Light field for the Founders G3

The first weekend in October, always a busy one at the track. Typically known as the last weekend to prepare for the Breeders Bowl, all the top and ladder climber trainers are out in full force. A glitch in the racing office shortened the entry time though, and shut out some of this week’s entries. None the less New York is packed full of graded stakes this weekend, including the Founders G3. The Founders is for all two year olds, and will be run over a mile and an eighth on a firm turf course, with a purse of $150,000. A small field of six has been entered, with only one horse being ranked. These entrants took advantage of the glitch that normally would have left them on the outside looking in, one of these entrants could be a star of tomorrow.

Drawing the rail is cbrady’s Chef Moeller II, a maiden route winner. Chef Moeller II is a son of Hardasun, out of Evil Clone, a daughter of Empire Maker. On the track Evil Clone won two of eighteen starts, and has only produced the horse of topic. Chef has raced four times finishing first and second once each, earning over $52k lifetime. Chef has not hit the board since breaking his maiden going a mile back in July. In his debut he closed from over six lengths behind to finish about two lengths off in second in a sprint. In his route debut he closed from about four lengths back, and drew off by over three lengths for the win. From the maiden victory he jumped into graded competition, and has been sitting too far back to close in on the leaders. His best speed figure is an 84, which is the second highest for the field. At 3/1 the small field should help him, however he will need to stay a bit closer if he plans on closing in for the win in time.

Qwikvett2 will saddle the long shot of the field, Gonezombiefishing. Gonezombiefishing is a son of Halling, out of an unraced Pleasant Tap mare. In two starts he has one win, earning $27k. His debut at a sprint was absolutely horrible, pressing the pace and tiring to seventh beaten over nine lengths. In his route debut, which was at today’s distance he wired the field narrowly by a quarter of a length. Zombie is a one speed sort of horse, which means he’ll do his best going long distances running the same pace start to finish. Sprint races will never be for him because he doesn’t have that sprinter turn of foot. He also comes in off of a long break, so he could be primed for a top run. At 27/1, I don’t see how he doesn’t fit with this field. With an easy lead he could upset this field.

Drawing post three is sharood’s New Jonestown, who is trying to keep up with the Jones and get a graded victory. New Jonestown is a son of New Approach, out of Jonestown, a daughter of Seeking The Gold. Jonestown on the track was a grade one placed listed stakes winner. As a broodmare she has produced three horses of racing age, all winners, including a graded winner. New Jonestown has two races to his credit, with one win, earning $19k. New Jonestown broke his maiden at first asking, wiring the field going a mile by a head, scoring a 74. Next time out he stepped up to stakes competition, and faltered badly never better than third, he tired to ninth, beaten thirteen lengths. However that stakes race was run over a yielding turn course, he may just not like the off going. At 6/1 today’s race will be run over a firm course which should be to his liking, but he won’t be the only one vying for the lead, so he’ll have to avoid a speed duel, and handle the extra eighth of a mile.

Picking post four is keryn’s Soldier Sal, who makes his turf debut today. Soldier Sal is a son of Hussonet, out of Lightning Mcbuda, an offspring of A.P. Indy. On the track Lighting Mcbuda was stakes placed and won two of thirty nine starts. Soldier Sal has raced three times, wining once and finishing second once as well, but all on the dirt, earning $31k. As a sire Hussonet is about even on dirt and turf production, so it is possible that the switch to turf could be all Sal needs. Sal on the dirt presses the pace, never even a length off the leader, with that that tactic being successful once. He broke his maiden during his second race posting a 79 winning by over four. Next time out he stepped up to a grade three where he tired to fifth beaten over two lengths, with a career high of 84. At 8/5 I’m not one for picking horses who have never run on the surface before, the smaller field should help, but the bottom line is he’s got to like turf to be a part of this race.

Roundtable sends out the veteran of the field Sixteenonthegreen, who has six starts to his credit. Sixteenonthegreen is a son of Fantastic Light, out of R You A Kirby, a daughter of Medicean. R You A Kirby on the track was stakes placed, with ten wins out of thirty four starts. Sixteenonthegreen is her first foal. Sixteenonthegreen has started six times, winning once and showing once, earning $33k so far. Sixteen debuted back in February, but did not break his maiden until May, by closing from about five lengths back in seven furlong event to draw off by over two lengths, posting a career best of 74, which he matched last time out. He has four starts at a spring distance, with a win and a show, in his route races he has yet to hit the board. After his maiden win he stepped up to stakes races where he regressed posting upper sixties are speed figures being well beaten by more than six lengths each time. Last time out he raced over a good turf course which may not be his favorite surface, but he managed to close from nine lengths to six lengths from the winner, but still no paycheck. At 9/1 the distance may be suitable, but I think even in this light field he’s out classed.

Peeps8 sends out Nordic Star, the only horse in the field that is ranked. Nordic Star is a son of Kingmambo, out of Star Fortress, a daughter of Galileo. As a racehorse Star Fortress won two of fourteen starts, and as a broodmare has only produced Nordic Star. Nordic Star has raced four previous times finishing first, second and third one time each, and is grade one placed, with earnings of $75k. Three of thos four starts were sprints, with his off the board finish being a route last time out. However in his last outing he posted a career, and field high 87 speed figure. In all of his races he’s closed from five or more lengths back and closed each time. He broke his maiden second time out going six furlongs, then came back to run third in a grade one only missing by two and a half lengths. Last time out he stretched out to a mile falling back nine lengths and closing to finish a beaten fourth by four and a half lengths, with the winner easily wiring the field with a 93. At 9/5 today if he runs a bit closer to the pace I don’t see where he should have any issues handling this field. I don’t see any of the lead type horses blowing a 90+ up front to steal the show, so a good closer could win easily.

That’s the field, wish I had seen such a small field to enter one of my maiden winners in here. My picks are Nordic Star, Gonezombiefishing, and New Jonestown. Good luck to all may your horses run fast and return to their stables safely.