CC Rapid Transit $125.000 – Churchill Downs Louisville, KY
The best claiming horses line up for the platter’s rendition of the Breeder’s Cup during a fantastic yearly event at the home of the twin spires. The Claiming Crown Rapid Transit is contested at seven furlongs on the main track. Let’s meet the field and the race analysis.
Confusion abounds in handicapping this year’s Rapid Transit as this tote board should be wide open for the betting public. Many ways to go here, but let’s give it a shot.
When you’re the perennial top barn in the country you don’t make many mistakes to get to that spot, so I will err on the side of both caution and confidence with Bluff Master from Mb Stables. This one was purchased for a mere thousand dollars at auction by Spinetingling and then sent over to “the other side of the tracks” where he woke up and won four straight, albeit for no money. The main man steps in and buys him for $80.000 and his speed figures improve from the last time he was running for cash, but his win streak comes to an abrupt halt. His only time going seven furlongs lately saw him make a strange second quarter move and then take the lead turning into the stretch of the grade one Forego. A repeat of that effort puts him in the right spot as the one to beat here. Good Man from AJM Stables is a seven-furlong specialist that draws the rail and will come out, settle and make one late move. “Man” has consistency and speed figures to beat most of these, just will need a trip. Exploration Bay from DJC is a lower-level fighter who makes the board more than he misses it. If “Bay” can reproduce his run in the Essai Cup he will be in the right spot late. Iced Mocha from Acber Farms was just claimed for $20.000. If the new connections can improve the four-year-old gelding at all he can be a player here. “Mocha” can push or sit and his only try at this distance was a win.
Of the rest:
Grand Entrance also from Mb Stables has gas but got a wide draw. The six for twelve pro is lightly raced and might be a send job who forgets to stop.
Platform from Team7 Illusions has some back class and might fall into a decent closing role here with any kind of a trip from this draw. Food for thought.
Missed Shot from Asgar Stables has a bullet work at Del Mar showing before the trip over. At six years old he won’t be intimidated, and he will get the trip without worry.
Strategic Knight from Big JD Racing might get overlooked here. Numbers stack up well and he is coming into this in fine fiddle, he just looks like a place chance more than a win chance to me. Makes it tougher to handicap this race.
Sunset Devil from JKK Racing Stables draws well here and could make his presence felt late. Bullet work before shipping in noted.
State Motives from Alydar Stables is going well enough and gets a good draw, others just appear to have more appeal today. Not without a shot however.
Charming Jack from T Boy Racing might be handicapped too low here. Claimed for $10.000 and moved to a Starter Allowance where he went today’s distance and won. More food for thought in a real scramble.
Bow And Arrow from The Sidley Stud is yet another with good recent form after a claim. Not sold this one wants today’s trip, especially from this post. No hard knocks against, however.
Serenade Grace, a three-year-old from Team 7 Illusions looks up against it here unless improvement and maturity happen quickly. Obviously at this time of year it can happen, but he will need to beat an older horse first before I can endorse to the betting public.
Daves A Killer is another three-year-old, this one from Sim Speed Stable. “Killer” has beaten a few older horses and has tried them on multiple occasions. The draw and his running style won’t help him in his quest today, however.
-Trackman
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded