First, Handsome Mike is a scratch from the Dirt Mile race on Friday - he has a swelling in his near fore leg and is lame. Second, American Pharoah, the Juvenile betting favorite on Saturday, is also a scratch; he, too, is lame, and it's believed to be a deep foot bruise in his left fore.
I have to admit I haven't been keeping an eye on the races this year - other than a few major stakes races - and I'm completely in the dark about the 2-year-olds who are racing this year. (I guess I've been too focused on Cozmic One, Zenyatta's first foal, who is in training at Belmont Park.) There are not many photos available of many of the juvenile race contenders, so all of my decisions this year about the juvies are based on past racing and their pedigrees. And, since I know that people choose to bet on horses for all sorts of reasons, I always add in birthplace information, color, sex and age. And, if one of my favorite jockeys is riding the horse, you'll be aware of that, also. As always, if you want more information about any entry, I suggest you visit The Bloodhorse website at http://www.bloodhorse.com/ . I am also going to ignore the designated alternate entries that are waiting in line for someone to scratch...
The first race is the Juvenile Turf; all 2-year-old boys carrying 122 pounds for one mile. Wet Sail and Hootenanny are geldings; Daddy D T is a ridgling. Eight were born in Kentucky, three were born in New York, two were born in Great Britain, and Conquest Typhoon was born in Ontario, Canada. Danny Boy is the only grey (roan) in the field; horses in post positions 2, 3, and 4 are chestnuts; and the rest are bays or dark browns. Half of the field traces back to Hyperion (and/or *Forli), my favorite bloodline. (My other favorite is Man o'War, and he is in most American-bred lines.) I have only seen photos of five of the fourteen entries; the most photogenic is #11, Imperia, a dark brown colt, bred in Kentucky, and at 6 to 1 odds. Imperia will have Javier Castellano in the irons. The betting favorite is Hootenanny, a bay gelding, bred in Kentucky, and ridden by Frankie Dettori. The seond betting choice is War Envoy, a bay colt from Kentucky. Mike Smith is riding Luck of the Kitten, a chestnut Kentucky-bred; Corey Nakatani is aboard Daddy D T, another Chestnut Kentucky-bred; and Julien Leparoux will be in the stirrups aborad the grey, Danny Boy. Not having seen any of these colts run, and just looking at their pedigrees, these are my choices: Aktabantay (bred in Great Britain), Danny Boy, Imperia, and Wet Sail. But I also have the feeling that Hootenanny will run a huge race....
With the scratch of Handsome Mike in the Dirt Mile, the longest shot on the betting board is gone, leaving a field of nine. Two three-year-olds (Tapiture and Vicar's in Trouble) will carry 123 pounds; the other horses, two 4-year-olds, four 5-year-olds, and one 6-year-old will each carry 126 pounds. Pants On Fire is the eldest, and the bay horse is still going strong. Goldencents, the winner last year, will start from the #1 post position and is the early betting favorite. Bronzo was born in Chile; Big Bane Theory was born in California, and Vicar's In Trouble was born in Louisiana; the others were born in Kentucky. Bronzo and Carve are geldings; the other boys are intact. Tapiture, who will have Rosie Napravnik in the irons, is the only chestnut in the field; all other runners are bay. Tapiture is also the only horse in the field that does not have Hyperion in his pedigree. Carve will have Mike Smith in the saddle; Joel Rosario will be riding Golden Ticket; and Joe Talamo is aboard Big Bane Theory. My picks are: Vicar's In Trouble (because he's such a small guy), Bronzo, Pants On Fire, and Tapiture.
Gary Stevens returns to the saddle (14 weeks after a total knee replacement) in the Juvenile Fillies Turf; he'll be aboard Irish-bred Sivoliere. Each of these two-year-old fillies will be carrying 122 pounds in the one mile race. Again, there were very few photos for me to look at, so don't expect much... Of the fourteen fillies entered, Sunset Glow is the only grey or roan; there are three chestnuts - Partisan Politics, Isabella Sings, and Rainha Da Bateria; and the other ten runners are bay or dark brown. Three fillies were bred in Ireland - Osaila, Sivoliere, and Qualify; one was bred in Great Britain, Prize Exhibit; Conquest Harlanate was bred in Ontario, Canada; Quality Rocks was bred in Florida; the other fillies are Kentucky-bred. Three of the fillies do not have Hyperion in their pedigree - Tammy the Torpedo, Rainha Da Bateria, and Quality Rocks. The betting favorite is Sunset Glow, ridden by Victor Espinoza; Lady Zuzu has Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer D Wayne Lukas; and Frankie Dettori is in the irons on Osaila. I like: Prize Exhibit, Sivoliere, Lady Zuzu, Osaila, and Nicky's Brown Miss.
The Distaff for fillies and mares, running 1 and 1/8 miles on the dirt for $2 million.... Eleven females; all bred in Kentucky, except Valiant Emilia, from Peru. The three 3-year-olds (Unbridled Forever, Ria Antonia, and Untapable) will carry 121 pounds; the eight older mares will carry 124. Don't Tell Sophia is the eldest racing, at age 6; there are three 4-year-olds (Tiz Midnight, Iotapa, and Close Hatches) while the other four entries are 5 years of age. L'Amour de Ma Vie is the only grey or roan in the group; Belle Gallantey is the only chestnut; and the rest are bays. Five of the ladies are descendants of Hyperion; six are not. Rosie Napravnik is riding Untapable, and they are the betting favorite. Corey Nakatani is aboard Stanwyck; Jose Rosario is on Close Hatches; and John R Velasquez will ride Unbridled Forever. My picks: Untapable, Valiant Emilia, L'Amour de Ma Vie, Close Hatches, and Belle Gallantey.
As always, know that I do this for fun. Do not place wagers on my choices and expect to win. Sometimes my picks are good, and sometimes they stink. Betting (and any type of gambling) can become an addiction. Do not spend any money needed for food, housing, or other necessary payments "playing the ponies." It is not a good idea.
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