A good card has been put together for this Saturday at the Big A, highlighted by the Jazil Stakes at the 9 furlongs distance for 4 year olds and upward. Ten races in total are on tap; let’s go immediately to the comments:
1st race: 1 Mile. ‘OC 40000n2x Purse $67,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Carthon (#2), Bluegrass Smile (#5), Haul Anchor (#6)
Not much early zip in here, so I’ll go with Carthon, who should be part of that early flight, and that last win was in a group that compares very favorably to this one. Cancel stays up and has two breezes in preparation for today. Bluegrass Smile takes a nice cutback in distance and, for the most part, he has always been competitive in this group. His problem is that he is allergic to the wire, with his last win coming in March of last year. Haul Anchor is climbing high up the ladder, after winning his most recent in a $12,500 claiming race. He needs to step up, but the pace scenario definitely favors him.
2nd race: 6½ Furlongs. ‘MC 30000 Purse $35,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Talespin (#1), D Emcee (#6), Simbasalltrouble (#9)
Not much talent in here. Manny Franco prefers to ride Talespin for Michelle Nevin, and it’s an upgrade in jockey from his debut, in which he had some problems at the start. From the rail post he will need to work a trip, but has the perfect jockey for that. D Emcee is dropping from MSW, which they say is the sharpest drop in racing. Dylan Davis was aboard him in his debut, stays up, and breezed a bullet in preparation. Simbasalltrouble was close to the pace first time out, then tired badly. That was only three weeks ago, the quick turnaround indicates he is ready to improve on that effort.
3rd race: 1 Mile. ™‘OC 75000n1x Purse $64,000 FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Maiden Beauty (#3), Shelley Ann (#6), She Takes Charge (#4)
Maiden Beauty is returning from a two month hiatus. By the works we see, seems to have recover nicely from a very poor showing in November. Manny Franco is up for the first time. Shelley Ann ran extremely well on her most recent start, a state bred stakes race. Anything close to that effort and she will be a very tough beat. Reylu Gutierrez has been in her saddle in her last two races and repeats on her. She Takes Charge won like a good thing on her debut, now takes a step up the ladder, but she dominated decisively and we will not be surprise if she maintains her winning ways.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. ™OClm 60000 Purse $60,000 (UP TO $10,440 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
Movie Score (#4), Malibu Mischief (#7), Waving Flags (#2)
After losing in a photo to Malibu Mischief, Manny Franco apparently told Rudy Rodriguez to put blinkers on Movie Score. Let’s see if the move pays off, I saw her wandering a bit in the stretch and that might be the reason for the change. The top two look very strong in here, and if Waving Flags has recovered from a poor showing last time out, she can definitely win. Her price will be much better today.
5th race: 5½ Furlongs. ‘Mdn 60k Purse $60,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Dr. Lloyd/ Amundson (1/1A), Seven is Heaven (#2), Chuckles (#7)
Powerful coupled entry is very much live on both fronts. Dr. Lloyd had to deal with the inside post and ran very creditably first time out. Amundson is a Curlin NY Bred whose works and the fact that he was breezing at Pimlico makes me think he is ready to score first time out. Seven is Heaven makes his debut for Linda Rice, the number one hole is a hurdle to overcome but he is working nicely. Chuckles goes for Brad Cox, he might need one, but if the favorites faltered, he can take full advantage.
6th race: 6½ Furlongs. Alw 70000n1x Purse $70,000 (UP TO $12,180 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Go Get the Munny (#7), Wegotoldyougotsold (#8), Fuel the Bern (#1)
Go Get the Munny’s return race was very good, losing by just a couple of lengths to Honor Up, who then won a stakes race, so the race is live. With just three races lifetime, upside potential for this horse is still very high. Dylan Davis gets the return call from Tom Morley. The ultra-consistent Wegotoldyougotsold ran well enough to win last time out, but Fully Vested was alone in the lead and beat him pretty easily. Gets an outside post now and Maragh comes back in the saddle. Fuel the Bern should also be part of that first flight, although the one hole is no easy task for him.
7th race: 1 Mile. Clm 16000n2L Purse $28,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON TWO RACES.
Beach Access (#9), D Ambrosio (#13), Big Muddy (#2)
Maybe the most difficult race to handicap in all Saturday’s card, with lots of horses with questions to answer. Beach Access drops to the bottom after not being competitive at all at groups much tougher than this one. Technically, this is the first time he will run against such a low quality group, because in the race in September he was eased. That last work signals readiness. D Ambrosio raced just eight days ago in his first race for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who wheels him back quickly into a much softer spot. If he wins, he earns some money versus the $25,000 investment. Big Muddy is maybe the best horse in the race, but doesn’t get you blood pumping the fact that they are dropping him to 16 after winning for 40 and with only two works for returning from a two month break. Take a very cautious approach with him.
8th race: 1 1/8 Mile. JazilB100K Jazil S. Purse $100,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Sunny Ridge (#7), Mr. Buff (#5), Thebigfundamental (#6)
The talented but somewhat fragile Sunny Ridge is our pick in this race. If he repeats his race in the Cigar Mile or in the Kelso, everyone else will be running for second. The rest lines all over his PPs and the fact that he just missed in a Grade I cast somewhat of a doubt, but Manny Franco and Servis hit at a 28% clip when they team up. Mr. Buff will be controlling the tempo from the start, and the fact that he is getting out of state bred competition is a positive sign. If he gets an easy lead, he will be a tough cookie to chew. Thebigfundamental returned from a fifteen-month layoff and just missed winning. Now steps up the ladder to a stakes races, a sign of confidence from the connections.
9th race: 1 Mile. Clm 20000 Purse $40,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Shalako (#10), Sparty Boy (#11), No Distorion/ Outplay (#1)
Another puzzling race. My top pick returned from a nine-month stay on the shelf and ran evenly at a group slightly lower than this one. Now that he has that race under his belt, he should be much fitter for today and worked a bullet in preparation. Sparty Boy receives a considerable upgrade in jockey to Manny Franco and returns to a much more manageable group. Rudy and Manny hit at a 27% when teaming up. No Distortion won very easily in his most recent despite some problems at the start. There is always the possibility of him preparing the scene for his fellow stablemate to attack in the final stages, although Outplay is not a shadow of what he once was.
10th race: 1 Mile. ™‘MC 25000 Purse $33,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES FOUR YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Causin Trouble (#5), Promise Me Roses (#7), Here Comes Helen (#13)
Seems like these fillies run every single week. Causin Trouble shows an improvement pattern and now trainer Duggan takes off the shades, and he hits at a very enticing 27% when doing it. Apprentice Hernandez, a very crafty rider, has the return assignment. Promise Me Roses looks to be the controlling speed, but she has been a professional money burner, having raced in this group five times already. Franco keeps going to the pond. Here Comes Helen had an average debut, but now gets Lasix and she is working the best of these fillies. We can’t be surprised by any result with these slow fillies.