Classic Dreams Abound In Zero Louis Turf Special
Nine newly turned three year olds have entered the Zero Louis Turf Special this week. Run at a mile and one sixteenth over a firm turf course for a purse of $50,000, the race has attracted an interesting mix of competitors looking to launch their careers and hopefully take steps towards classic glory. Favorite Cadfael is already a graded winner looking to add to his laurels. Second choice Flinging Arrows is a tough-knocking colt who is Grade One placed but has the pedigree to improve with age and distance. The best pedigree may belong to Diabolus Advocatus, a half-brother to last season’s Breeders’ Bowl Mile winner. Diamond Street is an intriguing entrant who is undefeated in two starts. Let’s take a look at the field.
#1 Cadfael is a son of Invincible Spirit out of the f-grade Dubawi x Beat Hollow mare Zaldibia. He is the second stakes winner and first graded winner from three foals for the dam. After starting his career on the dirt, Cadfael won his first four turf races, including the Grade Two Norfellow Stakes and the Grade Three Golden HandGrenade. He has yet to reach the winner’s circle in five starts since, but he has been second three times and third once during that string. His first start of the year came at a mile and three sixteenths and he ran a solid third in the USA Turf Route with a 95sp. Cadfael is a deserving favorite in this spot.
#2 Seeking Blood is a son of Heatseeker based on the g-grade Red Ransom x Mr. Prospector horse VT Prospector. VT Prospector was a half-brother to two stakes winners. Seeking Blood has only been off the board in one race from six starts. It was his only stakes appearance, the Grade Two Nationwide Stakes at seven furlongs last September. Since then Seeking Blood has run twice in routes, finishing third in an allowance at a mile and one sixteenth with an 86sp and then returning at the same distance to win an allowance with a 96sp. He previously had won a one mile allowance in August.
#3 The Mookster is a son of Fantastic Light out of the d-grade Rock of Gibraltar x Vice Regent mare Rock the Track. The Mookster is the second foal from the stakes winning dam; her first foal is the stakes winner Marching Inn by Arch. The Mookster has two wins from eight starts and makes his stakes debut in this spot. He broke his maiden in his fourth start, and first route back in July. He has run five straight races at one mile, recording an allowance victory in addition to the maiden, one second and two thirds. His highest sp came two starts back, a 94.
#4 Barb Bober Ann is a scratch-bred son of Matsurida Gogh x Red Ransom x Lyphard. He has only a maiden win from six starts. After sprinting in his first three starts he stretched out to one mile in July and got that maiden win. After a respite he returned in December at the same distance in to finish sixth in an allowance. His second start off the layoff proved much better, he finished third in an allowance at a mile and one sixteenth with a 90sp.
#5 Diabolus Advocatus is a son of Oasis Dream out of the d-grade Sadler’s Wells x Mr. Prospector mare Indescribable. Indescribable’s first two foals are graded winners by Rahy and Distorted Humor. The Distorted Humor colt, Diabolus Reverto won last season’s Breeders’ Bowl Mile and has earned over $2,000,000. Diabolus Advocatus broke his maiden in his first start last April. He jumped straight into graded company and finished a disappointing sixth. Back in an allowance he was an easy victor at seven and one half furlongs before again jumping up to graded stakes and failing. Most recently he was second in the Rainbow Moonshell Turf Juvenile at one mile with a 92sp.
#6 Tremor Christ is a son of Redoute’s Choice out of the g-grade Montjeu x Monsun mare Spiraling. This is her only foal. Tremor Christ has only one victory from nine starts but has finished second or third six times. He began his career in the Perfect Allen Turf Juvenile, finishing third in the six and one half furlong contest. He returned in a maiden and dominated his competition easily. He then ran in three straight Grade Three races, running third in each. He was second in the Ease The Smoke Turf Juvenile before finishing off the board in consecutive starts. Most recently he was third in a one mile allowance, his first route.
#7 Flinging Arrows is a scratch-bred son of A.P. Arrow x Alleged x Hail to Reason. Flinging Arrows started his career with a bang, easily winning an owner restricted maiden in February. He followed that win with a second in the Danzing Cielo Turf Juvenile, a third in the New Sensations Turf Juvenile and another second in the Hushwing Lion Turf Juvenile. In July he finished second by only ¼ length in the Grade One Firebird, beaten by Eclipse nominee Bohemian Mercury. He followed that with a fourth place finish in the Grade One Golden Shoe. He was given some time off after that performance and returned in December to run second in his first route, a one mile allowance. He was second again in another mile allowance to begin this year but ran a career best 94sp. Certainly the stamina influences in his pedigree make him dangerous in this spot.
#8 Mallawa is a lightly raced scratch-bred son of Oratorio x Pure Prize x Vice Regent. He broke his maiden in his first start, a six furlong race last July. He returned and finished second in a six furlong allowance and then was third in a seven furlong allowance. His sps have increased with each race, going from a 70 to 77 to 86. Mallawa really exploded in his most recent race. He tried one mile for the first time and won going away with a 90sp.
#9 Diamond Street is a regally bred scratch-bred son of Redoute’s Choice x Storm Cat x Troy. He has made only two starts but both have resulted in victories. He was most impressive when running away from a maiden field in November. Going one mile he led every step of the way and won under wraps by two easy lengths. His second race was not quite as easy, again going one mile he went straight to the front and opened up a big lead. But in the stretch rival Queensland Rain came after him, reeling Diamond Street in stride by stride. At the end Diamond Street held a nose advantage. He earned an 86sp for that start.
Good luck to all!