The LeComte
- Finnick the Fierce- Sonny Leon- Rey Hernandez
- This colt for Rey Hernandez is really coming into form in this race. He debuted very nicely back in June at Indiana Grand but only earned a 41 beyer. Then off of a layoff he ran a little longer for the first time and finished a mediocre 4th. However, his first time running over the off going, he ran 2nd and just missed to Silver Prospector in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs. He earned an 80 beyer off of that effort and is coming into this race well rested by taking December off. During his break, he has had back to back bullet works, which hopefully means he is fully cranked today. He will be a huge price still today as he hasn’t been bet since his debut. I will be using him in horizontals but I will not be using him on top.
- Mr. Monomoy- Florent Geroux- Brad Cox
- Mr. Monomoy is gonna be a huge fan favorite today, since he is the half brother to Monomoy Girl who is a beloved horse at Fair Grounds. However, as much as I like this horse, I also don’t like him as much as some in that race. He likes to be close to the lead, but I think some of the outside horses are just quicker so Mr. Monomoy might have to sit off which he might actually benefit from, I just don’t know if that is what he prefers because he can close but the last two times he got the lead or was dueling. The only time he closed was in debut when he was forced too. He should be pressing and could get the trip, I will be using him but he isn’t my top pick.
- Perfect Star- Robby Albarado- Scott Gelner
- Perfect Star seems like he prefers the turf way more than dirt. I really do not understand the appeal the connections had for this race. He doesn’t really have much to look back at for dirt, so I will be looking elsewhere.
- Scabbard- Corey Lanerie- Eddie Kenneally
- Scabbard or formally known as Noose, has been okay so far in his career. I think he is classy but I think he just isn’t quick enough. His race in the Iroquois would probably win this race but I just don’t know if he can go back to that. I just think that he might lose too much ground early and some of these speed horses have some closing kick that he might just not get the jump on.
- Excession- CJ Hernandez- Steve Asmussen
- Another horse that might prefer an off going over a fast surface is Excession. This is the first of three Steve Asmussen entries and also the middle entry when it comes to ML odds. I think this actually is the weakest of the three however. He seems to just not have enough kick down the lane late, and usually hurts more than helps in big races like this. Will look elsewhere.
- New Eagle- Gabriel Saez- Michael Maker
- New Eagle was the pace in the Kentucky Jockey Club in his previous race but flattened out pretty bad. He seems to have some kick late but with the other pace signed up and some solid pressers and closers, I think in this field he might be just not in the right spot.
- Halo Again- Joe Talamo- Steve Asmussen
- Halo Again is undefeated in two starts but hasn’t faced a whole lot of talent. He won a restricted Ontario bred stakes race at Woodbine, and won that race. Yet, this is his first time facing open company and the toughest field to date. This will be a huge step up for him, but I think he won’t step up that easily.
- Jack the Umpire- Shaun Bridgmohan- Brett Brinkman
- I don’t think this horse really has a shot at all. His beyers aren’t even in the same area code as the majority of the field. The addition of blinkers has made this horse a winner but this field is just way too tough compared to Delta Downs’ small stake races.
- Silver State- Ricardo Santana Jr.- Steve Asmussen
- Silver State has a legit shot here for Asmussen and should be sitting midpack if not closer than that. Asmussen goes to his top jockey in Santana, and should be confident in this horse. He prefers the off going in my opinion over a fast track. If the pace is as strong as I hope it will be, this horse could be splashing home in the slop.
- Enforceable- Julien Leparoux- Mark Casse
- Enforceable is a closer that was flying late in the Kentucky Jockey Club last time out on the slop. He gets possibly the same distance and surface today due to rain in the forecast so if the speed really does hold up early, he could be flying late with Leparoux. I will be using on some tickets and he will be a horse I will be watching on the tote board.
- Bango- Marcelino Pedroza- Greg Foley
- Bango could be on the lead early and should be in my opinion. However, I think the horse two spots to the outside of him might be quicker. Bango beyer speed figure wise is a little slow and from a class perspective he just doesn’t fit. He seems to be a hanger so I will be looking elsewhere.
- Shashashakemeup- James Graham- Keith Desormeaux
- Shashashakemeup has the best name in this race by far but that small stake race in the slop at Fair Grounds isn’t what I want to see from a horse in this field with the possible rain in the forecast. He should be mid pack, and make his move going into the final turn but I think he might just not have enough for this competition.
- Sycamore Run- Adam Beschizza- Joe Sharp
- Sycamore Run should get the lead due to the outside post. He might also be the fastest horse in the field in general. He earned an 85 beyer in debut and that is also his only race to date. If he gets an easy lead which I doubt, he could air this field out on the front end. These connections are respectable so I will be using this horse.
- Lynn’s Map- Miguel Mena- Mark Casse
- The dreaded 14 post is Lynn’s Map. This Liam’s Map colt should be sending too just so he could get a good spot in which he could sit off of the lead. He has beaten Mr. Monomoy and Excession which is a huge factor for me in this race. If he can repeat that effort on the slop today, he could win again at a decent price. I will be using him today.
TOP PICKS
#9 Silver State
#1 Finnick the Fierce
#13 Sycamore Run