8/15/2020

 2   WO       Bold Venture Stakes (GIII)

   $125.000     3yo&Up     6 1/2f   Dirt      3yo 119  Older 123

Sprinters will be the name of the game in this one as we have a dozen set to go six and a half furlongs in the Bold Venture Stakes (GIII), to be run on the main track here at WO.  My top choice will be starting out in the twelve hole, but Comic Gold may not have liked that extra distance in the Triple Bend (GII) and I think he will appreciate moving back in distance here.  He has won eight of fourteen starts, including five in a row prior to that tiring effort last out.  The post is my biggest concern, but let’s see if he gets back on track here.  Another that has to be given a big chance is Saturday Khartoum, despite only one win this year.  He was also third in the Met Mile (GI) and had the lead deep into that one.  He’s a tough old 6yo, and is always a tough competitor.  Zombie City can run, Big Sweeping has eleven wins… you get the idea.  This is a tough group of horses.  Let’s grab a coldsnack and take this one in.   

Here’s The Field –

Shows three wins in a row including a stakes win down at GP, taking the Shackleton back in March.  Beat up on  Alw types out at FP and now moves up to graded horses, looking to make it four.  He’s won eleven of twenty starts, so there’s no doubt he knows how to get the job done. 

He’s been a real solid competitor but he’s still looking for his first win of the ’20 season.  Three starts and a pair of thirds in the Hooper (GIII) and an Alw race at ELP last out.  Tired to be ninth in the San Calos (GII) at SA, so he needs to rekindle some of that old magic if he wants his picture taken today. 

Got the job done two back taking the Westchester (GIII) and was third i the Met Hcp (GI) where he had the lead but was overtaken late.  This looks like a good spot and a good distance so I expect a big effort today.

Maybe he’s figured this race horse thing out… broke maiden then followed that up with a win vs. Alw horses over the MTH track, in wet conditions.  This is an obvious step up, but sometimes they just don’t know the difference and keep on going.

Only two wins from fifteen starts and he’s still looking for his first stakes score, as well as his first win of the ’20 season.  He was fifth on the TAM grass vs. stakes company and third last out facing Alw horses at CD.  He’s going to need his very best to be part of this group.

Two wins from six starts this year including a CA-bred stakes win at SA to kick off the year.  He ran down Alw horses at MTH last out in very quick time and a repeat of that could make him a factor, at a price. 

Sold back in Feb and it’s been tough sledding since.  He was third in the Fool Hcp (GIII) then up the track, tiring in his next three starts since that.  He’s been working well, prepping for this, but he has to get back to his old form or it’s another long day at the office. 

Took the Runhappy (GIII) at BEL two back to get his first win of the ’20 season.  Didn’t show much last out in the True North (GII) which was an obvious step back in form.  Can he turn back the clock and get back in form to be a factor or is it another one of those?

Back to back wins and this one just can’t find a permanent home.  He’s changed hands three times this season, all my the hostile takeover and continues to run big for whatever barn he’s in.  Seven for seven on-the-board efforts so he looks ready to give black-type foes a run for their money. 

Took the Hutcheson while on the TC Trail back in the spring, but a couple of bad races in the FLA Derby (GI) and Lang Stakes (GIII) ended that.  He was a fast closing sixth in the Vigors (GIII) last out, but will need to find some more if he want to battle here. 

Won the Governors Stakes at EMD two back, but the rest of his ’20 efforts have been rather forgettable.  Eleventh last out, really not showing much in the Vanderbilt (GI) last out.  He will have to run his very best to be any parts of this one, especially from this post. 

Finally proved to be human, running sixth in the Triple Bend (GII) last out.   Prior to that he had five wins in a row including the Kona Stakes (GIII) at SA.  Eight wins in fourteen starts… yeah, he knows how to get the job done.  He gets no favor with the twelve hole but won a stakes at SUN from the ten post… he’s good. 

Early Scratch

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES