#1 Encoder: 8-1 Not the best pedigree when I want to take a horse switching surfaces he has hard Spun on the bottom so I hope the dirt will be fine and this is the only foal of the dam so far and he’s a 2x listed stake winner on turf so he’s at least won a stake although not on today’s surface. I’m hoping with how much speed there is this son of English Channel can sit third or fourth and just pounce when the pace collapses. Another key for me is trainer John Sadler is 36% with almost 50 starters and a 4% ROI when switching surfaces
#2 Thousand Words: 4-5 I’ve heard he hasn’t been working all that well in the morning getting beat out by lesser horses from the Baffert barn but we all know horses can be just bad in the morning and great in the afternoon. He is a big money 2-year-old they paid 1 Million for him. He is 1 of 2 graded stake winners in the field and should be up on the lead although if the pace gets hot it might open it up for someone off the pace. if you go just by Beyers he is the one to beat.
#3 Tizamagican: 3-1 Just broke his maiden in start 6 it was a nice jump up to a mid 80 on the Beyer scale although he was right on top of the pace in this one and unless he can show the ability to rate and pass horses he’s another that could get burned up on the front end. He also seems like he might be a seconditis type horse that really just doesnt like to pass that final horse
#4 Royal act:15-1 not much to say slow on Beyers he can be fast early adding to the pace and is also going T-D.
#5 High Velocity 3-1 Never really improved in 3 starts at 2 81-81-82. He ran third to the favorite LTO and did win a G3 last year albeit pace aided. I need to see improvement as a 3-year-old now before I put this one anywhere near my top pick.
#6Zimba Warrior: 15-1 Was G3 placed in last years Bob Hope should be sitting right around the back of the pack and might get thr right kind of trip with this much pace signed on. Just not fast enough for me to put into my picks. With a 0-14 trainer and 8% jock they need to start heating up as well
Top Picks
#1 Encoder
#2 Thousand Words
#3 Tizamagican