 starts. However, he hasn’t been beaten by more than 2 ½ lengths in any of those losses. Trainer Wreckages is hoping that a fast pace sets up well for this closer.
7. SHETAN (16/1) – This 5yo son of Storm Cat was third in the 12 furlong Grade 1 NEW YORKER as a 3yo and now has become a graded winner as a sprinter. He’s been a bit off form in his last few races, but has proven he has the ability to run a huge race at any time. He tends to hang back in mid-pack before making his move. Trained by Cdragon, Shetan’s last win came in May’s Grade 3 THE ARTIST ISLE at 6 furlongs.
8. BODDINGTON (6/1) – This 5yo closer has been installed as the lukewarm morning line favorite at odds of 6/1 in a tough field. Two races back, the son of Ghostzapper came flying home to earn his first Grade 1 win in THE THREE BENDER in a quick 1:20 2/5 for the 7 furlongs in California, earning a career-high 119 speed rating. In last month’s Grade 2 BOOKER T. HANDICAP, he appeared to bounce a bit from that big effort, finishing third with a speed rating of 106. With that out of his system, trainer Rapier expects him to be primed for another huge performance.
9. TALKIN’ BASEBALL (14/1)– This Grand Slam colt loves to be on the lead and seems to throw in the towel if he can’t get there, so trainer Esaqin will likely instruct jockey S. Cadet to gun him out of the gate. He faded to 3rd after showing the way in an ungraded stakes race last out on July 31. The 4yo’s biggest win came in the Grade 3 WICKER SOFA STAKES back in January, where he earned a career-high 116 speed rating for the 6 furlongs.
10. CRANKY SQUIRREL (8/1) – Still looking for his first Grade 1 win, this grey son of the ill-fated Maria’s Mon does his best running from off the pace. His trainer, Isitingood, is hoping he can turn around a three-race losing streak and get back into the winner’s circle. The 5yo won the Grade 2 CURIOUS GEORGE in May at this 7 furlong distance, earning a 113 speed rating in the process.
11. ETHICS PARADOX (9/1) – Trainer Gradetwo recently switched this turf specialist back to the dirt and was rewarded with two straight graded stakes wins. The 5yo’s most recent win on July 31 in the Grade 1 THE BINGER HANDICAP made this son of Giant’s Causeway a Grade 1 winner over both surfaces and earned him a speed rating of 113. Another closer, he will be hoping for a quick pace to run at.
12. WATERGATE SCANDAL (12/1) – Last year’s Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile winner appears to want the lead in order to do his best running. His last race was a poor effort in an ungraded stakes race, but on July 3 he won the Grade 2 FOOLISH TOM and actually was able to rate just off the lead before taking over in the stretch, earning a speed figure of 113. Easily the leading money earner in the field with earnings of more than $3.2 million, the 6yo son of Empire Maker is trained by Jonsnow.
13. JOY BLUES AND SLEW (10/1) – This colt by Kitten’s Joy has really come into his own as a 4yo, winning 5 of 7 races in 2010 mainly at 6 and 6.5 furlongs. He is coming off a win in the Grade 3 MIDDLE OF NOWHERE SPRINT and has tactical speed that should come in handy in this race as several contenders will likely be fighting for the lead. Trained by Bentley, the colt earned a career-high 117 speed rating in an ungraded stakes win in June.
14. A PERFECT YEAR (10/1) – Looking for his first Grade 1 win, this Pleasantly Perfect colt is coming off a Grade 2 win in the BOOKER T. HANDICAP on August 7, where he proved that he was able to rate off the pace if he didn’t get an easy lead. The Brightvalr-trained 4yo earned a career-high 114 speed rating for the 7.5 furlongs in that win.