DT FOCUS (1/9-AQU 2): Eightyfiveinafifty (105 Beyer)
 

AQUEDUCT 2nd (12:58)

6 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds Maiden Special Weight | Purse: $40,000

1 5 He's a Scrooge Jara F McLaughlin Kiaran P 120 FTL 8-1
1A 6 Freshman Dorm Napravnik A R McLaughlin Kiaran P 120 L 8-1
2 1 Upper Afleet Serpa A Kelly Patrick J 1155 30-1
3 2 Avenging Spirit Cohen D Barbara Robert 120 FTL 3-1
4 3 Winaholic Migliore R Levine Bruce N 120 FTL 6-1
5 4 Eightyfiveinafifty Chavez J F Contessa Gary C 120 L 6-5
6 7 Departures Saez G Duggan David P 120 FTL 15-1
7 8 Bojan Hill C Terranova, II John P 120 FTL 5-1
8 9 Hot Pursuit Lopez C C Zito Nicholas P 120 L 20-1

A-Coupled: He's a Scrooge and Freshman Dorm

Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Pick 3 Races (2-4), Pick 4 Races (2-5) Daily Double Wagers

This is a white hot group...

Though the Contessa who bowed behind Dublin at SAR ('85 IN A 50') is getting all the ink, Bob Barbara's debuting AVENGING SPIRIT is rumored to be the goods.

Levine's $210k Repole purchase by Tiznow (WINAHOLIC) may needs a start and a second turn, and the Wildcat Heir colt BOJAN from Terranova looks to run first time as many do from that barn, and is a half to SW Fitz Just Right.

McLaughlin has an entry including an 'any kind' that he owns (HE'S A SCROOGE)...

And from a personal viewpoint, I'm expecting Dave Duggan's DEPARTURES to be OK too, at some point if not in this unveiling Saturday. He's a half to the likable SW Fleet Valid... "Port Chop" from his days with Trombetta when I got to spend a good deal of time around him. Fleet Valid is a 'too fast for his own good' type that has had a nice career winning 9 times (2 stakes) in 29 starts with 20 ITM finishes.

I thought there was a big fight in the paddock or something like that.

I think Contessas horse will be 2/5 in here and run to those odds. You rarely see him express this kind of confidence in one of his animals, and this is a betting barn. This one is suppose to be real good.

Horse Racing perfers the fighting happen on the track on horses, like in the old days. Maybe NTRA should start funding jousting events.. This 5th race at Philly was bad news

Wow, Gary's horse is something special. Going to be fun to see where he goes next, whether he stretches or they look for one turn races.

The Barbara FTS ran fairly well also. Down the lane he was clueless. He will improve with time also

I wonder when we see him next? Gary is taking him to Gulfstream but I dont think a specific race has been planned. Allowance race or right to the FOY? Derby Fever is contagious and I think Gary has it! Best of luck to him. It would be a great story.

Huge number that race I would think.

And completely under wraps. This horse is freaky good. Surprised there isnt more buzz on this guy. Note the amount of different owners. This was a monster in the making.

Contessa has had a few horses run a big INNER number and then come down to earth. That doesn't mean this horse isnt the real deal, he might be, do you remember the last Forest Camp to be SO good? I don't.. Again he might be all that but I would error on the side of a Contessa horses not being "all that" once they switch to a different arena. To be fair Contessa did win a stake at GP on a horse I completely wrongfully tossed.

Who was that ridiculous juice job he sold off a big Inner win that we never heard from again?

Mayan King?

Sounds right

Ran a 105 BSF while setting an average pace. Seems like a nice sprinter, but I can't see him holding up through the derby season and going 10F.

Agree.
Do you want to play heads up?

What is your new name on FT?

105 is a 105. Take nothing away from this run. Most horses don't want 10 panels. That's not saying anything. This is a really nice horse.

So, what does that name mean exactly? 85ina50?

"A 105 is a 105" is a pretty painfully off-base statement.

Anyways. . . I think this horse is pretty good, despite the fact that he was facing a bad field and waltzed on the lead.

My derby reference was because the DRF article about the horse said Contessa expects him to be an important 3-year-old this year, implying (you would think), that he'll be relevant on the Derby trail. The King's Bishop seems like a much more realistic long term goal. . . if he can somehow stay healthy.

Actually that field might not be too bad..The second place horse has a future and ran a very good race.