AQU 2   NY Stallion Series – Thunder Rumble
   $150.000    3yo&Up   7f    Dirt   NY-bred   3yo 121lbs  Older 124lbs  +penalties

A nice group of sprinters have shown up for the 2019 NY Stallion Series – Thunder Rumble to be run 7f over the main track here at The Big A on Sunday.  The boys and I once again couldn’t agree on much, but I took the classy Zombie City as my top pick.  I know, I know, he hasn’t won all year, but those graded races just make me think he’s ready to beat up on a NY-bred field.  If he can run back to that Vosburgh (GI) race, I think he wins.  I’ll go right next door to the five hole and take Pulpit as my second choice.  This colt was closing fast in the SA Sprint Cup (GI) on the left coast in his most recent, and again, if he can run back to that race, he should be tough as nails.  It’s a deep field and their isn’t a horse in the race that would surprise me.

Here’s The Field –

Tired when sixth vs. similar in his most recent and adds a sixteenth to this one.  He won against state bred Alw horses at a distance, so I’m not sure if he tired or was just facing tough ones.  Either way it’s a similar situation and he’s going to need his best for a part of this one.

Back-to-back wins for the new connections and won when the hostile takeover occurred so this one is on a three race streak right now.  Add in that he’s won half of his eight seasonal starts and you know that he’s been tough this season.  I’d give him a solid look here today.

Just wow!  What does this horse have to do to get his picture taken?  Five seconds and a third, then was nabbed for $25.000 and followed that up with a determined fourth place finish vs. similar for the new connections.  They fire him right back and he should enjoy the slightly longer distance.

Drops from graded affairs to state-bred which should set the table a bit more to his liking.  Was third in the Vosburgh (GI), fourth in the Whitney (GI) and Woodward (GI), missed a nose in the PIM Special (GIII)… I think I’ve painted the picture, he hasn’t won this season, but he’s a classy dude.

Made a nice late move to be fourth in the SA Sprint (GI) facing some very nice horses that afternoon.  He has three seasonal wins and was hot early in the year while winning three in a row.  He’s certainly a horse with some talent and his best puts him in the mix.

He’s been on a steady diet of NY-bred stakes races, seeing action in four of those of late.  He won the GV Breeders at FL two back for his lone seasonal victory.  He usually likes the mile/plus distance and will need to flash a bit more speed to be involved in this one.

His only ’19 win came back in Jan at GP taking a OptAlw race and seemed to be aimed at the TC but just didn’t pan out there.  It’s been tough going since, although he was third in the NY Derby while facing NY-breds that day.  He’s going to need his best here.

Back to back wins including a nice victory in the Hudson over this same track and against similar.  He’s been on his toes of late, also racking up a trio of placings prior to the two victories.  He is in fine form and certainly has a big chance here today.

Another that kicked off the year in good form but has struggled while facing graded foes but has been close while facing NY-bred stakes horses.  They make a wholesale change today, going to the sprint and getting him back on the main track – does that spell improvement?

This guy is about six lengths from having ten more wins under his belt.  A single win and ten seconds while facing NY-bred stakes horses on a regular basis and has been close chasing open company as well.  The post does him no favors, but I’m betting $2 to place, just because. 

Snagged for $25.000 back in June and came back to win for the new connections.  They went big game hunting in that Kelso Hcp (GII) race where he was seventh; however, only beaten two lengths.  They shorten him back up, find a softer field and look to get him back in a winning spot.

COZMAN Picks  4 / 5    Willie’s Green Card  6 / 1   Scotty  4 / 2

Categories: Ungraded