The Te(xas) (Fe)sti(val) (Specta)cle
The Te(xas) (Fe)sti(val) (Specta)cle
Juvenile Dirt 8.5f
The Comedy Central Residency brings the The Te(xas) (Fe)sti(val) (Specta)cle to the sim this weekend with an 8 race series with races run over a variety of distances and surfaces for horses of all ages. Members of Comedy Central will battle it out accumulating points in races with the top 4 scorers over all having their choice of 4 well bred prize horses.
The first race we look at is the Juvenile Dirt race run over 8.5 furlongs for the soon to be 3 year olds. Although entry is restricted we still see a quality line up for what looks to be an exciting race and they will be battling it out for a share of the $125 000 that is up for grabs.
1. BLACK PETE (GB) 12/1
(BLACK SAM BELLAMY (IRE) x PLEASANTLY PERFECT x MR. PROSPECTOR)
S R
Black Pete is a brown colt out of One Man Woman, a winner of 8 of her 43 starts. Black Pete has shown considerable improvement since switching to the dirt after struggling on debut on turf. He is proven over the journey with a win over 8 furlongs two back taking an allowance race with an impressive 88 speed figure. Last time out he made late ground to run into 2nd over 9 furlongs and could easily play a part in the finish here.
2. WHERE’S BILL (KY) 12/1
(EDDINGTON x STORM CAT x FORTY NINER)
C Rembert ( 182 – 26 – 24 – 33 – 14% )
This Eddington 2yo colt has so far won 1 of his 6 starts and filled minor places at two others. He showed plenty earlier in the year but his form has tapered off a little as he has come up against tougher opposition in recent months. He has a career best 82 speed figure and will need to improve on that to win this one but may run well as he steps up to 8.5 furlongs for this. It will be his first run for nearly 8 weeks so fitness may be an issue.
3. MIGHT COULD (AR) 8/1
(FAN THE FLAME x
J Webb ( 531 – 83 – 83 – 72 – 16% )
This 2yo filly has been sent out to take on the boys in her first stakes race. She has been impressive recently since an experiment on the turf which didn’t appear to work out. She has won her last two in dominant fashion after coming from off the pace to win well over 8.5 and 8 furlongs. She looks to have a big motor and has hit the board with an 84 and 88 speed figure in her last two. A definite chance in this.
4. YOUR MASTER (IRE) 6/1
(MASTERCRAFTSMAN (IRE) x INDIAN RIDGE(IRE) x NIJINSKY II)
Wa Robinson ( 83 – 12 – 5 – 10 – 14% )
A 2yo Mastercraftsman colt who has had only the three race starts to date. An interesting runner considering it will be his first go on the dirt, his first career starts have earned a win and a third place on the turf over a variety of distances but I can’t tip him to win a race with this amount of depth at his first go on the surface.
5. SHORE LOSER (IL) 18/1
(SHORE BREEZE x HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR x EL GRAN SENOR)
T Meeks ( 95 – 8 – 4 – 16 – 8% )
Shore Loser is a 2yo colt who has shown a bit so far in his brief career. He has had 5 career starts for a win and two placings and career earnings of just under $40 000. He likes to be up on the pace during his races and should be in the firing line early in this one. I expect the opposition to be to tough for him coming into the home stretch.
6. CROW MAGNUM(KY) 21/1
(BIRDSTONE x SMARTY JONES x
K Westbrook ( 82 – 11 – 6 – 13 – 13% )
This 2yo colt is the least experienced runner in the field having just 2 starts so far in his first racing campaign. His mother, by Smarty Jones, was a moderate performer winning just 1 of 42 career starts and earning connections just over $60 000. At this stage Crow Magnum hasn’t shown enough to be considered a threat in this and I would be looking to others.
7. WOLF BITE (
(IVORY TOUCH x SYNCLINE x LOUP SAUVAGE)
I Rosenbach ( 113 – 18 – 14 – 11 – 16% )
A brown son of Ivory Touch from the ironerik stable this colt has had 4 career starts for 2 wins and 2 second placings. He has stepped up in distance at each start and his speed figures have improved culminating in an impressive win last time out when giving his rivals windburn to win by more than 3 lengths running away with a speed figure of 81. He will have to improve further and comes up against a full field of quality runners so although in form it will be easily his biggest test to date.
8. STRIKES AGAIN (KY) 7/2
(AWESOME AGAIN x SMART STRIKE x
C Shoemaker ( 730 – 146 – 139 – 129 – 20% )
Strikes Again is a beautifully bred 2yo chestnut colt who has shown plenty in his first year of racing. His older sister Causeway Queen has twice been runner up in Grade 1 events and Strikes Again looks set for a bright future already having won a stakes race. The distance looks suitable after last time rattling home from 11th to finish 3rd over 8 furlongs with a good speed number of 88. He looks to be improving at each start and looms as one of the best chances in this race.
9. T’S MAJESTIC GIFT(KY) 15/1
(MAJESTIC WARRIOR x DIXIELAND BAND x HALO)
C Norton ( 82 – 10 – 11 – 7 – 12% )
This chestnut colt has been rattling home from the rear in most of his races running fast final sectionals to hit the board in 3 of his 5 career starts. He came from 7th of 8 in his last race to record a strong maiden win on the dirt over 8 furlongs with an 81 speed figure. That was his best performance to date and he will need to improve on that but appears to be getting better every time he heads to the track so don’t be surprised to see him getting home hard at the end of this one.
10. BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE (KY) 9/2
(STREET BOSS x
T Ace ( 810 – 200 – 160 – 144 – 25% )
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce has started his career in great style winning 3 of his 4 starts to date. He is a chestnut colt out of Malibu Hannah who won 4 of 31 career starts but looks to have produced a nice one here. His speed numbers have improved at each start and as he has been stepped up in distance so the 8.5 furlongs looks ideal. Expect to see him flying out and setting the pace as he did last time out when winning an allowance race running a 94. He should be hard to run down in this.
11. JRUE (KY) 7/1
(MR. GREELEY x SILVER DEPUTY x SIR GAYLORD)
V Waddle ( 128 – 19 – 17 – 16 – 15% )
A lightly raced 2yo colt by Mr. Greeley, Jrue only had 3 career starts leading into this with a close up 2nd on debut followed by two good wins at his last couple. Last time out he stepped up to 8 furlongs for the first time and went to the front with 2 furlongs remaining and held on to just get up by a nose. His speed figure was impressive at 88 but I’m not convinced he will run the trip out strongly. Look for him to be hitting the front at some stage and doing all he can to stay there to grab the major share of the prize.
12. TADPOLES DOING IT(AR) 6/1
(FAN THE FLAME x A.P. INDY x MR. PROSPECTOR)
P Jolly ( 234 – 33 – 41 – 37 – 14% )
Tadpoles Doing It, out of the regally bred but moderate performing mare Asphodel Meadows, has been outstanding in his first year of racing. This brown colt is already a Grade 1 winner after winning over this distance on the dirt in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile with a 94 speed figure. Since then he has trained off a little but on that performance he has to be considered a serious threat. He likes to run on from the rear of the field in his races and could add to his impressive $332 565 earnings in this.
It looks like a great race, good luck to all involved.
My tips:
1. Strikes Again
2. Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuce
3. Tadpoles Doing It