Three Undefeated Horses Bid Take Shot at the Golden Shoe
The Golden Shoe is a well named Grade I race for 2-year olds as it carries a very rich purse of $3,000,000. My, what one could do with all of that loot!!!! Anyways, the race is running in sunny
1. Might of Princes 9-2
Might of Princes is a co-favorite in this race and comes in with over $437,000 in earnings, not bad for someone with only 4 career races and all of them wins! Might has already won a G3 and G1 race, with a career best of 91 in his last start. This horse is currently ranked second of all 2-year olds and realistically could find himself in the top spot when this race is over.
2. Cro Bullet 49-1
As the sole filly in the race, Cro Bullet will have her work cut out for her. Her first 4 career starts were not impressive, all with speeds below 60. Those were on the dirt and a switch to the turf in June resulted in a pair of wins and improved speeds in the low-to-mid 70’s, each one as a long shot. She again is a long shot who will probably shoot out of the gate to attempt to wire the field. Jockey Aggulotto maybe as bad as they come, winning only 2 times in 43 starts so no help is found here. She’s in trouble with the boys in this race and she’ll need to boost her speed up considerably to pull off the surprise upset.
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3. Ghostly Tale 11-1
Ghostly Tale has been improving in speed with each start. Most recently he finished 2nd in a G2 race at 6f with a speed of 84. The downfall is the unlucky draw of jockey getting T. Nichols for the ride (4 wins, 49 starts). Surprisingly, this is one of his better years of riding horses, which isn’t too reassuring. He could be a factor for the triples, but I’m passing on the win bets.
4. Instant Charmer 12-1
Instant Charmer gets jockey C Brim aboard who is having an off-season with 3 wins in 53 starts. Instant has two wins and a third thus far and will be looking to wire the field with his quick early speed. His last race was an easy win in a non-grade stake race at 5.5 furlongs and a speed of 87. I like his speed numbers and the jockey is better than his record indicates. Possibility.
5. Messenger of Death 7-1
Messenger of Death has won his sole two starts with speeds of 66 and 81. His two races were against very small fields and he moves up from allowance to the graded level and faces a large field. Breeding looks solid and he looks to have a good future. However, I feel he needs a race at this level to show what he’s capable of doing.
6. Gizmolington 7-1
Gizmolington has raced in two G2 races, finishing 2nd and 3rd with speeds of 82 & 89 respectfully. His last race was at a mile where he recorded the 89 speed, his career best. Giz’s speeds are improving with each race and he takes a noticeable drop in distance. He stands a chance here.
7. Pulgam 25-1
Pulgam moves into his first graded race after competing in a pair of non-grade stakes where he finished 2nd at 6.5f and 8th at a mile. The mile was too much for Pulgam as he started dropping back approaching the 6f marker. He’s back to the distance where he’s more competitive. The drawback is his speed numbers, with his best recorded at 75. Seems unlikely to make the improvement necessary to beat the field to the wire.
8. Sky is Crying 7-1
Back in June, Sky is Crying put in a sharp race winning the non-graded Dalesbark Cup at 6.5f and a speed of 83 with a late rally. In July, he tried to go a mile in his first graded race. He finished a well back 8th in a speed of 78. He drops back down in distance, which is a good thing, but he was never a factor in the graded race, which is a bad thing. I’m taking a pass on him as I’m just not sure…even though the distance in the last race may have been too much for now, he never posed as a threat.
9. Proper 33-1
Proper appears to be outclassed in this field. His top speed is a 73 at 6f and his last start was in a G1 race, finishing near the rear of the field with a speed of 67. Proper has shown some late speed in previous races and he’ll need to load up some bolster rockets to seer by his foes, but that still looks unlikely.
10. Lopressor 5-1
Lopressor surprised everyone in his mid-march start with a wire-to-wire victory in a non-grade stakes race at 7 furlongs with a speed of 91. This was a huge increase in his speed from his prior race which was scored at 75. Lopressor loves to run on the lead and hasn’t faced too much pressure in getting the lead. This race will be different as there are several others that will contest that positioning. Still, it’s hard to ignore his last race.
11.
In three races, Lincoln Navigator has appeared in a pair of graded races, finishing 2nd in a G3, 6f race with a speed of 82. He followed that in a G2 mile race, finishing 6th and a speed of 80. Seems the mile was a bit much for the young 2-year old and he’s taking the drop in distance which should be beneficial. He’s bred from great dam Tlaxcala who has one other offspring which is a G1 winner.
12.. Adjuge 9-2
Adjuge is off to a good start in his racing career. In 4 starts, he has posted a record of 3-0-1 and $222k in earnings. His speeds have ranged from 77 up to 88, improving with each start. His last race was a win in the G2 The Vintage running 7 furlongs. He’s capable of wiring the field, as he did in The Vintage. Since there are already a few speed rabbits in this field, my guess is that he’ll settle back and close strong. One to fear.
SELECTIONS:
2 year olds are always hard to pick. You just never know when one will throw off a burst of speed. But all we have to go on is the past histories and breeding. I’m giving a narrow edge to Might of Princes for the top spot over Adjuge to finish second. Instant Charmer may have something going and gets my third spot. Gizmolington will be my saver and should be considered in the exotics.