BONUS COVERAGE

8/31/21

   1    CNL     Kittens Joy Stakes

$100.000      2yo     1 1/16m    Turf             118lbs +penalties

We kick off a big Tuesday card here in The Old Dominion and look at the field of seven freshmen ready to go the mile and a sixteenth distance on the beautiful CNL turf course, and the field for the Kittens Joy is certainly an interesting group.  The only two time winner is my top choice, as I’ll look for High Time to get the job done with this group.  His only blemish is a tenth in the Tremont, but he bounced right back and this is a good opportunity to get black-type next to his name.  I’ll go right next door and put Search Engine on the bottom of my top two.  He closed well to break maiden on the LS turf, and this looks like a good spot for him to be a factor as well.

Here’s The Field –  

COZMAN       6 / 7         Willie’s Green Card        4 / 6

   2    CNL     The Rosies Stakes

$100.000      2yo     5 1/2f    Turf             118lbs

The “baby” turf races keep coming and we look at sprinters this time as we have a field set to go five and a half furlongs in the Rosies Stakes.  I’ll look for Hot Dog to keep the hot hand going as this one just never seems to run a bad race.  Broke maiden at GG, just missed in the FT Futurity at SA then won the Victoria Stakes at WO last out.  He moves to turf, but the am gallops say all systems are go.  Blend is a perfect two-for-two and that’s good enough to get my attention here.  He won at HAW to get his career started, then came back to beat Alw types at BTP.  Maybe a bit softer than some of these have faced, but he gets the job done, so let’s give him a nod to be tough.

Here’s The Field –  

COZMAN    3 / 4            Willie’s Green Card     4 / 3 / 2 

   3    CNL     The VA Oaks

$150.000      3yoF     1 1/8m    Turf            122lbs +penalties

It’s a small field of four set to go the classic mile and an eighth distance in the VA Oaks, as we stay on the lush lawn at CNL.  I hve to put Point Of Honor on top here today, as she is the only horse to show stakes form.  She was third in the San Clemente (GII) at DMR then fourth last out in the Pucker Up Stakes (GIII) on the AP grass.  Is she venerable?  yeah, probably… but I think she will get the job done vs. this group.

Here’s The Field –  

COZMAN   4            Willie’s Green Card     4

   4    CNL     The VA Derby (GIII)

$250.000      3yo    1 1/8m    Turf             122lbs

The sophomores get on the CNL turf and are set to go a mile and an eighth in The VA Derby (GIII).  I know, I know, the Derby races just keep coming, but this is a real nice grass course and being in my home state, I certainly love to cover these races.  I’m taking Andes as the top choice today, as that near miss in the Read Stakes (GII) tell me he is in tip-top form.  Those were older horses, and I believe a bit tougher than what he sees here today.  If he can run back to that last out effort, I think he will get the job done.  I like the outside post horses under him in the exacta, so let’s head down to the rail for some “mid-week” stakes races that should be very fun to watch.

Here’s The Field –  

Was on a fairly decent set of races and was setting the pace in the SAR Derby (GI) before tiring late and ending up sixth in that one.  That was a tougher group than this, and the distance certainly shouldn’t be a question as he was second going a mile and a half.  Can he bounce back from that last out and be a factor here?

                 Early Scratch

Has a couple of decent stakes efforts to his credit as he was third in both the Battaglia and the Tale Of The Cat in his most recent trip to the starting gate.  The vet has paid a visit and told him it’s time to stop dreaming of the breeding shed and concentrate on being a race horse… could that be enough to change his attitude a bit?

Just missed a head last out vs OptAlw types at SAR and he’s another that has been close in a number of stakes races, and he won the Singletary at SA back in Apr.  We all know that Mb comes to win, so there’s no doubt this one is ready to give a big effort. 

Looked good winning (DH) the Snow Chief at SA two starts back, then tired to be fifth in the La Jolla Hcp (GIII) at DMR in his most recent.  Comes back to face only sophomores and I think you have to give him a big look in this one.  He has speed that may get him clear, then make the others play catch-up. 

He looks tough to me coming in off of that near miss in the Read Stakes (GII) where he was second beaten three-quarters of a length.  He also has some other good stakes races, and this is certainly a spot where I think he can make his presence felt in a big big way.  I’ll be surprised if he isn’t in the mix.

Another from the Mb Stables barn and he’s a solid turf horse, for sure.  Won at GG taking down Cal-bred stakes company, and has been close in a number of graded races since then.  I like his tactical speed but he did get tired in his mile and an eight race, back in early July.  Can he go the distance?

Closed well to be fourth in the SAR Derby (GI) and although I’m not a big fan of maidens in stakes races, if he can run back to that last out, he should be a factor with these.  That was a tough group and only beaten a length sure does make it seem like he can run with this group.  Watch him. 

COZMAN   6            Willie’s Green Card     6 / 8

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded