Silver Fence Derby – California
Seven 3yo’s will try to raise their owners’ hopes for a run at the Triple Crown races in this Saturday’s Silver Fence Derby, the 12thrace at California, including four that have already notched wins in graded-stakes competition. The distance is a flat mile, and the track is listed as Fast.
A little race history:
Back in 2007, Sim legend Awesome Force ran 2nd in this race and then went on to win the Middle Jewel and the New Yorker on the way to piling up an $8m career bankroll. In 2004, Granhee ran 2nd here and went on to win the Bluegrass Derby. Back in the very early Sim days of 1999, Project Glen used a 2nd in this race as a springboard to 3rd’s in the Bluegrass and Middle Jewel.
DEVIL’S MOON is a powerful-looking son of Malibu Moon who will leave from the rail for tihsho at 9/2. This guy is still eligible for NW2L allowance racing, but has demonstrated a lot of ability in his five career starts and didn’t embarrass his connections in a Grade 2 last time out, closing fairly well to grab the 4th spot. Could do some damage here.
STEVIE IIII was looking like he was headed for the bigtime after his fine Grade 2 win in July, but the wheels seem to have come off. The Medicean colt has raced three times since then and has only beaten two horses to the wire as his speed ratings plummeted into the 70’s. The biglou trainee is the longest price on the board at 8/1, and a major turnaround in form will be needed here.
LOVE CUTS has only missed the board once in his eight career starts, and that was on the turf. The heavily-crossbred son of Not For Love, trained by earthling,tries two turns for the first time here and looks dangerous in this spot.
The slight favorite at 3/1 is UNBRIDLED HEAT,trained by oklabarn. The son of Dixieland Heat is trying two turns for the first time,and also is making his graded-stakes debut. However, he holds the fastest career speed rating in the field, and set that at 7.5 furlongs. Mixed signals, but the colt has loads of talent.
DYNA DON’T YOU BLOW is a stretch-running Dynaformer colt who has done little wrong in his 6-start career, winning four times. Trainer panthers3 probably wishes this race were a furlong longer, and this is reflected in the 5/1 price. If this guy can get his long legs sorted out a bit earlier today, he’ll be dangerous.
CHARLIE IN THE BOX,a 2010 Eclipse nominee, goes from the 6-hole at 4/1. The Zensational colt has just one blemish on his record and was closing strongly in that one loss, the BB Juvenile. Trained ably by picaso, this guy should be strong in this race, but is another who needs to start his charge a bit earlier. Has a pair of wins at this track.
VERTICAL STARE is completely unproven in the class department as he makes his stakes debut here after a pair of impressive route wins. Representing one of the top stable groups in the Sim, this lasthope1 trainee is certainly bred to run (A.P. Indy x Danzig x Buckpasser), has shown he just may be able to live up to his pedigree here, and goes off at 5/1.
The ol’ cracked crystal ball comes out… What do I see??
CHARLIE IN THE BOX loves this track and has loads of ability.
UNBRIDLED HEAT has fastest speeds, could get garden spot just off relatively slow pace.
VERTICALSTARE isn’t a pure speed horse, but may inherit the pace and control the race.
What time is it? It’s RACE TIME!!