Spa and Shore

After having over a month off, the 3yo's are back in the picture with the Jim Dandy and Haskell happening this weekend.

10th Race - Saratoga - Saturday, July 30th, 2011
STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $500,000. Jim Dandy S. (Grade 2). FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. No nomination fee. $5,000 to pass the entry box. All starters will receive a $2,500 rebate. The purse to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among remaining finishers if there are six (6) or more starters. all starters will be guaranteed no less than $1,000. If only five (5) start the purse will be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 6% to fourth and 4% to fifth. 123 lbs. Non-winners of a Grade 1 in 2011 allowed 2 lbs.; a Grade 2 over a mile in 2011, 4 lbs.; a Graded Sweepstake at a mile or over, 6 lbs. (Maiden, claiming, starter and restricted allowance races not considered). Any horse that competes in both the Jim Dandy and the Travers will have their subscription fees waived for the Travers. A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. Closed Saturday, July 16, 2011 with 48 Nominations. (05:45 PM) (7)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Moonshine Mullin 3 C L 117 Wilson Emma-Jayne Baker Reade
2 Dominus 3 R L 121 Leparoux Julien R. Asmussen Steven M.
3 Brilliant Speed 3 C L 123 Velazquez John R. Albertrani Thomas
4 Scotus 3 C L 119 Garcia Alan McPeek Kenneth G.
5 Will's Wildcat 3 G L 117 Albarado Robby Baker James E.
6 Stay Thirsty 3 C L 119 Castellano Javier Pletcher Todd A.
7 Alternation 3 C L 121 Dominguez Ramon A. Von Hemel Donnie K.

I say that three of these horses are an unknown to me personally. Granted Moonshine Mullin is based in Canada, and obviously the fact that Emma is coming down to ride means that she is high on him. What I will talk about is that Stay Thirsty was an unlucky second in the Belmont. Alternation won the Peter Pan and is obviously very talented. Unfortanlly a freakout and a poor race had him out of the TC. Dominus won the Dywer and Brillant Speed is probley better on turf and polytrack. Don't know anything about Scotus and Will's Wildcat.

On talent alone, Alternation could be a very special horse. With that being said, I'm sticking with my guns and going with Stay Thirsty. Dominus for second and Alternation for third.


12th Race - Monmouth Park - Sunday, July 31st, 2011
STAKES. 1 1/8 Mile Dirt. Purse $1,000,000. Haskell Invitational S. (Grade 1). FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS. By invitation only, with no nomination, entry, or starting fees. The winning owner to receive $600,000, $200,000 to second, $100,000 to third, $60,000 to fourth, $30,000 to fifth and $10,000 paid from sixth through last. Weight : 122 lbs. Non-winners of a Triple Crown race allowed 2 lbs.; Non-winners of a Grade I Stake at a mile or over in 2011, 4 lbs. The owner and trainer of any Triple Crown race victor which starts in the Haskell receives a $25,000 bonus per Triple Crown race victory. The owner of the winner to receive a trophy. (05:43 PM) (8)
PP Horse A/S M/E Wgt Jockey Trainer
1 Coil 3 C L o 118 Garcia Martin Baffert Bob
2 Joe Vann 3 C L 118 Bravo Joe Pletcher Todd A.
3 Pants On Fire 3 C L 118 Trujillo Elvis Breen Kelly J.
4 Concealed Identity 3 G L 118 DeCarlo Christopher P. Gaudet Edmond D.
5 Shackleford 3 C L 122 Castanon Jesus Lopez Romans Dale L.
6 Ruler On Ice 3 G L 122 Valdivia, Jr. Jose Breen Kelly J.
7 J J's Lucky Train 3 C L 118 Lopez Paco Anderson William D.
8 Astrology 3 C L 118 Leparoux Julien R. Asmussen Steven M.

With the exception of J J's Lucky Train and Joe Vann, this is a pretty good field. Shackleford will try to become the 3rd Preakness winner in a row to win the Haskell (Rachel and Lucky being the other two). Pants on Fire gets a new jockey with Rosie out and Ruler on Ice will have to prove that his Belmont win was not a fluke. This will be Concealed Identity's first race as "House Horse" (where the owner of the horse happens to be the track runner. Which in CI's case he is since co-owner Morris Bailey is the lessee of Monmouth). Coil will try to rebound from a 2nd place photo finish in the Swaps. Astrology could be a dark horse in this race. Joe and JJ are taking huge steps up in class.

I gotta go with the horse whose extremely hot right now in Fire, Shackleford for second and Astrology for third. If it rains, then remove Astrology move Shack down to third and put Ice in that second spot.

The Ruffian dispite the defeaction of Awesome Maria got a good field. I'm going with a MDO 1-2 with Payton d' Oro winning and Super Espresso finishing a good second. Should be a fun weekend. I'm sadly going to be out of the loop racing wise due to family comittments, but I'll be back Monday with a recap!