A nine race card awaits us today at Big Sandy, with the Grade III Pennine Ridge serving as the main entrée. Three year olds going nine furlongs on the Inner Turf take the main stage in an extremely contentious event. I will like to take this opportunity to thanks The Daily Gallop for having me back after a bit of a hiatus. Feels good to be back. Let’s go to the analysis.
1st race: 6 Furlongs. (Turf) Mdn 80k Purse $80,000 (UP TO $13,920 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
9-7-3 (Off Turf: 7-5-2)
Readyforprimetime looks to be a very talented one, judging from his first two races. Maybe the six furlongs is be somewhat short for him, but I expect a live pace upfront, and Irad should sit chilly waiting for them to come back to him. Linda Rice takes over the training of this colt. Whiskey Victor is a first time starts trained by Wesley Ward. That alone is enough to consider him a major player in this race. Johnny V. will be on the irons and should be on the engine from the start. Point of Humor had some trouble starting for the two hole in his most recent, Dylan Davis rides back and his works have been stellar leading up for this race. Watch out!
2nd race: 1 1/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) ™OC 80000n1x Purse $82,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $14,268 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES THREE YEARS OLD
1-5-6 (Off Turf: Same)
Café Americano’s debut was a very promising one, sitting very close to sensible fractions and waiting patiently inside to go on to score in a decisive manner. Almost four months later, she comes back working steadily for trainer Chad Brown, and Irad takes the call once again. With not much speed here, she should be forwardly placed from that one hole. Style and Grace is racing in her third race off a five-month layoff and has shown fondness for the added distance. Joel Rosario keeps riding her and has two very solid works in preparation for what can be a peak performance from her. Passing Out is another one lacking experience, but won her debut with something in the tank at 10-1 odds, and that team of Jose Ortiz and Shug Mc Gaughey means business.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. Clm 16000 Purse $36,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
4-2-1
Ekhtibaar takes a big plunge in class after a two-month layoff. Definitely not a pattern I use to recommend, but this group is nothing out of the ordinary and has the speed edge in this group, besides his works have been steady enough. Irad should put him right at or near the lead and will be tough against these. Trainer Handal scores at a 34% clip from turf to dirt. Call Me finally got out of the non-winners of three condition in his most recent, and with the lack of speed in here, he should be right on the pace from the gitgo, and his entry mate has been running vs much better horses than these. Big Muddy is maybe the most talented one of this bunch, but he just won for $25,000, and is running at almost half of the price tag of his last win. Doesn’t appeal to me that much.
4th race: 1 1/16 Mile. Mdn 80k Purse $80,000 (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
3-5-2
Tony Small has run well in both of his starts, which have been at two turns, and one of them starting from the number 12 hole at the Fair Grounds. Now gets to a one-turn race, from a much nicer starting spot and Johnny V., who debuted him, gets back on him. Highest Honor should have won his debut run, now looks to be the horse to beat and Jose Ortiz doesn’t lose track of him. Let’s see if the added distance is not an obstacle for him. Meet Me in LA had some problems in his bow run and has the experience over this same strip. Should relish the added distance and Jimmy Jerkens hits at a 29% clip when sending a horse first time routing.
5th race: 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™MC 40000 Purse $41,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $7,134 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
7-8-6 (Off Turf: Same)
That come back race for Shannon’s Girl, which came off the turf, should serve him well for this race. That fact, in conjunction with the drop from MSW, makes me consider her my top pick. Irad Ortiz has ridden her before and should place her right behind the early leaders and pounce late. Teletype is quick and also is taking the drop from MSW to maiden claimers. Bill Mott hits at a 22% clip when dropping to maiden claimers, and José Ortiz is a jockey of choice for this barn. Getmotherarose, now with Castellano, will be sent to the lead from the latch and if she gets an easy enough lead, will be tough.
6th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Clm 25000 Purse $50,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
1-2-7 (Off Turf: 3-6-1)
10-1 for this entry is a very enticing morning line. I doubt they will stay this high, but price should be fair enough. Catch a Cab is one of the quickest ones out of the gate, and is in the second race coming back from a lengthy layoff and Dylan Davos is a nice jockey upgrade. Tiz a Chance is not much of a winning machine, but he will be third off a layoff and in November, he was right there against these same horses back in November. Compagno is taking a sharp drop in class and now gest the services of Javier Castellano and starts from a very favorable rail post. He can have a considerable pace advantage versus these. Sycamore Lane needs all things to go his way, but those last two breezes tell me he comes in sharp form for this race.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 40000 Purse $60,000 (UP TO $10,440 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
6-2-3
Take Your Place can take advantage of what I suspect will be a pretty live pace up front. Rosario takes over from Dylan Davis, he is running at his favorite trip and Handal takes over the training from Toscano. Reed Kan takes a suspicious drop in class, and although he figures to be the horse to beat, Happy Farm will be right at his flank from the bell. Irad will not allow Reed Kan to be loose on the lead, and Still Krz is also very quick, a perfect setup for Take Your Place.
8th race: 1 1/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) PnninRdg-G3 Pennine Ridge S. Grade III. Purse $200,000 INNER TURF FOR THREE YEAR OLDS.
7-8-3 (Off Turf: Same)
Seismic Wave was eight wide and running against a very soft pace in the American Turf. Now he should get a much better setup, and Rosario prefers him over the Chad Brown trainee, who isn’t ridden by Irad either. Henley’s Joy was another one hampered by the slow pace in the American Turf, and Johnny V. rides here instead of Social Paranoia. Remember, this horse was dominating these kind of listed stakes earlier in the year. Demarchelier has looked good in his two wins, stakes are much higher now but Castellano stays on him and its Chad in a stakes on the grass.
9th race: 6 Furlongs. (Turf) ™‘Alw 66000n1x Purse $66,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE AND APPROVED BY THE NEW YORK STATE-BRED REGISTRY
10-12-8 (Off Turf: 7-13-9)
Mama Mary finally will be running in the turf once again. Her connections have tried to get her on the lawn again after her debut and will have that opportunity today. Johnny V. stays to ride in the final race of the card, and she is sporting two consecutive bullet drills in preparation. Andarta showed great initial zip last year in her three races, now she is on the comeback trail from eight plus months off, and her works indicate she is ready to fire. If there is some give on the grass, be on the look for She’s Dreamin. Her only try over the wet grass was her best race as of yet.