- In the 7th, Footloose Man (9-2) starts for the sharp Mark Hennig barn (39-8-9-6, 21%). Three-year old son of War Chant has found his stride in the claiming ranks and with blinkers on this season, and graduated with a bold late rush in May, edging out the competitive Money Manager at the wire. He faced better horses than he will today in a 50K starters allowance last month in which he seemed to be in an awkward position throughout. Steadied between horses on the backstretch, again turning for home, outside, back inside for the stretch drive, he ended up 6th. I think he'll run well today against a field with mucho question. The Cuban Hawk (7-2) looks like the main threat, making his first start since August, off the claim for IEAH and Burt Bacharach (!). He can take this on his best stuff, but figures to be overbet given his connections and reputation of his trainer to bring them back running. Miracle Hill is the 3-1 morning line favorite dropping into claimers off a long layoff and awful form; good luck with that.
- Discreetpicks.com checks in with a pick from Churchill.
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Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Belmont Today
Posted by Alan Mann at 10:52 AM
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4 Comments:
Churchill Downs - Race 9
#4 Reynaldothewizard (8/1 ml)
2yo firster by the lightning-fast freshman sire Speightstown worked a furlong in 10 seconds flat at the Fasig-Tipton under tack show, tied for the second-fastest time behind a single 9.4 worker. There weren't many 10.0 workers either, so the time appears very solid. Also of note is that many of the Speightstown horses were generating a lot of buzz at the sale; apparently they look to be outstanding physical specimens. That certainly seems to be case here, as Reynaldothewizard brought $775,000 at the sale (after bringing $400,000 as a yearling). Regarding the Speightstown freshman crop, the Racing Form lists them as 0-for-1 overall (this is one of the very first ones to race), but i found that a Speightstown colt has already won in Europe, so it appears he's batting .500 right now. On the female side, Reynaldothewizard is a son of Holiday Runner, who won her 2yo debut (at Churchill, i think) and was also a 2yo stakes winner. As for trainer Eoin Harty, he won last week with a 2yo firster at Arlington (Desert Party) who also was working at Keeneland before shipping in for the win. Gotta be value here at this 8/1 morning line; i'm expecting a good run. Here's a piece i pulled up on this colt from the sale. Keep in mind the quotes are from the consigner (who will never say anything bad about their product), but they're interesting nonetheless:
Hip No. 228, a colt out of Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake. Consigned by Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds, agent.
"He's as solid as any horse we've ever brought down here," said Dean De Renzo. "He will go all day, and he galloped out after his work (an eighth in :10) that way. The rider said when she went to pull him up on the backside, he took off again, so we were pretty excited about that."
On Ragozin, Cuban Hawk has run 5 #s faster than anything Footloose has run yet. He ran really well off the layoff last October. You're right, though, not much price. I only put him in my previous post about Guantanamo for the name.
The one I'm worried about is Lucky Will. He had one good # on turf last year and good #s on Poly.
Miracle Hill crept up to 9-1, so I threw a fin on him just for fun...can never count out Javier on the turf at a price!
Nice going, G!! I would never have a horse like that in a million years....can't break out of that 'dead on the board' mindset.
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