{"id":1634,"date":"2006-02-03T17:34:42","date_gmt":"2006-02-03T17:34:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=1634"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=1634","title":{"rendered":"Wide-open field for Rantofan Handicap(G3)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oklahoma<\/STRONG>–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It’s a wide-open contest in this week’s featured\u00a0Grade 3 $125,000 Rantofan Handicap<\/EM> for sophomore turf colts.\u00a0 Ten colts challenge 8.5 furlongs over a firm grass course.\u00a0\u00a0While\u00a0the race lacks any heavily-credentialed faves, we’ve got more than\u00a0our share of\u00a0interesting newcomers……..<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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On the rail, phantom’s Excellency(AUS)<\/STRONG> (6\/1) switches back from main track.\u00a0 The Exceed And Excel(AUS) son is 1-for-7 lifetime over the green stuff, displaying speedy competitiveness.\u00a0 He’s only made one start around two-turns and that 85 SP#<\/STRONG> effort was a heartbreaking runner-up performance.\u00a0\u00a0Stamina-laden female family suggests he might eventually want more ground.\u00a0 Green at black type level, but this is a soft Grade 3.\u00a0 Look for Excellency(AUS) to gun for the lead or make pace with the frontrunners.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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He didn’t care for the 9.5 furlongs LTO, and that should signal a sharper effort this time around from\u00a0Ojai Toot<\/STRONG> (6\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 Ojai4keith’s son of Mineshaft has won or placed in 5 of his last 7 stakes attempts.\u00a0 The little guy seems far more authoritative too in short routes, outgaming an 8.5f turf 12-horse field three back pretty effectively with an 88 SP#<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 I like this colt a lot — he’s got a real dirt pedigree though and finished 1st and 2nd in his two dirt attempts early last season.\u00a0 Has to try a dirt mile soon!\u00a0 There will be a thick pace fray here, so Ojai Toot might get caught up in that, but this guy displays a lot of heart in speed duels.\u00a0 Could be something special once trainer finds his best distance and surface.\u00a0 Extremely well-spotted.\u00a0 Perfect\u00a0graded debut for the colt.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Johnomally’s Gilded Touch<\/STRONG> (10\/1) boasts two ALW scores from 4 lifetime grass starts.\u00a0 The Touch Gold youngster soured a bit when leapt to the black type level though.\u00a0 Kind of inconsistent and that really doesn’t factor in well at graded level (even for this soft spot).\u00a0 Would need a huge\u00a0effort to bag this one.\u00a0 I don’t think he’s ready for this level SP#-wise.\u00a0 Closer in the hunt maybe for a minor money position.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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By Unbridled’s Song, mardigras’ Unamazingness<\/STRONG> (4\/1)<\/FONT>\u00a0checks in as the field’s very interesting second choice.\u00a0 The colt only made 4 starts last year, but he was Grade 3 placed over the lawn and displayed marked talent over the main track.\u00a0 Green closer attempts first try around two-turns over the lawn.\u00a0 Again, very talented colt so far.\u00a0\u00a0 Grassy female family with loads of stamina too.\u00a0 Merits serious respect and especially with anticipated pace duel up front (could pick up the pieces).\u00a0 Should enjoy the added sixteenth — inexperience might compromise chances.\u00a0\u00a0 Definitely for the board at least with this group.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Deelynette sends out two entries in posts 5 and 6 respectively.\u00a0 Midpacker Davey Bear<\/STRONG> (11\/1) broke maiden over grassy 7 panels on second try. \u00a0 Promising, but big leap for the Bernstein-sired youngster.\u00a0 \u00a0Sam’s Aroma<\/STRONG> (9\/1) also recently broke his maiden, though it took him 4 tries.\u00a0 Good news is that the Burning Roma colt\u00a0enjoyed that maiden\u00a08.5f\u00a0distance (87 SP#<\/STRONG>).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The speedster faded late though when stepped up to black type company over same ground.\u00a0 Fair to say that both of deelynette’s colts are honest outsiders.\u00a0 Hard to really gauge their potential effectiveness at this level.\u00a0 Maybe a money postion though for Sam’s Aroma since his last start came after a long layoff.\u00a0 He’s on 5 weeks rest this time around, so maybe a sharper effort will be in the cards.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The best credentialed colt Phyl The Cat<\/STRONG> (8\/1) breaks from lucky post 7.\u00a0 Tom’s Cat Thief son has been in stakes races since breaking his maiden over the grass in his second lifetime start.\u00a0 He was pretty successful to\u00a0 last season, winning the Grade 3 Grand Critter Stakes<\/EM> over a grassy mile as well as\u00a0a pair of turf sprints.\u00a0\u00a0Unfortunately,\u00a0the stalker\u00a0had a tough time on DelPenn Champions Day,<\/EM> finishing\u00a0out of the money\u00a0to eventual champion Pub Crawl(IRE).\u00a0 I think he’s an overlay.\u00a0 The colt’s proven capable already over a mile — if he can avoid a troubled trip, then definitely count him in the winner’s circle hunt.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Bred for major turf stamina, The Magic Flute(IRE)<\/STRONG> (6\/1)\u00a0appears promising.\u00a0 The Singspiel(IRE) son is 1 -for-3 around two-turns, winning his first mile stakes effort before a troubled outing at the Grade 1 level.\u00a0 ‘Flute recovered to eventually take a turf sprint ALW and finish 4th after setting the pace in a stakes over 8.5f.\u00a0\u00a0 This guy’s got a future for trainer diomed, but I really think he’ll need the classic distance and more.\u00a0\u00a0 Look for an honest effort duking it out in pace battle.\u00a0 Maybe a minor money position before onwards to longer stretches of ground.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Grandera(IRE)-sired Wee Phyl(IRE)<\/STRONG> (19\/1) breaks from the 9-hole.\u00a0 The colt precociously broke his maiden FTO last year over the grass, before going winless\u00a0over the main track.\u00a0\u00a0 trainer wee switched him back to the lawn late last year fared well in ALW company.\u00a0 Looks like he suffered an injury in lone stakes start.\u00a0 Has to prove that he belongs with those SP#s.\u00a0\u00a0Odds suggest he needs more seasoning before facing this level.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Finally, our racetime favorite Reeshko <\/STRONG>(7\/2) rides a two steakes race win streak into Saturday.\u00a0 \u00a0Congaree colt flashed his mettle intially over main track last season.\u00a0 Trainer zoshka then tried grass sprints and the colt responded well.\u00a0 His last two victories came over 7.5f, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t enjoy the extra furlong.\u00a0 Should vie around midpack or thereabouts.\u00a0\u00a0 The one to beat on paper, and should be there at the wire — he’s got some talent, but must overcome\u00a0graded hurdle (but so does everyone else in the field too!).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Snowchief’s Picks<\/U>:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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In addition to fave Reeshko, I like three other horses:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Unamazingness has the most promise and closing running style should factor in well with this speed-laden field.\u00a0 Look for him to close with Reeshko.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Phyl The Cat is probably the strongest of the pacesetters\/pace pressers.\u00a0 I can see him hanging on for the board.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Ojai Toot could post a mild “upset” — he has the earmarks of a good one.\u00a0\u00a0 But I like him better trying the dirt again.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Of the others, The Magic Flute(IRE) may grab a piece of purse, but I think he’ll be much better stretching his speed over more ground.\u00a0\u00a0 Sam’s Aroma should throw sharper race, but has something to prove.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Win:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Unamazingness (closer)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Place:\u00a0\u00a0 Ojai Toot<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Show:\u00a0\u00a0 Reeshko or Phyl The Cat<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Good luck to all.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reeshko, Unamazingness favorites for sophomore turf event<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"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-1634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634","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\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1634\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}