Blog

Race 1

1^st #1 Ruler of the Nile has done well for himself this year.  He’s coming off of a recent win at Churchill. He’s won half of his starts, (six out of twelve) which is better than a lot of horses.  He’s done well for himself this year, with earnings of $117,040.  

2^nd #3 Tres Equis has been my choice several times throughout the summer and fall.  He is usually a consistent runner and he isn’t a stranger to Keeneland, he has won and ran second here before.  Although he ran sixth last out, it was a respectable performance.

3^rd #8 Facilitator is sitting at 6/1 ML, but Alex Canchari has had luck on the KY circuit recently since he has come back.  This fella has ran second place here in is debut, and a lot has changed since then. His last race was a fluke at Arlington, he just gave up, but hopefully not this time.

Race 2

1^st #2 Quick Quick Quick hasn’t lived up to her name lately with the tough races she’s been running in.  Ian Wilkes and Chris Landeros are a father/son-in-law team that usually fare quite well. Like most in this field, a better spot.

2^nd #3 What a Fox could make it two wins in a row, but I am not sold on that.  Her recent win at Churchill was an awesome performance and helped build some confidence.  She didn’t really fit in this summer with others at Churchill (spring), and Ellis but those were tough spots.

3^rd #10 Evil Ways is now coming down in class which was much needed.  She’s just been outmatched lately and I think now that hopefully this is the right spot for her, we can see some changes.  Hopefully with the third start off a layoff it will help.

Race 3

1^st #8 Strut the Ring is an Ontario-bred that has made more of a name for himself as he’s gone around the US than at Woodbine where he broke his maiden.  Twenty-three starts and nine wins is really, really tough to beat people.

2^nd #6 Frost or Frippery has ran fifty times, with twelve wins and many more second and third place finishes.  He’s the kind of gelding people want in their barns. A game, consistent, older gelding who is still running at Kenneland.

3^rd #2 Above Board is actually owned and trained by Steve Asmussen.  I italicized the owned part because it’s a good sign if he is owning one and running it.  He’s got Quiet American on the dam’s side which is something not common anymore. Just finished fourth, but before that won.

Race 4

1^st #8 Duke of Carthania ran third at Kentucky Downs in his debut which shows a lot.  He wasn’t much of a pin hooking prospect like his owners at the time had hoped, but maybe $75,000 was a decent price, we are going to have to see how the Mark Casse runner continues to run.

2^nd #1 Invader ran third at Kentucky Downs recently as well.  It was a much better race than his debut, which was a sixth place finish at Belmont.  Hopefully as he improves, the son of War Front will pick things up.

3^rd #5 Blackberry Wine I chose last out, and guess what? Another third place finisher at Kentucky Downs in his second lifetime start.  He recently worked out really well here, and is a homebred for Calumet Farm which shows they have confidence in this horse.

Race 5

1^st #4 True Dream was bought by her trainer for $52K, and she’s made $211,554 so far nearing the age of five.  A good return investment! The daughter of Yes It’s True is coming out of a good second place finish at Churchill.

2^nd #8 High Regard has ran in some tough company lately, but her last out in particular was a third place finish at Kentucky Downs in the Fifth Third Insurance Dueling Ground Oaks.  She’s also graded stakes placed. She’s got some talent.

3^rd #7 Tap Gun was at a hefty purchase price- $1.4M.  She’s only ran once this year, and it wasn’t bad. A fourth place finish, but that was on a tenth month layoff.  Now with a race under her belt, she will be more fit.

Race 6

1^st #9 Tempers Rising is a daughter of Bayern who’s showed some talent in her two starts, running second and third for Dallas Stewart.  It’s ironic that before she even raced, she was put through the sales ring four times. Not something to be seen often, but also her value went up each time.

2^nd #5 Sense of Self only has one race under her belt, but it was a second place finish at Colonial Downs exactly a month ago.  Her last two workouts were very good and she is like her opponent who has been in the sales ring three times with value going up more each time.

3^rd #4 Glamour Girl has two starts and two third place finishes.  It’s not a bad way to start off a career, but it would be nice to see the daughter of Tonalist make some waves with his first babies being runners this year.  Larry Jones does very well training fillies especially.

Race 7

1^st #3 Mystic Lancelot kicks off the trio of stakes races on today’s card, with a nice maiden breaking victory at Saratoga.  Going to Woodbine in a grade one didn’t work out super well, but Todd Pletcher does a monster job with babies.

2^nd #5 Fast Scene is a filly going against the boys, with already two stakes wins to her name.  Fast Anna isn’t getting as much credit as he should, but this girl is going to quickly build a name for her sire.  I’d really like to see her beat the boys.

3^rd #1 Old Chestnut ran fifth in his first race, but got it together and came back to win his maiden and a stakes race right after.  Mark Casse has a solid stable at Woodbine, so it’s interesting to watch some of shippers in the US. I’m excited for this one.

Race 8

1^st #6 Field Pass probably went under people’s radars when it was noticed he was a cheap Maryland bred.  But, he isn’t. He’s already graded stakes placed finishing second in a grade three at Saratoga, which earns a lot of credit.

2^nd #14 Vitalogy (GB) has a dreadful task of being way on the outside.  But once you look at his record, wow. He shipped to Woodbine after a win and fourth place finish, and finished third there in a grade one.  This is a tough ask of the son of No Nay Never, but he’s capable of it.

3^rd #10 Peace Achieved is worth a bet.  He won a stakes last out at Kentucky Downs which as you gather reading my picks, is a tremendously difficult task.  Watching a horse win at Ellis and then win a stakes there is just amazing.

Race 9

I mean, how do you not chose for 1^st #5 Elate.  Everyone talks about this mare, with earnings of over $2.2 million, she’s been everywhere! She just lost by a nose last out in the Personal Ensign at Saratoga, which was a bummer, but once you look at her record, you’ll be awe-struck.

2^nd #1 Dunbar Road is the Chad Brown trainee who has kicked off her career in style this year.  Five starts, and only one loss which came in the Gulfstream Oaks were she ran second. It was still a great performance.

3^rd #2 Blue Prize (ARG) is a very well respected mare who just won the Summer Colony Stakes at Saratoga, and before that had a good summer at Churchill and Delaware.  Her losses have been tough this summer so it was great to finally see her win one.

Race 10

1^st 10 Hallawallah started her career this spring with an impressive win at Churchill.  Her races only got tougher from there and she handled her races well, even though she didn’t win.  This is a good spot for the daughter of Candy Ride (ARG).

2^nd #8 Fun Finder has been all around the block when it comes to different kinds of races.  She wins, then goes in a stakes, doesn’t work out, repeat. Finally last out she finished second in a nice allowance race at 

3^rd #4 Urban Insight looks to gain a little bit of confidence back after a spotty record this summer.  Jose Ortiz on her will be good so she’s got that strong ride, but I worry about how her last out puts her in this field, so I put her in third for safe keeping.