Small Eclipse G3 Field

It’s a busy weekend in Paris for two year olds at least, with two graded races for them. The of the two races is The Eclipse GIII for all two year olds, to be run over a firm six furlong course, with a purse of $150,000. A small but promising field of five has been entered.

Drawing the rail is the lone filly of the filed, Tonks, who is owned and trained by nzedheroes. Tonks is a daughter of Darci Brahma, out of an unraced Invincible Spirit mare. In four starts she has won once, and placed the other three times earning $77k. Today won’t be her first time against the boys, she debuted in March against them finishing a half length back in second. It took her three tries to break her maiden, when she did, she did it going five and half furlongs, coming from the back of the pack, but within a half dozen lengths of the lead. She became stakes placed in her last start going six and half where she came from over a half a dozen lengths back to finish second beaten a half length, posting a career high 85. At 7/2 she has a great closing kick, and has won at shorter distances, but I believe she’ll enjoy longer distances. Also running against winning colts is a tough task.

The veteran of the field, with the most races run is duchess’ Monty’s Run. Monty’s Run is a son of Montjeu, out of Run The Rock, a daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar. Run The Rock won four listed stakes a racehorse, and has produced three foals of racing age as a broodmare. Two of the three foals are winners, including the stakes placed Monty’s Run. Monty’s run has raced eight times, with one win and two thirds, earning $46k. Monty’s Run debuted in February, but broke his maiden in March, by sitting just off the pace, and taking the lead at the third call winning with a 71, which in March is decent. Since his maiden victory he’s been thrown into stakes, finishing in the money twice, but his speed figures are not getting any better. Monty likes to stick close to the pace, or sometimes try to create it but hasn’t shown great staying power. At 6/1 he is the long shot of the field, he’ll need to step up his speed figures big time if he wants to compete with this field, I recommend a step back into allowances, let him rebuild his confidence again.

Breaking from the middle of the pack is bartfarq3’s consistently placing Royal Rocknet. Royal Rocknet is a son of Fastnet Rock, out of Queen Montjeu, a daughter of Montjeu. As a racehorse Queen Montjeu won two of thirty nine starts. As a broodmare she has produced two horses of racing age, both winners, including a stakes placed four year old. In six races, Royal Rocknet has won once, placed three times, and shown twice, earning almost $175k. Royal broke his maiden at first asking back in February by wiring a five furlong race with a 72 speed figure. Royal Rocknet has placed or shown in three graded races, but none of them at today’s distance. Royal has run today’s distance once, finishing a fading second. Since breaking his maiden he has not gone to the lead again, which could be the reason why he has not been finding the wire first, some horses just don’t like to be behind others. At 3/1 he’s never been off the board before, but doesn’t seem to be comfortable with his current running style. A change back to the lead may turn this graded placed runner into a graded winner.

Morning line favorite out of the undercover stable is Runfromthepolice. Runfromthepolice is a son of Dansili, out of Every Other Memory, a daughter of Storm Cat. As a racehorse Every Other Memory won once out of fifteen starts. As a broodmare she has produced three horses of racing age, all winners. Runfromthepolice has won two of four starts, finishing second the other two times, earning $31k. Run took his time breaking his maiden, finally winning in his third try, but then came back to win an allowance race in his next start, so he’s riding a two race winning streak into this race. Both of his wins have been at six and a half furlongs which is longer than today’s race. At this distance he has finished second beaten three quarters of a length, by running from the back of the pack to finish strongly. He has always shown to be a closer running about five lengths back in all of his starts and showing a nice closing kick. In his two wins he’s won by open lengths, and posted a 78, and last time an 81. At 8/5 stepping up into graded stakes, but should be able to handle this field with ease, may like a mile better.

Drawing the outside post is pirates’ win or nothing Desert Nightmare. Desert Nightmare is the son of Desert Style out of Nightmare Autumn, a daughter of Night Shift. As a racehorse Nightmare Autumn won three of twenty three starts. As a broodmare she has produced three horses of racing age, with two winners, including a stakes placed 9 year old. Desert Nightmare has raced four times, and won twice earning $49k. Desert won his first two starts by nearly wiring both times. In his maiden win he broke second just a head off from the lead and lead from the second call on winning by a length, at this distance. In his allowance win he wired a field by a half length, posting an 81. Since then he’s raced in two grade twos at this distance, finishing fifth and seventh. In both of his graded tries he failed to reach the lead, dueled as much as possible and faded. At 7/2 he’s one of only two horses in this field to have a second win to his name. With only one other possible speed horse in the field, he may find himself alone on the lead which would be good for him.

That’s the Eclipse field, none of the entrants are stars yet, but some could be in the making. My picks are Runfromthepolice, Desert Nightmare, and Tonks. Good luck to all may your horses run fast and return to their stables safely.