Spotlight Race of the Week-British Columbia

In last weeks Spotlight race, I threw my support to Sparkus Andronicus but made the comment that he could be beat.  The one who I thought had the best chance was my second pick, Turned to Stone who did exactly that, picking up her seventh career win in the process and paying $6.30.  The exacta was a pretty cheap $9.20 with my top two picks in a boxed wager. 

For the third spot, I backed VT Raven, favoring her over Whathappensinvegas as I felt she was showing some signs of wear.  As it turned out, Whathappensinvegas grabbed the third spot just a few strides over VT Raven.

So with that quick background, time to move on to this weeks focus race British Columbia draws our attention this week with the 6^th race gaining the Spotlight’s attention.  This is a 6.5 furlong dirt race with horses age 5 or older eligible that have not won a race over the last three months.  It is a bid race for Pinstripe who has set the race as a claiming event with a very modest tag of $40,000.

1.   Autograph    9-2-Took a three month break earlier this year and returned with a nice second with 94 SP versus allowance.  Follow-up race was in a bit tougher allowance field finishing seventh, but by just over two strides.  Drops to lower level and expect a competitive effort

2. Subversive   10-1 –Claimed in January out of sprint race this guy was tested after a rest in April going 10.5 furlongs in allowance race.  Distance was too much for him to handle.  He comes back to a more appealing distance where he had average speed of 92 in sprints.  Drops back to claimers and has rested again.  Might be a tad rusty but I can’t see him not improving off of last race.

3.  Status Pro   18-1-Ran competitively in low end NW-Lifetime claimers and gets moved up considerably in claiming ranks into this race.  Career top speed is 91 and this 5-year old doesn’t hit 90’s with any regularity.  Maybe switch to new barn will make difference.

4   Distortion Plus    10-1-Horse has been struggling since being claimed last September.  Comes in after a near 3-month layoff and the rest may proof to be rewarding.  Still, it may take another race to get into the flow of things. 

5  Gum Drop Mountain   7-2 –Horse is the entrant for race sponsor Pinstripe.  He has been racing very well over this track since March hitting speeds from 94 to 108 and has been off the board only once in four tries.  Conditions look advantageous for this run.

6.  Millennium Bug  9-2-Takes drop from allowance ranks to claimers where he was on the board twice of four starts.  Speeds in those races ranged from 87 to 103.  One to consider seriously on this class drop.

7.  Shoot and Scat  5-2-This chestnut colored horse just can’t get across the finish line on top.  In 8 races this year, he’s brought home a paycheck in all but one race.  Racing in lowest claiming tag of the year for him and speeds have ranged between 97 to 105 in last five starts.  Could break the slump this time out.

 8.  I Am Luis  6-1-Made return to dirt in January  for first time in two years with a decent second against starter allowance with 94 speed.  Tried again in early July with similar effort and same speed against $13,500 claimers.  Likes to lead and will need to fight with others for positioning.  If speed can improve a bit, he could upset.

9.  Devil’s Oil   29-1-This eight year old may be past his prime.  Last race he won was four years ago.  He’s lightly raced this year with a long 5 month break when he finished fifth over this track in $30k claimer and speed of 83.  This is second start back after break which many horses show big improvement, but at his current age, I think he’ll be hard press to hit a speed of 90.

It looks to me that this race will be the battle of the front runners.  No real closers in the race so I’m going with  Shoot and Scat with the edge drawing the top jockey.  Second I’ll go with Gum Drop Mountain who has done well on the track.  Third choice to I Am Luis who could pad the exotics with some decent payouts.