The Arkansas Juvenile
Fourteen horses line up for a shot at the golden ticket, that automatic entry into a race that can vault a runner into SIM immortality. These sophomores still have that hope, that twinkle in their eye, for now.
#1 – LUCKY’S SPANK(IRE) – Mr. Lucky brings this son of Rock Of Gibralter to Arkansas on the heels of five consecutive wins, all by daylight. After clearing nw2l against a full field, this one has not faced more than four opponents in his last four. I cannot fault the horse or trainer for that , you can only run against those that show up, but many have shown up this week and that streak is in serious peril.
#2 – EXTREME PRESSURE(KY) – Sixth last time out in the GIII Chicago Derby, Reds Rockin Empire takes another shot at top level 3yo’s this week. This one has some stakes credentials, winning the CABARET DUDE as well as rounding out the tri in both the SUNNY MILLIONS DASH and the GIII LEVER SPARKY. The son of Lemon Drop Kid was then stretch out in California, crushing a short field by five lengths, before his last start. Picked off a few runners late in the Chicago Derby, but was losing ground to the top finishers, which doesn’t inspire confidence against a tough group.
#3 – DIGITAL SKY(KY) – A dual graded winner of almost one million dollars, the Sky Mesa offspring has all the cred but none of the momentum. Racing for the Evil Empire, DS could have simply been off his game last time out, finishing a fading sixth in the All Saints Derby. Wins in the Sam’s Town Delta Jackpot and the Gary Asher Memorial, both GIII’s, mean this boy should be respected as a threat for the top three this week.
#4 – BOOM VANG(KY) – Second last out in the listed Princess’s Ballot, Boom ran a lifetime best 97 spf in placing behind the talented MR. JAMES DEAN, making an exacta of Tapit runners. It was a nice move forward for thediver’s 3yo, but he didn’t finish ahead of any stakes winners and was no threat to the winner. BV has run three times since a coming back from a rest after breaking maiden, and improved every time, I’m sure the trainer is hoping for a continuation of that trend.
#5 – BORN INDY USA(KY) – Impeccable breeding for this Shamrock Stables horse, sired by A.P. Indy and from a twelve time winning Storm Cat/Mr. Prospector mare. He started off with two impressive wins sprinting, faltered in a conditioned allowance, and rebounded to win the GII Saint Vincent. He was kept in California to compete in the Felipe Alou, but did not do so for very long, fading badly to finish tenth of fourteen. My guess is this one will make a lot of noise sprinting this year, but his trainers knows more about winning in this game than I do, and you can’t win if you’re not in the race.
#6 – OVERDOZE(KY) – The Whisper barns will certainly make sure no one has it easy on the front end by sending out this quick starting son of Unbridled’s Song. Three months off after a lackluster debut, possibly conditioning issues or far more patience than I have, resulted in three wire to wire victories. After running eight foes off their feet in the Whipped Ruler challenge, the trainer stepped up in class to the GII Land’s End only to see his charge fall back to eighth after leading half the race. Another showing the talent to be heard from, but may not be ready for this class/distance combination right now.
#7 – BOISDERBYBOUND(KY) – I really like this Boble competitor, and not just for the confidence in the name. In five starts he has only lost twice, both of those were at a flat mile. The other three races were longer, all resulting in clear victories, the last being a four length romp in the mile and three sixteenths Sadler’s Thorns Dirt Route. That race came after a nice six week break, putting this one in place to move forward once again and peaking when all trainers hope to have their horses at their best. The distance won’t be an issue, so class is the unanswered question standing between Bo and truly being Derby bound.
#8 – A DAY IN A LIFE(KY) – Pointblank turned this Rock Hard Ten runner in the right direction three back, moving from turf to dirt. The result has been a win and two placing, each spf progressing significantly, including a very nice second to Decandently here is the GIII Rebel Yell. This one is bred to run all week, has a very good race over the track, and is coming off a lifetime best 106 spf. He is still eligible for nw3l, but proved last time out that he has the class to compete here. Look for another big effort over the Hot Springs course this week.
#9 – COWPERS TUNE(MD) – Seconditis for this Coomer3 charge, never seeming to have enough ground . A Maryland bred by Not For Love, this colt has some very nice efforts, including a second in the GI North Fork and a third in the Breeder’s Bowl Juvenile. He took it easy in his first out this year, running a much better race in the Felipe Alou to finish three back. The dam, DEBBIE DEAREST, won 3 of thirty one and has never produced a stakes winner. COWPERS is the best of her offspring though, maybe he will change that before long. I can’t say that will happen this week though.
#10 – CAUSE TO CRY(KY) – Kingab has the good fortune of having to concern himself with actual Derby issues this year, so this race will be a smaller blip on the radar than it normally might. A steadily improving son of Giant’s Causeway, CtC also ran here in the Rebel Yell last out and passed several late to finish fifth. Dam was a pretty salty alw sprinter, but her son keeps getting faster as the races get longer. Not sure if an extra sixteenth will be enough for the move forward required to get closer to A DAY IN A LIFE, but moving forward is the only thing this runner knows.
#11 – CAN’T YOU SEA – From a family of winners, including graded victors like STORMIN BLUES and DON”T LET GO, HOLD ON LOOSELY’s latest foal is carrying on that tradition. By the prized sire Sea The Stars, Desperado quickly flipped this one to dirt after an uninspiring debut on grass. Once moving past eight furlongs CYS has not been beaten, though he was all out to win the Swampy Honor most recently. His maiden and nw2l scores were impressive visually, but he is the only stakes placed horse to come out of those races and will need improvement to take this.
#12 – VERTICAL STARE – Superb breeding, trained by Dixiedotco, running in a million dollar GI…stop me if you’ve heard this before. Another returnee from the local GIII prep, VS did not flash his customary early speed, and packed it in early to finish ninth. Before that one, this son of A.P. Indy had never lost on a fast track, including a win in the GIII Silverfence Derby. Credit for having beaten horses like CHARLIEINTHEBOX and DYNA DON’T YOU BLOW, the latter recently took the California Derby. Dixie knows what he’s doing, his trophy shelf speaks to that, and VS has won vs some very good runners. Throw out the last and consider him a threat.
#13 – JERSEY ACT(KY) – Gobidon(I’ll resist the urge to mention Rachel Alexandra too much here!) ships in the furious closing winner of the GIII Tin Man in New Jersey last time out. The Northern Afleet sophomore flew from last in a field of seventeen to beat several graded winners in that one mile affair. Two back, in the Birds Last Verse, was left with too much to do after LEMONDROP MISTER was given an uncontested lead and never looked back. That was also his first race back from a break and this will be the third, quite a difference there. A very real contender with plenty of pace to run at.
#14 – CONSCIOUSNESS(KY) – Willyam13 takes another shot at the Arkansas dirt course with this Empire Maker colt, having finished tenth in the Rebel Yell. Ran a good second in the Pea Patch Juvenile in just his second start, but has not managed much stakes success since then. Looks a bit overmatched here, but ran a lifetime best last start so he’s moving in the right direction.
Good luck to all the runners and trainers in the Arkansas Juvenile, I’m not in so I hope you all win 😉