Blog

Race 1

1^st #2 Code Runner was purchased for $375,000 by Calumet Farm.  His dam Nereid won a grade one at Delmar and his sire is the up and coming Honor Code.  Trained by Steve Asmussen.

2^nd #9 Money For Mischief’s second place outing wasn’t bad at all but I’m curious about how he will feel going double the distance.  Dale Romans is hot at Ellis so one to watch for.

3^rd #8 Samurai Cause had three second place finishes and then came here.  It didn’t work out last out, so hopefully with the extra distance and different jockey it can change here.

Race 2

1^st #5 Rare Form cost a pretty penny of $450,000, and at the age of four, is about a quarter of the way there to earning back his purchase price.  But, for these races he’s been in, he’s solid and tough to beat. Runs big Beyer numbers too and is trained by Dale Romans.

2^nd #4 Crosswalk is touch and go, but his last race at Churchill was decent.  Most of his races have been too tough for him, and I think this race is a good spot for him.

3^rd #1 Spectacular Gem did really well at the Fairgrounds and landed two stakes placings.  Now he’s had a bit of break and should be ready to again. This will be a good refresher for him before he hopefully goes back to New Orleans.

Race 3

1^st #1a Hieronymus is the other Godolphin homebred who’s trained by Brad Cox .  He’s been working out beautifully. Dam missed a grade two stales win by a neck in her final career start.  All of her siblings have been successful.

#1 Banks Island is a homebred for Godolphin by Tapit out of a Storm Cat mare.  His few siblings are winners as well. He’s working decent for Walsh.

3^rd #6 Something Super has worked three bullets in a row.  Dam is multiple stakes winning who was trained by Todd Pletcher, who also trained the sire, KY Derby winning Super Saver.  

Race 4

1^st #6 Mississippi is a Pioneerof the Nile colt who’s been running in some company.  He’s hitting the board or close to in the big allowance races, but this is an easier spot where he is still protected from the claim.  He’s only won once and has made over $220K.

2^nd #4 Believeinholidays was beaten three back at Keeneland by Mississippi.  He’s pretty consistent and is usually on the board. Last out, he was claimed.  Cox trains, Geroux rides.

3^rd #2 Wicked Indeed sits much better here than he did in graded stakes company.  He didn’t completely embarrass himself in the graded races, he was usually pretty close with the exception of a couple.  Last out he was beaten by twelve at Churchill.

Race 5

1^st #1 Proudly Pacific ran much better last out being much closer than her previous races.  Finally two back at Churchill she made a good performance and then followed up with another.  Hopefully she can continue to improve from that.

2^nd #10 Gun Club has been off since February so hopefully the near six months off will help her to feel better.  (Most young ones improve with breaks). She ran so well in her second race at Oaklawn that whatever happened is a real bummer because she could have had a great spring.

3^rd #2 Whimsical Muse is a first time starter by Oxbow out of an Afleet Alex mare.  She’s worked several bullets and is trained by Eddie Kenneally.

Race 6

1^st #9 Surrender Now certainly did not let me down when I chose her last out, she scored by three lengths.  She’s an honest filly who loves her job. Kentucky has been just as successful for her as California was, her worst performance was a fourth in a stakes.

2^nd #6 May Lily ran behind S.N last out and finished second.  She could beat her, but we will see. May Lily is by Broken Vow out of a Smart Strike mare who has been doing excellent since her layoff.  Her races last fall were pretty challenging, but she does love KY.

3^rd #3 La Dame Blanc hasn’t ran since April, and guess what? She finished behind S.N in a stakes at Keeneland.  Hopefully the layoff will have helped her, she had a great season at the Fairgrounds with a win and second in a stakes this past year.

Race 7

1^st #10 Mr. Misunderstood is a hard knocking fella.  He’s been in some tough races and handled them perfectly, winning a grade three two back.  One race at Ellis last summer, one win. He’s a little over $20K short of having $800K in earnings.  

2^nd #7 Mr. Cub had it rough last out running second by a neck but then getting dq’d all the way down to fifth.  He’s tough, but his tough performances aren’t usually consistent which makes him hard to handicap.

3^rd #8 Cullum Road runs in some hard spots too.  His May 4^th Belmont outing I consider to be his best race because he only lost by three lengths in a hard field showing heart at his job.  He still has his hands full but not as tough as before.

Race 8

1^st #9 Totally Boss started his career off really slow but then found success later on.  It’s always cool to see horses like this who eventually made a rough career a solid one.  Jockey change from Baze to Geroux also.

2^nd #11 Angaston was a smart purchase of $30K, and now he’s been a turf sprinting sensation.  He always has a chance in his races which is something to admire about him. He always gives honest efforts.  

3^rd #5 Sir Navigator is still just as good as he was two years ago when he got claimed from Robertson.  He’s changed hands a few times but has still been pretty strong as he ages.

Race 9

1^st 2 Stave is a consistent filly, and just missed her first stakes victory by a neck last out here.  Her confidence was kind of shattered for a while after she broke her maiden and then was thrown in stakes races, but now she has recovered.

2^nd #8 Hanalei Moon ran really well last out off a long break.  Second place in a stakes race at Indiana Downs, and she is a homebred for Stonestreet Stables.  Trained by Mark Casse.

3^rd #7 Valentine Wish has never been off the board at Ellis with six races here, including two wins, two seconds, and two thirds.  Though she’s decent at other tracks, her performances here are always strong.

Race 10

1^st #3 Hello Don Julio is a strong, old gelding who loves his marathon turf races.  He’s running high Beyer numbers at an age that is considered old for horses to succeed.  But this guy loves his job, and is coming over from Indiana.

2^nd #7 Bigger Picture is a traveler.  California, New York, Kentucky, Florida, and Texas are a few places he’s been at in the last year and a half.  $1.6 in earnings, and still solid in graded races.

3^rd #1 Nessy has been off for a couple of months after a thirf in a grade three at Churchill.  Before that was a huge allowance score at Keeneland. This race is decent for him but man his others have been tough for him.