Bargain Bowl Classic
The Bargain Bowl is here again and it is the favorite time of year for Bargain Racing aficionados. The Bargain Series is special because the rivalries that are created persist over years and the names of runners become etched in your brain if you frequent the series. This year’s Bargain Classic has a solid field of 12 contesting the $500,000 purse. Last year’s winner Slewpent seeks to defend his crown but will be put to the test in a major way since this year’s field is significantly bigger and more talented than last years was.
1. Textbook Case – Four year old by Freud finished 2nd in last year’s edition of this race and followed it up strongly with a smashing early season win in the Death Valley Distaff. He hasn’t won or been a factor since that impressive start which is a big cause for concern but he should be a big part of the early pace in today’s contest. I suspect he is sitting on a big one but form wise it does look grimmer than the 5-1 odds show.
2.Woftman Star – 5 yr old Kendal Star colt ran a well beaten 9th in last year’s Bargain Bowl mile. His 2011 resume looks pretty bleak so it is hard to see this guy being a factor here today.
3. TopHatter – Finished a better than it looked 4th in last year’s edition of this race but this 7 yr old has done nearly all his running on grass this year making this entry a bit peculiar. Recent speed numbers linger in the low 80s so even a turf to dirt bounce won’t give this one enough to factor today.
4. Brilliant Notation – Son of real life Belmont Winner Editor’s Note has an interesting Bargain Series resume. Finished 3rd in the Belmont and Bargain Classic in 2009 and then followed that up with a win in the Bargain Turf race last year. Connections decided to forgo a potential title defense seeking dirt glory here today. His poor effort last out is a bit of a concern but perhaps the distance was just too far but 7/2 is a bit of a short price based on previous history.
5.Wife with Club – Tiger Woods inspired 4 yr old colt (Tigerline) is making his Bargain Series debut here today on the biggest of stages. Perhaps if he shows the former clutchness of his namesake he has a shot as sometimes newcomers can pull out shockers. Should help keep the pace honest and is a legit wildcard.
6. Anet Jet – 5 yr old son of Awesome Jet was claimed by his current connections back in March for 5k. This would not be the first time a claimer has made major noise in a Bargain Bowl event and this horse has been in pretty good form recently giving the connections hope that they are sitting on a legit longshot. Is in the top form of his career and may have a shot at a price.
7. Slewpent – This horse has two things going for him. He is last year’s champ and is trained by knightmare. Since last year’s glorious victory this colt has finished 2nd in the Death Valley Classic and 4th in the Bargain Summer Classic. He has yet to find the winner’s circle this year and appears to be in iffy form but can you really count him out?
8. African Porcupine – 3 yo colt by Auto Pilot has had a solid 2011 Bargain Series campaign with a 3rd in the Derby and a 2nd in the Bronx. His two recent races show he is in good form and sitting on a big race in the Classic here today. Expect a top 3 finish from this talented colt who has a big future in the series.
9. Ko Ko Shan – 7 year old has 56 lifetime races under his belt and several recent in the money finishes but it is asking a lot for this ole boy to run against the likes of these. I am a bit surprised he didn’t try the distance challenge but perhaps his connections know something I don’t.
10. Saintly Gold – 3 yr old mare by Saintly Look (Saint Ballado) has been a mainstay in the local bred circuit but this is her first rodeo in the bargain circuit. I suspect she is going to find the going difficult but she may grow into herself and have a future in the series when she runs against her own sex.
11. Vainest – Trainer Hawkz can keep them in good form for a long time, but an 8 yo? Wow. This colt has 13 wins in 60 lifetime races and has been in pretty good form recently running a 101 speed figure back in July. Seems to do his best running in the claiming ranks though so hard to see him factoring here today.
12. Thesearethey – 5 yo son of Shinko King (Fairy King) was claimed back in March for 25k by his current connections. The intriguing claim has been entered in several bargain events but has not made any significant noise as of yet to be considered on the big stage.
Prediction: This race is always a tough one to predict and upsets have happened in years past. My trifecta box is 7-3-10 and I would add the 1 into the superfecta. This should be a real interesting race and good luck to all the connections.