……………. It’s Back ! Mn. Festival !! all 16 races are restricted to Mn. residents with all races capable of 20 horse fields. It’s a big time for all, and the Mn. message board has been hopping with good nature ribbings. I’ve been a lifetime member so to speak, and it’s been great fun. I chose to write about the field for the race i’ve annually sponsored for Mn. Fest, Minnesota Future Turf Stars<\/I>. A race that is open to all 2yr olds going a mile on the good turf. We may as well get to the field for this years event, 16 entries ranging in odds from 6\/1 to 49\/1 and pretty evenly spread through the range. I wish that i knew all the stable names connecting resident, maybe eventually, but the ones i do recognize i’ll mention. Also, keep in mind that i’m trying to win this race, i put up the 800 credits and some prizes, plus i’m shipping in from Os. a Grade III placed colt in his last out, but guess what, he’s not even the favorite and there are other Graded placed runners …. my goodness !!
pp1) – 9\/1 – Rock River Green<\/B> (Green Desert \/ Halo \/ Restless Native) (H) – JKJ5 – K. Friar (18%) – JKJ brings this solid colt in off a pair of strong stakes efforts, he’s made 7 starts including 3 dirt runs that were not too inspiring, but when moved to the turf he has 3 wins and a place from 4 tries. He won a stakes race his last out in wire to wire fashion at 7f with an 81 spd#, and finished 2nd at 6.5f with an 83 spd# in stakes action from 2 starts back. This will be his first try at a mile, and since he led all the way last time at 7f i’m guessing he’ll show some early run here as well adding another furlong, though he was running on the lead last out there were only 5 other entries so he may have just found a field lacking other early runners …. Leading jock likes his chances to stretch out successfully here and that can’t hurt, taking into account my past Green Desert runners i’m leaning that way as well. He appears to be in line for a new lifetime best, and he’ll have to be moving up again to take this one, but the same goes for every other entry. don’t count him out, i’m not …
pp2) – 21\/1 – I’m A Soul Man(IRE)<\/B> (Perfect Soul(IRE) \/ Machiavellian \/ Dixieland Band) (H) – ESTREET – L. Zandofsky (11%) – colt will be up against it in this one , only one run to date, he finished 3rd in a MSW race at 6f on the turf earning a 62 spd# , nice breeding for the stretch out it would seem, though so far Perfect Soul(IRE) has top 2yr olds that seem to prefer sprinting, but you always must try and explore YOUR runners limits. The 2nd time out a 2yr old can really make a huge jump, but were talking possibly a 25 point improvement needed to win , not impossible but a big hurdle. Some questions will be answered for ESTREET, maybe if you play some Steve Cropper guitar licks at the start of the race he’ll be inspired to the limit .
pp3) – 9\/1 – Sing For Gold<\/B> (Unbridled’s Song \/ Polish Numbers \/ Affirmed) (H) – BECKLA – J. McDowell (9%) – hmmm a dark gray colt that appears to have been an auction buy i’m guessing, though not sure why’ you’d you sell this guy. He’s always been a pretty solid performer with a late kick. Though he’s been stuck with 4th and 5th place finishes of late, he continues to improve. His improvement has been seen on the dirt going a mile, and in his last out he ran an 82 spd# in a tough alw race where he was beaten 3 lengths, now he moves back to the turf where he was showing equal ability to his dirt runs back then. So, he may well carry that improving line into this turf fray, and with another move forward in this his 8th race he could find himself in the thick of it… if the speed is backing up …
pp4) – 11\/1 – Ivealwaysbeencrazy<\/B> (Awesome Again \/ Dixieland Band \/ Private Account) (H) – B. Pickel (8%) – hot sire for this colt, and he’s been a solid performer. He broke his maiden 2 starts back at a mile on the turf with a 73 spd#, in his next try vs alw. at a mile on the turf he ran a bit better spd# but was beaten 5.5 lengths. He may well wake up in this his 3rd route try, but he possibly may at this point still be a stronger sprinter off his 75 spd# he flashed at 6.5f 3 runs back, we never know at this stage of development, but i do believe he’ll need to make a big jump forward to contend at the wire in this tough draw, then again, he’s alwaysbeencrazy ….
pp5) – 6\/1 – Glory B Good<\/B> (Belong To Me \/ Swain(IRE) \/ Mr. Greeley) (H) – RHFARMS – P. Green (9%) – 62nd ranked turf classic div. RHFARMS (i apologize for not knowing the resident’s name without some help) a very solid stable name i’ve raced against for years , and this runner comes in as a deserved favorite with her last 4 races being a Grade III win at 6.5f with an 85 spd#, a Grade III 2nd at 7f with an 84 spd#, a Grade III 4th at 7.5f, and in his last run he went 8.5f vs Grade I on a yielding course finishing 4th of 8 runners with a 77 spd#, which could be a very nice springboard into this go ’round . Wow, that was a mouthful, and if he is like a couple of my Belong To Me’s he will show solid form returning to dirt as well. A great representative of the Mn Fest spirit of bringing their best to the dance, i guess there’s a question of his distance preferences still to be determined, but if this Grade Stakes quality front running colt takes to the ‘good’ turf mile, the rest of us may be calling him Glory B ‘Gone’ …
pp6) – 7\/1 – Trebre Machia(IRE)<\/B> (Peintre Celebre \/ Machiavellian \/ Caerleon) (H) – BDHP – O. Stinson (14%) – 38th ranked turf classic div., hmmm i didn’t know that, yep, this is my guy, one of a couple of “Trebre”‘s this season, this one was bred to a solid retired BDHP mare Machleon, as a 3yr old filly Machleon won a Mn. Fest Race in the 1st festival week 1481. , so i’m hoping Mn. Fest wins run in the family – LOL – his mom was a a dedicated front runner, but i was glad to see this guy will take to rating a bit, though he’s still more of a pace presser than a mid to late closer. BTB writer didn’t give him much of a chance in last out Grade III run, but i was forgiving his prior start where he struggled at 7.5f , in fact Glory B Good<\/B> who ran 4th in that race( the Omnipotent Juvenile<\/I> ) beat us nearly 9 lengths, Trebre was coming off of a 7 week LAYOFF condition, and was RTG on a .95 work out for that start. Hopefully he showed his true colors in his last out which was at a mile vs ten other graded entrants, and he managed a 2nd place run with an 86 spd#, that race was his first route and his best effort to date. On the down side he ships in off of 4 weeks rest this time and is a candidate to bounce off his new high, i’m hoping that going right back at a mile will be just what the Dr. ordered, but why did the Dr. order an ‘off track’, another question to be answered ..
pp7) – 9\/1 – St. John’s<\/B> (Fusaichi Pegasus \/ Seattle Slew \/ Buckpasser) (H) – BARGIANA – J. Ritorto (11%) – a royally bred colt making his 6th start, and the first five have all been on the dirt, his last out was dirt Alw. run at a mile where he posted his best spd# to date running a 78 , he’s dangerous because this is his first time on the surface and he bred to be very good, a lot of questions to be answered but if all the answers go his way, then we’ll see a new competitor come to life … a side story would be Mn. fearless co-leader Johnno Ritorto takes the mount instead of riding his own horse, very very fishy, they may well have been working this guy on the turf all along and Capt. Johnno just couldn’t resist taking a shot at knocking down my race … :=)
pp8) – 18\/1 – Spuddie(AUS)<\/B> (Flying Spur(AUS) \/ Believe It \/ Miswaki) (H) – JOHNNO – N. Brim ( 7% ) – speaking of J. Ritorto, we didn’t have for to go far to find the Mn co-captain’s runner, and surprise, surprise, he’s a son of Flying “Spud” as Johnno takes a regular ribbing for his fondness of The Spur as his #1 sire of choice, but he does that for a good reason, he’s a good sire ! So, how about Spuddie(AUS), well he’s a maiden so far from four starts, with his best spd# being his first try where he ran a 72 spd at 5.5f on the dirt. He has one turf run, and that came in his last out where he went 6.5f in 71 spd# fashion. This will be his first route, so Johnno you can always hope that will provide the boost this Spuddie is going to need to not wind up a “baked potato” … good luck Johnno, you’re going to need it – LOL – but i guess you know that since you’ve already jumped ship to ride that Fu Peg \/ Slew just to the post inside of you :=)
pp9) – 9\/1 – Looks The Part<\/B> (Seeking The Gold \/ Theatrical(IRE) \/ Buckpasser) (H) – WNRSCIRCLE – K. Bowen (17%) – familiar stable name, though i don’t think you needed to use any vowels in that stable name Rich. At least i hope it’s Rich’s now that i’ve said it, a great and generous member of Mn., whom we’ve depended on in our resident challenges and Equinics etc thru the years ! The depth and strength of the breeding in sim land never ceases to amaze me, and this is a very nicely bred colt, in fact i really don’t even have to look at this guy to know he’ll be a force in this race, Rich entered him for the obvious reason and the odds, the breeding, well i’ll look just in case he’s never been on the turf or something . Ok, three starts and all on the turf, two wins and a third with 30+ grand already banked, four weeks ago right here in Mn. K. Bowen won an Alw race vs ten others in 78 spd# fashion … he’s an improving colt and this should be another step forward, just how far forward will determine the rest of our chances …
pp10) – 13\/1 – Jay Trotter<\/B> (Forest Wildcat \/ Danzig \/ Olden Times) (H) – MINNOW – B. Craver (13%) – my good buddy and Mn. co-leader SuperD brings this colt into the works, whoops not a colt , brings this filly into the fray i should say and she’s got some blood in her, my my well bred again, let’s see we got 6 starts to date with $60 grand in the bank, that nice, and she’s reeled off three consecutive stakes 2nd place runs earning a 75 spd# for her best to date … this will be her first time going a mile and first time sniffing around the boys as well. hmmm She’s got some hurdles to jump , but at least she doesn’t have to jump them with S. Upertoy on her back, though that makes me wonder what i’m doing with the ‘buggy master’ on one of my best :=) when he’s shipping out his own rides, ok i got it, he’s busy monitoring Johnno behavior, i forgot he took the first shift – LOL
pp11) – 12\/1 – Wings For Wheels(IRE)<\/B> (Domedriver \/ Mr. Prospector \/ What Luck) (H) – DUNDEY7 – D. Geddes (13%) – hey another fine friend at Mn., and respected trainer, as Dundey brings this colt in from Ks where in his last out he ran a 78 spd# while sprinting on the turf, this guy has yet to get a win despite continued improvement along the way. His only route try was on the dirt, and he ran on pretty well finishing 3rd with a 74 spd# , he seems to show nice talent on both surfaces and continued improvement would be expected in this his first turf route, and first off track run as well, needs to step it up a bit but that’s well within the boundaries of sim possibilities ..
pp12) – 6\/1 – Maverick<\/B> (Gone West \/ Forty Niner \/ A.P> Indy) (H) – DESPERADO2 – A. Beasley (9%) – WOW , ok Rob what’s the big idea. Didn’t you get the message that this was supposed to be a throw away race to me to keep me quiet, you know give him one win and that way you won’t have to listen to all the crying and excuses … guess not , well first of all i’m having the vet check this colt to make sure he only has 4 legs and one heart, as a couple of famous son’s of the great Mr. P have some how come together to create this on growing monster .. three starts to date for this colt who started out on the dirt , and ran a nice sprint actually finishing 2nd, he too appears to be able to handle either surface. He then moved to the turf and went to 7f and made a nice step forward finishing 2nd from a field of 14 and posting a 75 spd#. Then in his third run he stretched to a mile on the turf and handily beat 13 others with an 83 spd#. Another very nice move forward, but it appears he must have been injured or layoff condition after that run , or he just wandered off and it took Rob awhile to find him but it’s been 8 weeks since his last, the rest of us better hope he lost a bit of his edge on his walkabout or we’re in for tough go of it trying to hold off this fine colt’s late charge, love the name too …
pp13) – 27\/1 – Warnessy<\/B> (Hennessy \/ Lord At War(ARG) \/ Sir Ivor) (H) – TOTHETOP – K. Ritterspauch (11%) – hey, what’s this, some kind of joke or something, this is supposed to be a serious race and here’s this filly that has ran two sprints and her best spd# to date is a 62 ?? That’s ridiculous, no chance at all , embarrassing really, who’s this again, TOTHETOP, oh yea, uh , that’s my stable, well the jock is decent and ummm well ummm she might beat somebody c’mon. actually she got bumped from race and this was the only turf route left that i could get into, besides, i can beat Chuck’s and Rharfo entries with her can’t i, well maybe not, somebody’s got to be last.
pp14) – 49\/1 – Big Kahuna Burger<\/B> (City Zip \/ Affirmed \/ Forty Niner) (H) – RHARFO – W. Adams (10%) – Hey Rharfo how’s it going friend, i was just mentioning your name, uh a nice filly you got here, i see she broke her maiden for claiming $2000 last out, 7f on the dirt in route 66 spd# fashion … yep, her lone try at a mile on the turf returned a 45 spd#, like i say i was just mentioning you and Chuck saying i hoped my 2nd entry filly could maybe beat one of you guys runners, then again , it’s gonna be a battle to the end so to speak, not get stuck in that last spot, i have a feeling you may have another runner in here, and if not well, this was a spot to try a mile on the ‘good’ turf ….
pp15) – 20\/1 – Birthday Surprise<\/B> (Storm Cat \/ End Sweep \/ General Meeting) (H) – CRUSH83 – A. Annika (6%) – another filly as we hit four in a row here on the outside with one more to come. This filly has 3 turf runs with a first a second and a third to show for herself, she’s yet to go a mile, but she’s gotten better with each step up into added ground, her last out was at 6.5f, and she made a nice closing move to break her maiden earning a 74 spd#. our one and only Storm Cat sired entry ahh i see she was bred for the Mn. restricted I Breed Better Than You Race<\/I>, but she appears to be more suited for the turf at this point and who’s to say she might not jump up and make her presence felt in this field, not me, i’m pretty sure she’s gonna beat Rharfo’s, Chuck’s and my filly , but for her own good, i hope she beats a few others as well :=) ….
pp16) – 40\/1 – Migraine<\/B> (Lion Heart \/ Thunder Gulch \/ Welsh Pageant(FR)) (H) – METSFAN – L. Pannier (10%) – hello Chuck – oh yes, i was just mentioning you and Rharfo ‘s and my filly way out here, you know maybe if it’s foggy enough we can just sit back and try to find a shortcut across the infield, ok , i see your filly has 3 starts and last two on the turf have shown a 60 spd# at 6f and a 59 spd# at a mile, this filly is very similar to mine in that at this point in time they are both really pretty slow it seems …. well i’m waiting for a miracle and i’m guessing we may be sharing an owners box waiting for that same miracle, but my gal is gonna be all out not to run last, so you better get on L. Pannier and let him know you need to beat either Rharfo or me. Hey what’s up with you and Pannier anyway, rumor has it you were caught taking “liberties” with his lovely 18 year old daughter and that’s why he’s riding all your mount tomorrow, boy i hope you had fun … well try and beat Rharfo and may be even superD’s little filly who could get really tired since he doesn’t usually feed his stock. Good luck Chuck, and thanks for you do for Mn. !
……….. Man i’m glad there weren’t 20 entries i’m starting to get what Chuck named his filly. This is a great day for Mn. residents, i wish somehow we could all watch them together in a big video conference call across the globe. Have fun everyone and bring them all back RTG at worst !<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Who’s Filly wil be last ?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":343,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/343"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}