CC Emerald
CD Race #11 1 1/16m Turf Stake
Purse $150.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward. Additional Requirements: Have started for a claiming price of $25.00 or less since 1/1/2021.
I like to think as this series of races as the poor mans Breeders Cup but of course it’s not full of poor men or women but contested by some of the top players in the game. Some of them like Night Rider Stables, and Asgar are well known for claiming horses and turning them into superstars but we also have the likes of Arindel and Mb Stables fighting alongside newer stables who are just finding their feet. Thus for me this series is a great set of races where we can celebrate some of the great claims of the year.
Here is how they line up for the Emerald:
1 Iron With Ransom Ekli Stable Hernandez B J Jr
This five year old took a leap up his improvement curve coming into the Summer and has reeled off four in a row culminating in a Stakes race and an open allowance in his last two races. He gets the penalty for the stakes win but both the inside drawn horses are carrying penalties and at least they have been helped by the draw monster to negate some of that burden. This is a real solid horse who has hit form at the right time for this race, the two pounds extra will make it tough but he is tough enough to get in amongst it.
2 The Mad King Simmer Down Stable Corrales G
He was two lengths behind Iron With Ransom in an open allowance at PRX last time but gets a much better draw today and i doubt there will be much between them over this trip. A four year old by State Police he is very much like the horse inside him on form but i don’t feel he is on the same improvement curve and he may find it harder to cope with the penalty. I expect him to be thereabouts but i think place money may be his best hope.
3 Atomic Eclipse Spankys Barn Gaffalione T
On form this five year old is very much in that grey area but i am very much interested in his recent mile work where he stopped the clock at 1.34 and 1. His speed figures are suggesting improvement and so is that work so with a nice draw he will go into my top picks for this race.
4 Affirmed Authority Asgar Beschizza A
A decent sort who has performed over a variety of trips very consistently he certainly gets into this race with a big chance if he can see the mile and sixteenth out against this competition.
5 The Big Easy Alydar Stables Saez L
Another consistent sort i am a bit perplexed with his work times as he works like a dirt sprinter and yet has had most success so far in turf routes. He doesn’t have the recent form some of these have but his works are eye catching and i wouldn’t be ruling him out.
6 Ideal Gift Threshold Murrill M
Probably the eight year olds swan song, if the rain turns up rule him out, if it stays dry he may go out in a semblance of relative glory.
7 Wave Goodbye Ace Racing Stable Landeros C
Gets in with the three year old allowance and did contest a grade one earlier in the year so clearly has some high expectations on his back. His last race was terrible which throws up some red flags but this is HRP and once you get those spinny legs it can throw up some head scratching runs.
8 Bb Bomb Night Rider Stables Leparoux J R
I could probably call this stable the claiming king without too much opposition so any runner they have in these races must be considered. He ran a big speed figure when just being beaten at DMR last time so although his form isn’t as impressive as some he certainly has enough there to give him a chance.
9 Inbred Locked And Loaded Geroux F
He was only beaten two lengths in the grade one Forrester Turf Classic so is certainly not just a banjo playing no hoper. Most of his races have been over sprint trips and he has never won a route which is a worry but looking back to that grade one his new trainer may just be on to something here.
10 Sneaky Wolf Asgar Talamo J
The four year old gets a tough draw in an even field here but is certainly capable if he gets some racing luck. A winner of a soft ground sprint last time but as this is HRP land that doesn’t worry me too much as he has also shown good winning form over much further. Tactics here will be the key.
11 Prom King Onlineracingclub.com Garcia Mar
This would be a huge winner if he can pull it off as he is only having his fifth career start and carries a penalty as a three year old from a horrible draw. He would have to be very special to win under those conditions but i must admit he may just be very special, He worked a lightening time last time out and was very good when he won the Overskate Stakes last time. He could well be a superstar and a little part of me hopes he is.
12 Big Sky Night Aandc Stable Albarado R J
Getting out into the cheap seats now but these ex claimers are all good allowance horses now and he is right in this if he can catch a break from the race engine. He has won an Allowance in a sub 1.33 mile time which puts him right up there with stakes winning times but has got the attack of the spinny legs from wide draws before so he will need an intervention to give him a chance.
13 Smokin Joe La Canada Racehorses Hernandez C J
His best chance in this race may come with rain as he has been very tough on an off track in his last two. A fast pace and an off track and just maybe he will find a way to get into the finish.
14 Cameraman Our Athletes Velazquez J R
Well the only horse that has run in a claimer in his last race gets the car park draw and i guess that just about sums up his chances. He is not a bad sort, don’t get me wrong, and deserves a shot here but he will have to hope he avoids spinny legs and then gets a decent trip to make any use of his three year old eight allowance.
SUMMARY
Well this is a tough read if you want to try and pick one on form. I think Atomic Eclipse could offer some betting value here as his last work was pretty good and the same could be said for The Big Easy. However i love a good story and the best would be written if the three year old Prom King overcomes the penalty and the wide draw to make it four wins in a row.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
