The American Turf – Grade II
                       CD Race 7 1 1/16M – Turf
                                Purse $300.000
                                Three Year Olds

While most of the focus will be on the derby there is still an awesome card. Three year olds routing on the turf in here with some very good horses lining up to run. A couple were on the triple crown trail at one point or another but since they didn’t qualify for the big dance they have ended up in here.

1. Name Drop (5-2-1-1 $164.550), trained by Mb Stables

Last out he won a stakes race at SA after rallying from seven lengths off the pace. He has tried to sit close to the pace before but seems to run his best when sitting farther off the pace. He’ll need a quick pace and is going to weave and duck through traffic but he definitely has a chance to win it.

2. Sweeping Dragonville (2-1-1-0 $43.150), trained by Drabfantasy

A very lightly raced horse with two starts which were a win in his first start and then second by a nose in a graded stake in just his second career start. He looks very talented and that last work shows just how good he could be. If he runs to that work everyone else may be running for second.

3. Living Healthy (10-2-2-2 $226.380), trained by First Class Stable

Scratched

4. Block Message (7-4-1-0 $111.200), trained by Tiratzo

This horse has been on a roll recently winning for of his last five and his last start being a stakes win. Once he switched to the turf he really found his niche and had turned until a very good turf horse. Another one who seems like he’d rather be near the back end of the field so he’ll like a quick pace up front.

5. Full Refund (5-3-2-0 $54.700), trained by Spankys Barn

A very consistent horse he’s never been out of the top two in five career starts. They haven’t been quite the toughest races though and this is a big jump in class from where he’s been running at so he’ll need to run a big race to win it but he would not be the biggest shocker if he won it.

6. Slip Away (10-2-4-2 $473.600), trained by TwinTowers Racing

After running third in the BC Juvenile Turf last year he’s switched to the dirt to try and make the derby. He racked up a couple derby points along the way but it wasn’t enough to make the big dance. He hasn’t ran on the turf in a while but he’s proven on the turf and should be a player in the race.

7. Rifleman (11-4-4-1 $229.400), trained by EasyMoney Stables

After two graded stakes wins in a row he ran a clunker last start and didn’t run in the money at KEE. He is definitely capable of winning if he runs his race and will probably be one off the favorites. If he brings his best race he can win this race for sure but it depends if he will bring it or not.

8. Thoughtful Idea (5-2-1-0 $44.620), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Lightly raced and only been on the turf once but the wizard knows what he’s doing and this horse threw down a monster work last time. If the work tells us anything that might happen in this race this horse looks very live in this spot. But of course works don’t tell you what will or can happen on race day.

9. Stop Rioja (8-1-4-2 $89.410), trained by Jader Stable

It’s crazy to think you could have claimed this horse for seven dollars as a two year old. Once the trainer figured out he was a turf horse he has turned into a very good grass horse. Once again drawn out wide he will have to overcome that to win but he could’ve drawn wider so he has to be glad for that.

10. One Dance (8-2-3-0 $302.400), trained by Gdp Inc

After a couple triple crown points races tries he makes a more to the turf for the first time in his career. A good five furlong breeze on the turf last time shows he might take a liking to the turf but he is a real wildcard in this race since he has never ran on the turf. Very big question mark but who knows what’ll happen.

11.Snakie Groupie (5-2-1-1 $140.400), trained by Maxmillion Farm

The only filly in the race and she has a legitimate chance. A stakes winner two back wand second in a stake at KEE last out. She gets a decent weight break and that will benefit her pretty well so I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran big. But she drew the parking lot and that doesn’t help her chances at all.

Summary

A very good field assembled here with some proven runners and some very fast working horse coming into the race. Stop Rioja and Thoughtful Idea will be my top two picks with Slip Away and Sweeping Dragonville also being in my top four. Going to bre a very exciting race to watch and the winner will have to work for it.

9-8-6-2

Categories: Grade II