MAKING THEIR CASE FOR A HASKELL INVITE
With the Grade 1 Eddie Haskell just a few short weeks away, time is running out to grab a spot for the potentially lucrative payday. A serious Haskell contender can be a serious contender in all the second half races for three year olds. To make it that far you must pass this test. This field consits of a couple of proven Graded caliber horses dropping to get a run over the track before the big day and a handful of rapidly developing entrants trying to show that they too belong in the upper echelon of racing’s elite. Lets take a look at the horses for today’s field
#1 From the rail we have the morning line choice PRENZLAUERBERG. This son of Zensational drops in class for this after running off with the Grade 1 Labatts Ontario Oaks last time out. He has won five of ten starts with four additional second place finishes and has earned over a half a million dollars. PRENZLAUERBERG is a confirmed front runner with the top jock aboard, huge speed figures that are on the upswing, and he drops for this. He looks to be here to prep for the Haskell and really should have no problem winning this event.
#2 Next in line is the almost $220k winning son of Street Cry, SIGHING DESERT. A Grade 3 winner over the track he then finished last in the Florida Derby at 6-1 but ending his dreams of triple crown stardom. SIGHING DESERT rebounded with a strong showing in the Flat Land Derby when running on late to grab a third place finish and life best number. He also drops into this spot and should be coming with a big late run again here and may just have a slight advantage with the win over the track. SIGHING DESERT is a serious contender for top honors.
#3 MORE THAN GONE goes in the third post position. A four time winner and Stakes winner for sire More Than Ready he made an eye popping move when closing from 13+ lengths to record his stakes victory in RI last out. He earned a solid number of 104 that day and will need to take another step forward to claim a victory here. MORE THAN GONE is progressing nicely and looks to have a very bright future ahead and while he may be able to make an impact here, there are a few toughies that made the surprising drop to run in this spot. A small slice of the pie looks to be the ceiling today.
#4 RAVEN’S END, a stakes placed son of Ravens Pass draws the four hole. A well beaten fifth over the track last time out as a prep for this is not really what we wanted to see. Previous to the poor effort RAVEN’S END was really going well with five straight exacta finishes including the second in an Ohio stakes albeit well beaten. He has yet to run a speed figure over 100 and his form is going the wrong direction which are not good in a race loaded with talent as this one is. He will need a major turn around to have a say in the outcome.
#5 Next we have DC CONTENDER. This six time winner and earner of about $150k is a son of Discreet Cat. He has had a very long 19 race career already and finally broke the 100 barrier with a smart wet track win last time out. DC CONTENDER has attemped stakes company twice in the past and both times were horrible. He has some real good early speed and will try to go with the favorite but that may be his undoing. Last was a promising effort and he will need to build on that to have any chance at a top three finish.
#6 INDIAN KETTLES, a Grade 3 placed son of Street Cry goes to post from post position number six. It took him a little while to get going but his talent is beginning to shine forth. Three tries to break his maiden and another five to notch an entry level allowance victory INDIAN KETTLES has really matured since getting a Grade 1 fourth and Grade 3 third before winning an N3L allowance last out. His numbers have improved and he looks like he can move forward again here stepping back into stakes company. I view him as a solid in the money candidate but would really love to see him try the turf in the near future.
#7 Finally on the outside we have ACRIMONIOUS. This stakes placed son of Big Brown is coming in off of a very bad effort in an N3L in the slop last out. His stakes placing was a third place finish in a four horse race and his other stakes tries were not good at all. He had a very promising N2L allowance win 2 back earning a life best 99 but would need much much more to have a say in the outcome of this race. ACRIMONIOUS probably is not good enough at this point in time to compete here
The kiss of death in todays race will go to the favorite PRENZLAUERBERG. Just looks to good and is a grade 1 winner in a listed event. SIGHING DESERT can make it interesting and should be right there at the finish. INDIAN KETTLES moves forward again and grabs the show while MORE THAN GONE settles for a fourth place finish.