The Grade 1 Big Red<\/I><\/B> stakes for 3-year-olds at 10 furlongs on the turf honours Secretariat<\/I><\/B>, my favourite racehorse of all time. Who I watched race for the final time one beautiful autumn day at Woodbine as a mere stripling back in\u2026well, a few years ago. Most of the field here has already shown some inclination for the classic distances; Saturday we will see which can cash in that ability amongst exalted company. And the top 3 finishers in this year\u2019s Queen\u2019s Dish<\/I><\/B>, held at that very same track where Big Red scored his last win, face off again here. A field of 11 colts, 9 of which run at single digit odds, race for the $400K purse on what should be hard baked turf.<\/P>
\u00a0 Vulcanic<\/B> goes off from the inside at 8\/1 for breeder slowhand<\/I>. The Australian-bred of Encosta de Lago<\/I><\/B> is the second leading earner in his sire\u2019s 3-year-old crop; 4-year-old sister Green Fork<\/I><\/B> is another Encosta progeny who showed 10+ and up success and amped it up at this age and later.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Deputy Minister <\/I><\/B>and Secretariat <\/B><\/I>\u2013 surely a lucky talisman today — round out the pedigree line. Vulcanic is a closer and his major success came while coming on from 15 \u00bd lengths back at second call to win the G3 Derby Trail<\/I> back in May in Newmarket, putting up a 103 number. He did not fire in the Adelaide Derby<\/I> twice back in Queensland but the mile-and-a-half may have been too long for him.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Jockey Lauer will likely have only Black Dow <\/B>to contend with in the closing niche and if you think the race sets up for a closer this could be the one.<\/P> \u00a0 Left Two Kirby<\/B> comes off a very fast 108 in winning an N4X allowance in Eastern Kentucky last month; he moved to the turf only in May and also boasts a 106 at 8 \u00bd furlongs also in allowance company.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This is the first venture at 10 furlongs and up for the son of Teuflesberg<\/I><\/B>, a bargain type son of Johnannesburg<\/I><\/B> with Devil\u2019s Bag<\/I><\/B> as dam-sire; the other most successful Teuflesberg progeny have been dirt sprinters. Veteran jockey White has been cold this year. Bred by riobravo<\/I>, Left Two Kirby now runs for trainer desertfox<\/I>. The 5\/1 odds give too much credence to speeds put up at lesser distances; still there\u2019s only one way to find out if this one likes 10 furlongs, and that line of inquiry will be pursued Saturday.<\/P> \u00a0 Derhamm<\/B> goes off from the 3 slot at for trainer 2aussie<\/I> of the Raja<\/I> operation. Although Street Sense<\/I><\/B> is known more as a dirt sire, he is a son of Street Cry<\/I>, <\/B>and the rest of the line (Giant\u2019s Causeway<\/I><\/B> x Danzig<\/I><\/B>) contains plenty of green influence. This one\u2019s one foray at 10+ furlongs was a solid show finish in the G1 Queen\u2019s Dish<\/I> in Toronto, twice back; he has also one graded stakes at 9 furlongs (the G3 Goodyear<\/I> in France in May with a 103), and, last out, at 9.5 furlongs (in the G2 Upper California<\/I> at this track last month). The two who beat this one in the Dish were only a bit faster, and now come to meet this 5\/1 shot where he is already stabled and at home, and Derhamm was coming in the lane then.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Will rider Dubbs try to have Derhamm closer at third call, as he is when he has won?<\/P> \u00a0 The morning linemaker has King Kajinskyha<\/B> at 9\/2 the favourite, narrowly over the two immediately to his inside. Not so far outside them as to be strung out on the turn, just a little outside so as to keep an eye on them. It\u2019s hard to find anything to pick at in the record of the son of King Kamehamehaha <\/I><\/B>(say that one three times for a free pick six ticket).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s never finished out of the money in his career.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He ran his fastest speed ever the first time he ran 10 furlongs. He won the G2 Colonial Derby<\/I> last time out at this distance at a blistering 109. The other fastest progeny of King Kahahamema\u2026Kamahemamo — his sire — also starred at 10+ furlongs, although\u00a0 <\/SPAN>that progeny, King Tachyon<\/B>, did not show his distance stuff until he turned 4. OK, Legends of Rock<\/B> upset him in the Dish., by a length., and has the track\u2019s top rider; but in all the two horses\u2019 records don\u2019t look comparable, the Astin\u2019s Place<\/I> agglomeration sports a spectacular 25%+ winning percentage and sends the circuit\u2019s #2 rider, Logan, out to try harder today.<\/P> \u00a0 Sandor<\/B> tackles this challenging field on the strength of his first effort at over a mile last out, when he won an open allowance in Spain at 9 furlongs, pulling away in the stretch to win by two lengths. Before that the 12\/1 shot had won the first 4 races of his career at distances of 7 and 8 furlongs before stalling when moved up to G1 company. Sire New Approach<\/I><\/B>, a son of Galileo<\/I><\/B>, has had some success with turfers but mostly at a mile or less; Kris S.<\/I><\/B> and Danehill<\/I><\/B> fill out the top line. Trainer sangster<\/I> of Galileo Stables<\/I> sends jockey Larsen out; when this one wins he takes the lead by third call and stretches it in the lane. In tough company.<\/P> \u00a0 Hacker\u2019s Manifesto<\/B> showed a liking for the 10f+ distances at his first try when he won the G2 Derby Stud<\/I> in Ireland in May at 8\/1 odds, putting up a 102. The 11\/1 shot has not yet matched that finish or that performance in two subsequent efforts and the question is why.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Both were G1 events and the class may have been beyond him; both were longer than 10 furlongs, the first 10.5 f and the second a mile-and-a-half, and it may be that he is a 10f specialist type.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Sire Teofilo<\/I><\/B>, another son of Galileo<\/I><\/B>, has produced such distance turfers as NY Lottery<\/B>; Elusive Quality <\/I><\/B>and Deputy Minister <\/I><\/B>fill out the top line. Trainer mtk 76 <\/I>of Shamrock Stables <\/I>ships over here, perhaps hoping to find the grass competition less cumbersome on this side of the pond. If ready to take a late summer step-up in ability, could contend.<\/P> \u00a0 Black Dow<\/B> is one of only 2 closers in the field. The 11\/1 shot is another one who took to the classic distances on his first try, winning an N3L allowance at 10 furlongs in April at a nice 102, before disappointing badly at short odds in the G3 Derby Trail<\/I> and then an owner-restricted Blazing Saddles<\/I> event. Returning to 10 furlongs last out in the Militant<\/I> in Ireland, the homebred son of Dynaformer<\/I><\/B> ran back to his peak of 102, finishing 3rd<\/SUP>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Danehill<\/I><\/B> as dam-sire promises plenty of hope for anything Black Dow might attempt on the green. Trainer thebloody9<\/I> also hails from Galileo Stables <\/I>and sends off veteran rider Robertson, having one of his best years in some time. Has shown a powerful kick when on; with the pedigree, the liking for the specific distance, and little competition in the closing niche, could surprise.<\/P> \u00a0 High Gold N Bold<\/B> has been competing mostly in the 10-furlong and up group since February, being caught after leading at third call 4 times and losing ground in the stretch at every occasion. Before dismissing this putative frontrunner from consideration, however, one might note that last out this 6\/1 shot ran his best race ever, finishing 2nd<\/SUP> in the G2 Colonial Derby<\/I> in Virginia, running a fast 105; twice back he ran his second best speed ever, a 103.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>High Gold is the leading earner from the 3-year-old crop of High Chapparal<\/I><\/B>, from the Sadler\u2019s Wells <\/I><\/B>line. Trainer reigart<\/I> sends Reveiz<\/I>; tempting to try some other instructions, but this one is the only one in the field seeming likely to go wire-to-wire. Probably not for today, but watch.<\/P> \u00a0 Legends of Rock<\/B> was the winner of the aforementioned Queen\u2019s Dish<\/I> confrontation, running just behind the leader early, taking the lead by 2nd<\/SUP> call, and leading by 2 \u00bd lengths at 3rd<\/SUP> call before prevailing by a length at 5\/1 under top jock Linville.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Twice before that the 6th<\/SUP> rated colt in his division had won the G2 Hogwarts<\/I> in Paris. The last and third back attempts, in the Derby de English<\/I> and Virginia\u2019s Colonial Derby<\/I>, were washouts, with this 7\/1 shot never threatening; if he runs to an on\/off pattern, Saturday is an \u201con\u201d day. Legends is Rock Hard Ten<\/I><\/B>\u2019s top earner in this crop, with Seattle Slew<\/I><\/B> and Danzig<\/I><\/B> providing plenty of backup in the top line.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Legends runs for simsters 4<\/I> in the massive omnipresent lenny<\/I> megapaloozation. As you might expect, track top jock Munoz\u2019s services have been retained.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Expect this one to really come on between 2nd<\/SUP> and 3rd<\/SUP> call and try to hang on.<\/P> \u00a0 Fantasteek<\/B> has finished 2nd<\/SUP> in 2 of his last 3 stakes, including a place finish in the G1 Italian Derby<\/I> back in May; the speed rating for that one was an imposing 89, but perhaps the clocker forgot to turn the stopwatch on. Until lat out, the 22\/1 longshot had tended to lose ground late, yes, but in a rather dignified and stately fashion; last out in the 7th<\/SUP> King Eddie<\/I> the wheels fell off and the 9\/2 shot finished 20+ lengths back. Maybe those Italian clockers did know what they were doing. The goody<\/I> partnership sends out this son of Fantastic Light<\/I><\/B>, game dam Sindee Slew<\/I><\/B> was a turf router with Sinndar<\/I><\/B> influence.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Fantasteek seems unlikely today, but with his best performances at 10 furlongs, I\u2019d rather have this one as a bottom choice in the trifecta than some ones with better odds here.<\/P> \u00a0 Loy\u2019s Legacy<\/B> offers something interesting for the handicapper, in that he ran for 10+ furlongs for the first time last out, and nicely won the G3 World Weekly News<\/I> in South Africa last out, running a career best 105. Alien horses descended from mutant equine species finished 2nd<\/SUP> and 3rd<\/SUP>; or am I thinking of some other newspaper?\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Anyway, this outside-slot 11 horse Saturday, had won at 9.5 furlongs before and has won twice in a row, so this 9\/1 outsider must be considered.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Sire Azamour<\/I><\/B> is not really a graded winner producer, but Redoute\u2019s Choice <\/I><\/B>and Kingmambo<\/I><\/B> are to be reckoned with. Softy2912<\/I> sends out Kingman, who is doing well this year; ignore at peril.<\/P> \u00a0 Toral Picks From His Fedora: \u00a0 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>King Kajinskyha \u00a0 9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B>Legends of Rock \u00a0 Legends of Rock, King Kajinskyha To Duel <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":440,"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-8317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8317","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\/440"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8317\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}