GP Notes

In the second at Gulfstream on Saturday, Jasmine Gardens (8-1) is a daughter of Mineshaft making her second start for Tom Albetrani. We're still waiting for the sire to make his mark. He finished 17th on the rookie sires earnings list for 2007, with most of those ahead of him bearing stud fees far less than his $75,000. and had just one stakes winner; La Mina won two ungraded stakes.

Of course, Mineshaft didn't start at two and didn't get good until he was four, so it will be awhile still before his worth can be judged. He's doing better this year, standing at #2 on the second year sire list, thanks in large part to Cool Coal Man.

Jasmine Gardens was dull on the board at 15-1 in her debut, but rallied quite well for a nice second after a slow start. The Beyer wasn't great, and she saved a lot of ground on the turn. But it was her first race, and perhaps we don't take that into enough consideration when handicapping. (Or maybe I should speak for myself.) I remember one day I was in the paddock with Castle Village, and Bill Turner, watching a first-timer head to the track, chuckled and said "He has no idea what's going on." Think of how confused some humans are the first time they see a horse race, and imagine how messed up the dumb horses must be! So I think this filly is eligible to improve, which I suppose you can say about any offspring of her sire, and I think that 8-1 would be a bargain for sure.

Smart Surprise (5-2) is the kind of horse you gotta love to bet against, with his four seconds and three thirds in seven starts, five of those at 2-1 or less. Just make sure to use her in the exotics. Handlethetruth (4-1) earned a nice Beyer running second behind eventual stakes winner Spirited Away in his last; but that was in July, and around two turns. Peach Rose (5-1) is a first-timer for Mott. The trainer is winless with his last 50 debut runners. This filly is by Red Bullet, out of Brandy Rose, a half-sister to Holy Bull.