Ten Colts Go After DueToBurst Grade I
It’s a big day this Saturday at Newmarket Race Course, with no less than five Graded Stakes on the card. Here’s a look at the 16th, the Grade 1, $750k Duetoburst Stakes.
Ten solid-looking 2yo colts have found their way here to make what looks like a terrific field. Two of the Top 10 in the 2yo turf Sprint division are here, and an interesting dirt-to-turf experiment has also entered the fray. While it’s unlikely any of these will try the super-quick turnaround time for the Breeders Bowl just a couple weeks away, most of these look like superstars-in-the-making right now and any of these could end being a Sim Legend in the future. Let’s have a look-see:
STARS AND STARS goes from the rail at 11/1, and is ranked #30 in this division off two strong in-the-money Graded efforts. However, this son of lightly-used 2nd-year sire Starspangledbanner has faded late in both, at a furlong shorter. Trainer dkyoung2 is hoping the long gallops his colt has received in the mornings have “legged him up” a little bit, and that the veteran rider aboard can get him to relax a bit and save some energy for the stretch.
BOHEMIAN MERCURY is ranked #6 in the division, and demonstrated good courage around 2 turns last time out with a close-up 5th in the Grade II Royal Dodge, then shortens it down a furlong for this try. Trainer beisbol has landed an excellent (26%) rider for this, and the Galileo colt is one of the trio of co-favorites at 4/1. Obvious contender with a top chance at taking all the marbles.
Another of the 4/1 trio goes from the 3-hole; it’s BESO EN ALKILER, a Giant’s Causeway colt who has done very little wrong in his short 3-race career and seems to be getting stronger with each start. He leaves his Australia home for the first time in search of glory after taking a small stakes win for trainer mogambo. Should be a tough one to beat.
From the 4-hole goes MOGARD DRESDEN, who started his career with four fine dirt starts before switching to the sod and taking a highly-competitive Grade I More Nay Stakes. However, the pastrax trainee regressed a good bit to finish a fading 3rd in his last, the Grade II Miller Reef Stakes. Teofilo colt needs to prove the More Nay wasn’t a fluke; it was his highest speed figure by quite a bit. Gets 8/1 odds here.
From the 5-hole comes an interesting longshot, a talented but light-on-experience ADMIRABLE VENDETTA, at 16/1. This Admire Moon colt, trained by atw2, likes to come from far back to get his wins. However, the group he’ll be chasing this time isn’t likely to be caught so easily. The extra distance will be appreciated and he’s certainly not wihout a shot at this, but he’s going to have to grow up pretty quick.
TREMOR CHRISTI is the #6 horse at 8/1. Though the Redoute’s Choice colt is still eligible for a NW2L allowance after six starts, he’s been right there in every try and has managed to pick up enough points to be ranked #45 in the division. The aggots trainee gets a 22% jock and figures to be in contention the whole way.
Much like #6, CHOICE OF MANY is also still eligible for a NW2L after several starts and also has been right in the hunt every time out. He’s also a son of Redoute’s Choice. The tazbred trainee gets 6/1 odds despite a lesser rider; the CPU handicapper apparently thinks this guy will break through this time. Will he? Dunno, maybe… 🙂
RED HEART goes from the #8 slot at 10/1 for trainer cue. A son of lightly-used Aussie sire Red Dazzler, he’s been competitive in Graded racing and improved nicely at this distance last time out in an allowance. Was it the distance or the class level? We’ll see…
PHOTOSYNTHESIS grows, er, goes from the #9 slot at 12/1. This is only the saucyhoss-trained Fantastic Light colt’s third start and first stakes try. Speedy colt looks like he might have jumped into the deep end a little quick; let’s see how well he can hold on vs. this group.
On the outside, we have an interesting dirt-to-turf experiment in FLIP FLOP TIP TOP. The ramo trainee is one of the 4/1 trio despite the short 4-week rest. That’s the tyedye group’s philosophy; race ’em hard and often, and try all the angles. Sometimes it is a detriment to the horse, sometimes it makes a champion. This Henny Hughes colt’s pedigree has strong turf influence on the dam’s side, and he does have the fastest speed rating in this bunch, so… We’ll see!
Now it’s time to call on the tea leaves and the palm, er, hoof reader and try to pick a winner in this super-tough race:
BOHEMIAN MERCURY has a classy rider and a Grade I win. I’ll go with that…
MOGARD DRESDEN should be right there yet again…
RED HEART is a solid closer, and can pick up the pieces late.
Good luck at the races!