Familiar Triple Crown faces try turf at Colonial Downs
June 20, 2008 by Jarrod Horak
Filed under Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Trainers
A trio of Derby-Preakness also rans will try to reverse fortunes in the Grade 3 Colonial Turf Cup at Colonial Downs on Saturday. The $600k turf event has attracted ten three-year-olds and will be contested at nine and one-half furlongs.
Court Vision won a pair of graded races as a juvenile, and began his 2008 campaign with a pair of respectable rallying show finishes in the Fountain of Youth and Wood Memorial. He donned the hood and finished a troubled 13th of 20 when last seen in the Kentucky Derby, and today’s surface switch may be just what the doctor ordered. Bill Mott is 20% first grass, and dam has tossed a trio of turf winners. $350k son of Gulch sports three grass works and retains the services of Garrett Gomez.
Kentucky Bear has not been handled properly since his good looking flat mile maiden tally at the Gulf in January. He was thrown right into the graded ranks, beginning with a distant 7th in the Fountain of Youth. A solid 3rd in the Blue Grass followed, then another up the track effort in the Preakness. Dam has thrown a turf winner, and he reunites with his winning rider, but note that he is still eligible for an entry level spot.
Adriano took up early and never got involved on the first Saturday in May, and his other conventional dirt start was poor as well. Late runner clearly like the sod, and Bill Mott has him now. Prado booted him home two back, and he’s the likely fav in this spot.
Sailor’s Cap is versatile and on the upswing for veteran conditioner Jimmy Toner, and the winner from his last (Tizdejavu) returned to nab another graded turf event at Churchill last weekend. Prado abandons for Adriano, and today’s added ground should not pose a problem based on pedigree.
Nistle’s Crunch exits the Tizdejavu/Sailor’s Cap race at Churchill, and he has been a gem of consistency other than the Florida Derby. Albarado has booted him home twice and has options with the early/pressing sort.
Boss Lafitte has won 4 of his last 7 for Amoss, and it is tough to tell which surface/footing he prefers. One thing going against him is that his two winning riders (Albarado, Gomez) are elsewhere in this race.
Sporting Art has won a pair of grade three grass races since arriving in the US in February. I think he is a cut below the best in here.
El Sultry Sun always runs his race and finished a couple of lengths behind Sporting Art two back. He appears most effective between 8-8.5 furlongs.
Your Round remains eligible for an entry level spot, and it remains to be seen which surface he prefers. I would suspect that today’s distance is a bit beyond his reach.
Baltimore Bob is clearly better on the sod but is not fleet enough to threaten stakes company.
The Plays: Could go a number of ways in here, but Court Vision should offer the better value of the two Mott runners, and Nistle’s Crunch might trip-out at the right price. Nistle’s Crunch to win…exacta box with Court Vision.
With the recent (crappiest) Derby in 100 years, I just wanted to wish all those that run at Colonial today the best of luck, maybe a moment of SILENCE before the First race, with that,ALL involved in the days “Sporting” event will THINK about WHY we do this? As a TB Breeder/Trainer/Rider for over 45 years, I believe that, YES, definite “changes” HAVE got to come. I am an HERBAL Equine Sports Medicine Specialist and have been waiting YEARS for others in this business to wake up! Cruelty or Abusive treatment (via chemical enhancement) of something that started a LONG TIME ago, but was more of a Natural thing…..A GREENER thing, can return to THAT if EVERYONE concerned does their part. I think that the issues covered at the Big Hearing are only the tip of the iceberg. I need to GO to the next hearing and bring up a governing or Testing body for ALL RIDERS. So, today, I’m remembering Eight Belles, Barbero, and Ruffian…….THEY did NOT die in vain!