Race:<\/b> The Skipping Away – Grade III – $150,000
ID:<\/b> 4267.0213
Track:<\/b> Florida
Restrictions:<\/b> All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance:<\/b> A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
One of three graded stakes races going off on the Saturday racing card here in Florida, The Skipping Away (G3), will be the last graded stakes race to be run of the three, and will be the thirteenth race on the card this weekend. The race was in its debut year last racing season when the babalana<\/i> owned and trained Misguided Assasin<\/b> sprinted to a two and a quarter length win in the first running of the race. He is the measuring stick in which all other runners this year will be measured. It will be cloudy for most of the early week this week, but by Friday we\u2019re going to have some scattered thunderstorms come into the area of the track, however, they will likely be out of the area on Saturday and the track will probably have dried out by then. Despite this, the field has attracted a total of twelve for the second annual running of The Skipping Away (G3) this weekend. Let\u2019s take a glance at the competition.
1. Tamination<\/b> – (Distorted Humor x Unbridled\u2019s Song x Alydar) – rocket25<\/i> of Rockett22 Stables – A. Darling – 6\/1
One of the race\u2019s early entries, the four-year-old dark gray colt is coming off two consecutive wins recently. The Kentucky-bred is lightly raced with just a lucky thirteen career starts. He\u2019s won six races out of these starts. His two consecutive wins came in the last two months during the Duke Ali Stakes and the Buda With The Slew Challenge, both listed stakes races at nine and nine and a half furlongs respectively. The colt set speed figure\u2019s of one hundred eleven in both races and impressively won the more recent race, The Duke Ali Stakes, by three and a quarter lengths. The connections of the colt are now giving him a well-deserved step up in class to the graded ranks. His last graded stakes start didn\u2019t end too well though. With a start in The Lone Star Classic (G1) late last year, the colt finished seventh in the race, eight lengths off the leader. The connections are obviously hoping he improves now as a four-year-old and with a lower grade of race. The colt will probably be up fairly close to the pace this weekend, likely back no further than fourth out of the gate.
2. Hoosick Falls<\/b> – (Rahy x Storm Bird x Buckpasser) – chloedawg2<\/i> of Right At Home Stables – W. Baumann – 21\/1
Running under the black and white silks of Right At Home Stables, the chestnut four-year-old will be coming to the race this weekend to make his eighteenth career start. He has won four starts in his career so far, including his most recent start across the country in California. This start was in a nine and a half furlong allowance race, in which the chestnut colt broke out of the gate near the lead just a head behind in second. He would eventually run down the pacesetter, winning the race by a length with a speed figure of ninety-five. This weekend will be the first graded stakes start for the colt, but he has made a few starts at listed stakes level before. The most recent of his listed stakes starts was this past January out in California during the Sunny Millions Classic at ten furlongs. He broke late out of the gate and crossed the wire in seventh, though he recorded a higher speed figure in this race. The colt\u2019s best stakes finish was a second place finish in the GR Simsters Belmont Stakes Restricted. The colt is versatile and could run almost anywhere throughout the pack, but he will likely be just off a few front-runners, likely around the fourth place position out of the starting gate.
3. Rock And Fire<\/b> – (Rock Hard Ten x Hold That Tiger x A.P. Indy) – willyam37<\/i> of Willyam13 Stables – R. Maire – 6\/1
Needing to improve to his former form if he\u2019s going to do well in this race, the five-year-old is out of the stakes placed broodmare Clouded Vision. With seven wins in twenty-three lifetime starts, the brown horse is nearing career earnings of a million dollars. His most recent start came in the ten furlong Let Freedom Ring Restricted (G1), where the horse unfortunately faded throughout the race and finished ten and a quarter lengths off the pace in thirteenth, setting a speed figure of on hundred one. His prior start wasn\u2019t too much better either, with a ninth place finish after the DPCD VIII DelPenn Christmas Classic (G1). His most recent win was last November during the GR Champs Restricted, a listed stakes race over ten furlongs. He won by a narrow quarter of a length, but set an impressive speed figure of one hundred eleven for this race. The horse will likely be set off the pace of a few other runners this weekend, likely back around third or so at the start.
4. Slews Gone Wild<\/b> – (Forest Wildcat x Seattle Slew x Gone West – italst6<\/i> of East Coast Racing – J. Grubb – 5\/1
With eight lifetime wins coming out of the Razorback Cap (G3) over eight and a half furlongs in his most recent start, the chestnut five-year-old will have some improvement to do this weekend. He finished seventh in his most recent race, back off the pace by more than five lengths, despite gaining some ground late in the race. He would set a speed figure of one hundred five for the race. The horse made his most recent win last December over a sloppy dirt course during The Minnesota Dirt Mile Owner Restricted, a listed stakes race. He won the race, after breaking mid-pack by a distance of a length and three-fourths. This was the last in a string of five consecutive wins for the horse. His last few starts, the horse has been more off the pace than he has been in most of his races, if this trend continues, he will likely break towards the rear of the field. If not, he may return to his previous running style of breaking at the middle of the field.
5. Trophy Of Triumph<\/b> – (A.P. Indy x Northern Dancer x Exclusive Native) – fairhaven3<\/i> of The Empire – V. Gardner – 8\/1
One of the most impressive horses in the field, and certainly one of the best pedigrees, the homebred five-year-old has career earnings of $968,794 in just twenty lifetime starts. The chestnut horse made his most recent start over the lawn during an eight and a half furlong allowance race overseas in Japan. The horse, breaking from the middle of the pack out of the gate, started moving up before the stretch and wound up finishing third in the race, setting a speed figure of one hundred three. He\u2019ll have quite a bit of shipping fatigue to overcome coming into this weekend, though it hasn\u2019t seemed to bother the Kentucky-bred in the past. His most recent graded stakes start was a disappointment, the Japan Dirt Cup (G1) landed the horse at the tail end of the field in fourteenth at the wire, twenty-eight and a half lengths off the pace. He\u2019ll need to improve greatly off this race if he\u2019s going to get the job done this weekend. However, things have been better for the horse. In the latter part of last year the horse won The Hoffa Cup (G2). The hose has some versatility, though he will probably be placed towards the middle of the field at the break.
6. Hurrican Carson (FR)<\/b> – (Hurricane Cat x Carson City x Unbridled) – phantom2<\/i> of Phantom Pharms – E. Krumrie – 5\/1
Out of the multiple stakes-producing broodmare Miller Lite Girl, the five-year-old French-bred has been very successful over the slop in his career. The winner of fifteen career races just recent came off a start in The Upper Marsh (GB) Challenge, a listed stakes race at seven furlongs, ran this year over a good dirt track. The colt, breaking just off the pace, rallied late in the stretch and finished third in the race with a speed figure of one hundred four. Prior to this the horse had won The Khartoum Challenge II (G3) in Dubai by a length and a half, this time over the sloppy dirt. The horse will have to cope with a long shipping distance, coming all the way from Tasmania this weekend to the Sunshine State. He\u2019s consistent though, and long-distance shipping hasn\u2019t seemed to bother him in the past. The horse will probably be settled back out of the starting gates somewhere towards the middle of the pack, where he will then probably quickly begin to pick off horses and make his way for the lead.
7. Heat Equals Tip<\/b> – (Mineshaft x Secretariat x Northern Dancer) – lgbost9x<\/i> of Lgbost Stables – W. Case – 10\/1
Making his eighteenth career start this weekend, the four-year-old colt will also be making his graded stakes debut. With four lifetime wins, the Kentucky-bred brown colt recently came off an impressive two and a quarter length win in the Granhee Special, a listed stakes race over nine and a half furlongs just to the north in Georgia. The colt set a speed figure of one hundred seven for the race, after breaking mid-pack in the field when coming out of the gate. He\u2019s made only one other stakes start in his career, during the Buda With The Slew Challenge, over nine and a half furlongs, where he finished third. He\u2019s just now starting to come into himself and will be an interesting colt to continue following along in his racing career as he continues to improve. He is versatile and can run anywhere from just off the pace to a closing position at the back of the field. Where he\u2019s placed on Saturday will have a great deal to do about the pace out of the gate.
8. Shreveport<\/b> – (Macho Uno x Glitterman x Distinctive Pro) – pleasanttap<\/i> of The Goosetown Stables – A. Blackmore – 9\/1
Out of the stakes winning broodmare Bright Glitter, the light gray five-year-old has six career wins in a total of twenty-one lifetime starts. The local Florida-bred will also be making his first graded stakes start this weekend in The Skipping Away (G3). He made his most recent start in The Drago Under Top Special, a listed stakes race over ten furlongs in Alabama. Coming from just off the pace, the horse gained some ground late in the race and crossed the wire in third, though he was still four and three-fourth lengths behind the winner. He set a speed figure of one hundred eight for this race. Prior to this start, the horse had finished second in The St. Glory (GB) Special, another listed stakes race at ten furlongs. This horse should be pretty forwardly placed this weekend, and could very well go right out to the lead out of the gate.
9. George Jetson<\/b> – (Golden Missile x Unbridled\u2019s Song x Chester House) – ceclaim16<\/i> of Royal Belgian Kempen Farm – M. Wright – 11\/1
Named after the famous cartoon character, this light grey colt is out of the broodmare Kayla\u2019s Song. The Kentucky-bred four-year-old has won five races in a period of sixteen lifetime starts. He just recently made his second lifetime graded stakes start and things did not end well for the colt. He wound up finishing a heartbreaking eighteenth, back by fourteen and a half lengths, as he turned in a ninety-three speed figure during the Rush For The Gold Restricted (G1) over a mile in Vermont. However, the colt has been very impressive over sloppy tracks, loosing only one of his four off track starts. However, all the colt\u2019s off track starts have come in allowance caliber races. His last win was in one of these off track starts, during a nine furlong allowance race. The colt won by a length and a half, recording a bristling speed figure of one hundred sixteen over what was a good dirt track that day in New Hampshire. The colt is versatile and has run near the pace, but will more likely be held off the pace either around fourth or fifth, or possibly even further back in a mid-pack placement at the start. He will probably start to make his move midway through the race.
10. Well Groomed<\/b> – (Seeking The Gold x Blushing Groom (FR) x Riverman) – super3<\/i> of More Evil Than The Evil Empire – L. Buchta – 4\/1
With career earnings of $1,463,800 the five-year-old horse is one of the most accomplished runners in this weekends field. He has made thirty lifetime starts, winning eight races throughout his career. The brown Kentucky-bred is coming off a two consecutive race winning streak. His most recent start came in The Exaggeration Special, a listed stakes race over ten furlongs overseas in Italy. The horse, after braking mid-pack out of the gate, made a move nearing the stretch that put him in the winning position at the wire, two and a half lengths ahead of the rest of the field. He set a speed figure of one hundred eight. He had also previously won, in just his prior start, The Haven Stakes (G3), in Japan over a good dirt course. The horse can either run mid-pack or he could be successfully rated towards the very back of the field out of the gate, running as a late closer, which is probably the tactic we will see the connections of the horse take on Saturday.
11. Mastroianni<\/b> – (Bernardini x Danzig x Mr. Prospector) – seveii<\/i> of Seveii Stables – O. Barrett – 20\/1
Out of the broodmare Whos Leading Who, the four-year-old colt is continuing his return to the dirt races this weekend and will also be making his graded stakes debut. He\u2019s coming off two consecutive wins, both at allowance level over the dirt recently. The most recent of these races, the Kentucky-bred colt broke right out on the lead of nine furlong race and took the race wire to wire, going on to win by three and a quarter lengths. He has made one sole start in a listed stakes race during his career. This came towards the middle of last year when the colt finished fourth in the eleven furlong Ezekiel\u2019s Preacher Stakes. The colt is certainly a speed influence and will almost certainly be going straight out to the lead in the race this weekend.
12. George W. Loser<\/b> – (Polish Precedent x Personal Flag x Stage Door Johnny) – monimonica<\/i> of Monimonica Stables – C. Romine – 99\/1
The oldest veteran we have going to the gate this weekend is nine-years-old and has made eighty-five lifetime starts, yet only winning four races throughout his career. The chestnut horse is out of the broodmare Wingo Door. The horse has recently been seen running in the allowance ranks, mostly overseas, but has ran in stakes races in the past. His history of being misplaced in his races, has no doubt contributed to his poor race record. His most recent start came in a six and a half furlong allowance race in Indonesia where the horse, who broke in sixth, finished seventh at the wire with a speed figure of fifty. This will be the horses first graded stakes start over the dirt, but he\u2019s made several over the turf, most recently the Coxless Stakes (G1) in 2008. He finished a well-distanced fourteenth in the race, setting a speed figure of sixty-one. Possibly breaking mid-pack or more towards the pace, unless we see a miracle this weekend, the horse will probably not be a factor and will likely finish at the rear of the field.
Flrancho\u2019s Picks<\/u><\/b>
Win:<\/b> Well Groomed
Place:<\/b> Hurrican Carson (FR)
Show:<\/b> Tamination – 100<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well Groomed Bet to Finish Well<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":179,"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-7891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7891","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\/179"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7891\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}