5/21/2022
2 CD The Louisville (GIII)
$200.000 4yo&Up 1 1/2m Turf 122lbs
The big weekend will focus on PIM as we moved from the CD oval after the KYD, but don’t think we don’t have a big meet and big races still taking place here at the Twin Spires… we look at the field for The Louisville (GIII) a marathon mile and a half turf stakes, and I’ll look for some fancy piano man music to serenade us in this one, so Billy Joel seems to be the answer. Class, wins, distance… he has it all. He may not be as good as he once was, but I think he’s this good. I’ll put Afterburner in the second spot and he’s another that love the sod and the distance, and that’s probably good enough.
Here’s The Field –
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Hollywood Capo | Nakamura Stables | Hernandez C J | 122 | 8/1 |
He was third last out at a flat mile on the GP soft sod, and has been facing graded horses for the most part. He won the Shadow Turf Mile (GI) last fall, so he certainly knows how. He tired in the McKnight (GIII) at GP at the distance, so there are some questions.
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Controlled Power | Spankys Barn | Prat F | 122 | 5/1 |
He was running at the marathon distance, and won the Sycamore (GIII) at KEE vs. similar, and with ten wins from forty-nine starts and more than $1.000.000, you know he has the credentials to be part of this one. This could be a spot for his to get his first win of the ’22 season.
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Billy Joel | La Canada Racehorses | Geroux F | 122 | 9/5 |
Classy ol rascal and banked $3,300.000 and has already won the McKnight (GIII) at GP this seasonClosed well to be third in the Whittingham (GII) at SA last out, and he looks ready to add to his already huge bank-roll.
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Raccoonimus Maximus | Night Rider Stables | Rispoli U | 122 | 7/1 |
Had four wins in a row prior to that dud in the Canadian turf (GIII) at GP, then came back to be second in vs high-end OptAlw horses at WO last out. I think there are more questions than answers with this one and will look at some others.
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Andes | Threshold | Beschizza A | 122 | 7/2 |
He was purchased from the Dec Auction, then ran third at the distance faing graded horses at HOU, then ran a bad race at FG when he just didn’t fire on the grass there. He needs to bounce back if he want to be part of this, but his back class is certainly something to fear.
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Ghost Of Scotland | Fractious | Gutierrez R | 122 | 8/1 |
Claimed for $25.000 out of his last race, and was claimed four back prior to that one. Won two races for that prior barn and they move him up to the graded types while increasing the distance. Sharp barn, so maybe…
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Afterburner | Arindel | Rocco J S Jr | 122 | 7/2 |
He’s been on a steady diet of graded stakes company and has two on the board finishes this season. He loves the marathon distance and should be a major factor today… he could be the one to get past.
COZMAN 3 / 7 Willie’s Green Card 3 / 2
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
