Quote:
Originally Posted by RHT2004
The Kings Bishop
Coal Front and American Anthem should be tough from right on top of the pace. Will b/u with a little Tale of Silence as he ia the cutback closer I want at a big price.
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Practical Joke - been salivating over this since his huge move (and subsequent wilt) in the Fountain of Youth. Nothing he has done since suggests that this race was not his ultimate destiny. Hard Spun ran second in the Haskell and cutback and won this race in 2007. More Than Ready, Forestry, and Tale of the Cat also lost in the Haskell and won this race right back. Forestry and Gygistar also pulled off the Dwyer-King's Bishop double.
Ann Arbor Eddie - 3rd try off a layoff and has been sharp since cutting back from routes. The Cal-bred career is deceptive. Ann Arbor Eddie boasts 4 career wins (only equaled by Practical Joke) out of 8 starts. Mr. Hinx, who bested him last out at Del Mar, owns 5 wins in 8 starts. He tackles older rivals tomorrow in the wide open Pat O'Brien. The unlucky show horse in the Real Good Deal, Edwards Going Left, came back last weekend and pulverized an allowance field of older horses in 1:09+ (no mean feat over the deep Del Mar surface) to register 4 wins from 6 starts. The same day, fellow 3yo American Pastime won a NW3x allowance also in 1:09+ at Del Mar against stakes caliber older sprinters including 2017 Grade 3 winner Lord Simba. Previous to that American Pastime beat Kimbear in an allowance in June at Santa Anita. Kimbear was coming off a runner up finish to American Anthem in the Laz Barrera.
Wild Shot - been horrendous since his big score cutting back to one turn in the Pat Day Mile, but one was a route and he looked to have been fried in the Woody Stephens having to chase real sprint speed in the shape of Recruiting Ready. That is in contrast to what he chased in the Pat Day, Uncontested, who was showing speed in routes in prior races. Why should anything be different in the Allen Jerkens? Jock switch to Lezcano may signal a return to his Tampa Bay Derby trip, when he was held up out of the race early and finished with interest down the lane. A little interesting at an astronomical price.
American Anthem - has the dubious distinction of winning perhaps the most unproductive 3yo stakes races on either coast this year. The only horse out of the Barrera aside from American Anthem to win another race was Taxman's Quest, who left CA with his tail between his legs and found winning form besting fellow Oklahoma-breds in a $45K stakes at Fair Meadows. The only horse to come out of the Woody Stephens to win another race was Petrov, who scored smartly in a 7f allowance at Saratoga, looking primed for this race. However, he has failed to register a work since that race (August 4).
Practical Joke over Ann Arbor Eddie. Wild Shot or No Dozing to complete the trifecta. All the speed melts away.