In today\u2019s \u201cBertrando Handicap,\u201d a Grade II Stakes race for 4 year olds and up, the entries will be running a distance of a mile and one eighth on the fast dirt competing for the lion\u2019s share of a $250,000 purse. Let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n
(PP1 \u2013 10\/1) Open The Gate, of the Deantroops stable, is coming off a win in the Rock\u2019s Texas Cooking Series where he fired a 107 SP # over a 10 furlong distance. This Jump Start X Distant View X Raja Baba colt will be jumping up in class as he is running in his first Graded race of his career. Open The Gate has not finished worse than 4th in his lower level stakes races this year so this is a logical step up in company. He can run from the front, just off the leader, or close from mid-pack. This is a nice entry and would make a nice play at these odds. Definitely could be there at the end.<\/p>\n
(PP2 \u2013 11\/1) Six Pulpit\u2019s, of the Network7 stable, has won 7 of 21 dirt races, but only 3 of 13 routes. This Saratoga Six X Pulpit X Summing colt runs better in shorter races. He finished up in a disappointing 12th of 14 in his last race, competing against the winner of the Rock\u2019s Texas Cooking Series, Open The Gate. Six Pulpit\u2019s SP #s aren\u2019t as consistently high in the distance races as other entries so I don\u2019t expect him to fare well in this step up in class today. He showed talent in the distance races in the middle of last year, even winning a couple of Grade II races, but he has since fallen off. I would put him back into a sprint just to mix it up some. I don\u2019t think he fires well today. Not a top 5 finish.<\/p>\n
(PP3 \u2013 4\/1) Taking Risks of the Bliss stable is one of today\u2019s co-favorites. This is the # 5 ranked Dirt Classic older horse with 496 stakes points. Taking Risks has earned over $2.3 million in his 17 race career. This Forty Niner X Storm Bird X Alydar consistently runs in the high 110 SPs in Graded company. Look for him to stalk the leader in this one and pull away down the stretch. Definitely a top 3 finish. Too much talent not to hit the board.<\/p>\n
(PP4 \u2013 9\/1) Sadler\u2019s Thorns, of the Camotion stable, is over rated at these odds. I know he has hit the board in 17 of 26 dirt races and 18 of 27 routes, but I don\u2019t think he has proven enough consistency to compete in this one. This Sadler\u2019s Wells X Rhythm X Coastal horse has been competitive in some lower level Stakes races, but usually in shorter fields. Even in the lower level Stakes races he has not been a consistent competitor, finishing outside the top 5 in most races. Sadler\u2019s Thorns could be a dominant or at least highly competitive allowance horse at best. I don\u2019t think he finds the top 5 today.<\/p>\n
(PP5 \u2013 4\/1) Quincannon, of the Lilbitfarm stable, is the other co-favorite of the race. This Grand Slam X Miswaki X Alysheba horse could take the winner\u2019s circle today. He has won half of his dirt races and half of his routes. He is just a shade under Taking Risk\u2019s in the SP # average, but he is just as consistent. If Taking Risks falters just a little bit today, Quincannon will be your winner. He is coming off 3 wins in his last 5 races and has not fired less than a 101 SP in those last five and even fired a 109 SP LTO. Definitely a top 3 finish and could be your winner. This will be an interesting race to watch since Taking Risks likes to stalk and Quincannon will definitely take the lead and try to hold it the entire way around. Who will falter at the end??<\/p>\n
(PP6 \u2013 11\/1) Dime A Dozen, of the Freedominic stable, is my favorite named entry in the race today. It looks like this 5 year old tends to fire over a 100 SP # every other race. This bodes well for Dime A Dozen since he is coming off a 98 SP # his LTO where he finished up with a 4th place finish in The Image Ralph Handicap. He will be tested today, though, as he is making his debut in Graded Stakes company. This Perugino X Anjiz X Plugged Nickel horse could be the value play of the day. If he fires according to his most recent pattern he could be in the mix at the end. I would pick this as a top 5 finish, not sure if he can handle the two favorites, though.<\/p>\n
(PP7 \u2013 12\/1) Cornfield County, of the Geewhiz stable, is definitely the play of the day if you are looking for value. This 4 year old colt has won 5 of 6 dirt races and 5 of 7 routes. He is lightly raced, having only hit the track 7 times in his career. He has won 4 of his last 5 races, 3 in a row, and both races this year. This Brahms X With Approval X Never Bend colt met the challenge of his first attempt at Graded Stakes company his LTO as he smoked the field in The Saints Handicap (G3) with a 108 SP #. He isn\u2019t afraid of long odds since he has been a value play most of his career. His odds are a little shorter today as people are starting to take notice of Cornfield County. I think he will be there battling Taking Risks and Quincannon at the end. Definite top three finish.<\/p>\n
(PP8 \u2013 25\/1) Shoenherr(GER), of the Pisanofesting stable, is one of the long shots of the race. This 5 year old horse ran consistently in lower level Stakes races last year with minimal success, but in his first attempt at Graded Stakes company four races back he stepped up to the challenge, finishing 4th in the Willing and Able Stakes (G2) with a 101 SP #. This Acatenango(GER) X Shining Steel(GB) X Rainbow Quest horse would have to run a career race to hit the board today since he has failed to prove dominance even at the allowance level. Not a factor in this one.<\/p>\n
(PP9 \u2013 21\/1) Beneath The Stars(IRE), of the Calle4 stable, is another long shot of the race. This 4 year old colt has finished better than 7th only once in his last 5 races, winning a time restricted allowance race. This Grandera(IRE) X Theatrical(IRE) X Alydar colt could be a tough hombre at the allowance level, but he has failed to prove he can compete in Stakes company, much less Graded Stakes company. Not a chance here.<\/p>\n
(PP10 \u2013 27\/1) China Garden, of the China stable, is the long shot of long shots in the race. A highly competitive allowance horse, this 4 year old colt finished 3rd in his Stakes debut LTO closing hard down the stretch. He makes another big jump in company as he tried out the Graded class today. Don\u2019t let his 2 career wins fool you. China Garden has only run 4 career routes and has hit the board in 3 of those 4 races. His SP #s aren\u2019t mind boggling, but they have been higher in his routes. I don\u2019t think this should be the biggest long shot of the race since he could improve with more experience at these distances. This Ecton Park X Jolie\u2019s Halo X Sauce Boat colt will still have to improve to compete here.<\/p>\n
(PP11 \u2013 12\/1) Forty Ninth Storm, of the Dundey3 stable, is a 4 year old colt with breeding you would drool over. This Forty Niner X Storm Cat X Darshaan(ENG) colt looks to prefer the 9 \u00bd to 10 furlong distances since that is where he has run his biggest SP #s and finished up best so far in his career. I don\u2019t understand the odds makers with these odds. Forty Ninth Storm smoked Six Pulpit\u2019s LTO in Rock\u2019s Texas Cooking Series and finished in 3rd behind Open The Gate, one of today\u2019s co-favorites. I suppose they see what I see in his distance preference and expect less firepower from Forty Ninth Storm in this shorter race. Forty Ninth Storm is a very deep closer, usually 8 furlongs back of the leader before he makes his move around the half way point in the race. He may not win the race, but he is a top 5 finisher today.<\/p>\n
(PP12 \u2013 25\/1) Sky Candy, of the Redwood stable, is the final long shots of the race. Sky Candy is probably the most versatile entry today, since he can run on turf or dirt, a route or sprint, and can even handle an off track. This versatility will hurt him today since he doesn\u2019t have the specialization at this distance and surface to get it done. Sky Candy has only run in 2 career Stakes races, both lower level Stakes. He finished 6th and 8th in those races. I think this Selkirk X Sky Classic X Chief\u2019s Crown 5 year old is the biggest long shot of the race at this level. He can handle a smaller field in allowance company but will be a lamb for the wolves today.<\/p>\n
(PP13 \u2013 8\/1) Sip Of Saki, of the Bjbandit2 stable, is a talented and experienced 4 year old Graded Stakes entry. This Sakhee X Forty Niner X Buckpasser colt has won 5 of 8 dirt races and 5 of 13 routes. Sip Of Saki has been running a lot of turf races lately, but fired a HUGE 114 SP # his LTO which was a mile on the dirt. He closed from 8 lengths back to win The Head Honcho Stakes. Sip Of Saki was running dirt races throughout his 2 year old season then switched to turf after his 3 year old debut. He fared well as he won 3 of his first 4 turf races. Bjbandit2 hopes he can mirror that pattern as he makes his 2nd dirt race after a season of races on the grass. He has the potential to fire huge, can handle the distance, and has run in this level of company in the past. Top 5 finisher.<\/p>\n
(PP14 \u2013 9\/1) Alyrush, of the Therock stable, takes the outside post today which will not make a bit of difference for this deep closer. With 2 starts this year, this Danzig Connection X Mt. Livermore X Alydar 4 year old colt has a 3rd and 4th place finish in Graded Stakes company. Alyrush absolutely loves the running a mile or mile and a sixteenth distance. He has never failed to fire a 100 SP # running a mile or mile and a sixteenth on the dirt. He has only run a mile and an eighth once and he fired a 93 SP #. I think he is overmatched at this distance. He prefers a shorter track. I could be wrong, but I don\u2019t think he will be in the top 5 merely because of his distance preference. It would be another story if it were a \u00bd furlong shorter.<\/p>\n
Bigbaba <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Taking Risks? Quincannon? Cornfield County? Take Your Pick.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"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-2115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115","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\/196"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}