This weekend we should see the last of the potential BC horses get their tighteners. There are a lot of turf stakes for old/young horses, and I haven't been following them enough to know which 2YOs are good enough to be entered. But on the pointer pages I provide you can see these races and can pluck the PPs should you desire. It is unlikely that young horses, who are mainly on the turf, will be pointed toward the KYD, which is the main interest in this forum (speak up if I'm mistaken). I'll continue to (try to) concentrate on the dirt races with interesting potential.
On Saturday,
I'll talk about a 2YO turf race (and make my statement above look ridiculous):
At Aqueduct, Race 1, we have a maiden race that includes
Ein Gedi (a myracehorse charge of interest):
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Belmont at Aqueduct - Race 1; PPs ]
Lexi's Spirit is the co-favorite with.. Ein Gedi (no doubt because of trainer Chad Brown, not the mediocre workouts). But not all horses are great at training. I remember one horse we had in the barn, she wouldn't train a lick. But on Saturdays she was a stakes caliber winner!! She just needed the competition. If a horse is 'hot', which means they are not easily 'rated', you don't want to train them with other horses either, so workouts/training will be slow. The competition does not look formidable (for a top track) but some of them do have previous starts (experience).
At Aqueduct, Race 5 is the Vosburgh:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Belmont at Aqueduct - Race 5; PPs ]
Usually a top sprint race, now (only) a Grade II. None of these horses interest me, but if one of them Pops, we'll follow them.
At Aqueduct, Race 8 is the Joe Hirsch (on the turf) with
Gufo a likely favorite:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Belmont at Aqueduct - Race 5; PPs ]
Keeneland opens today (Friday) and has some interesting races:
In Race 6, our old pal
Golden Pal leads the entries in the Woodford:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Keeneland - Race 6; PPs ]
This is a 7f Turf Sprint.
In Race 9, it is the (Kentucky) Breeder's Futurity:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Keeneland - Race 9; PPs ]
In recent years, this race was won by the likes of:
Essential Quality (2020),
Maxfield (2019), and
Knicks Go (2018). Rattle N Roll won last year, but hasn't quite measured up to these last 3. In this year's rendition we have some top 2YOC's.
Forte won the Hopeful, with Irad up,
Loggins who had a great maiden win as did
Lost Ark (with Pratt onboard). Few of these horses have been over 7f, so a long shot is a definite possibility;
Newgate might surprise at a price. (notice some high priced turf stakes at Keeneland on Saturday and Sunday, on Ward's briswatch page).
In the 10th at Keeneland, the Coolmore Turf Mile:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...9/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Keeneland - Race 10; PPs ]
Classic Causeway tries to show elite turf ability (again); ratcheting back to a shorter distance may help. He may be challenged by
Casa Creed, the Francesca horse who is in peek shape.
Ivar and
Smooth Like Straight should be there at the end.
At Santa Anita:
The 4th race for 2YOF maidens has some nice horses:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...3/summary.html
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Santa Anita Park - Race 4; PPs ]
Riley G is an $825k yearling with decent works.
California Rocket is a $425k yearling and is also trained by Baffert. Those horses with a race under their belt, don't look quite as good. But as we discussed, experience of even 1 race can cause a big change in performance.
In the 6th race, the Chandeleer for 2YO fillies:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...99/summary.htm
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Santa Anita Park - Race 6; PPs ]
Home Cooking and
Justique both have high marks. We'll see if they can improve off of that. Justique may be the better.
In the 8th, the American Pharoah for 2YOs:
http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/brisw...99/summary.htm
[ URL above, October 8, 2022; Santa Anita Park - Race 8; PPs ]
Cave Rock tries to make it 3 in a row; he has been lights out.
Hejazi has been chasing CR to no avail.
Larry
DevilHorse