6/26/21
12 CD Foster (GII) [BC]
$600.000 4yo&Up 1 1/8m Dirt 122lbs
Down to KY and CD for the Foster (GII) with a big purse and that always brings out some nice horse-flesh. I landed on Charleys Latte as the top choice and that’s probably no big surprise. He won the BC Classic (GI) and then changed hands after a couple of less than thrilling finishes. Bounced back to win for the new connections so maybe he has a new lease on life. I’ll take Gran Z as the second choice and would have picked him on top but Max would be mad at me for putting the jinx on him. He’s a solid type that just churns and puts cash in the bank… you gotta love a horse like that. It’s a nice group, so grab a cold snack and let’s go get a good spot by the rail
Here’s The Field –
Nice win (DH) last out in the Gold Cup (GI) at SA so this is obviously a good spot for the big barn to drop him into a winning situation. He also has two runner-up finishes this season, so he’s in great form and looks to be a horse that has to be given a big chance today.
Three starts in ’21 and not much to show from those as he’s been off of the board in all of those and none of them were vs. graded horses. He’s going to have to turn it around in a big way to be any parts of this race as it’s stacked with tough ones.
He’s been fourth vs. graded horses in his last two starts and that certainly enough to give him a second glance. He will need to bring his A-game to the party, but is a horse that is capable of stepping up and perhaps pulling an upset.
Back-to-back wins at the Alw level then a nice third in the True North (GIII), so this one is hitting on all cylinders right about now. Only three starts last year and as many in ’21, so he’s lightly raced but seems to be a horse that was worth waiting for.
Stable-mate to the four horse and has a win plus a pair of third place finishes in ’21. Even that fourth place finish last out was worth talking about as he was blocked a bit in the lane at SA. I have a feeling this one will make some noise today.
Nice win at KEE to really make a name in the handicap ranks but just never lifted a hoof last out when tenth over this surface in the Derby City (GI) as the 5/2 favorite. Was that a bounce or a sign of things to come? He’s run a bad race here and there, so maybe he comes back big today.
Purchased for $600.000 and made an immediate impression taking the Alysheba over this surface in the first start for the new connections. The horse only won the BC Classic (GI) last year, so… yeah he’s a real nice horse and looks ready to get after them again.
Changed hands a couple of times then seemed to have it going as he won the Challenger Stakes (GIII) at TAM. Came back to be fifth in the Alysheba (GII) where he closed a late gap and I’ll probably regret leaving him off of my ticket.
He’s still looking for his first win of the ’21 season but was second in the California Stakes (GII) at SA two starts back. Not a whole lot from his other three starts so he needs to get it together if he wants to be part of this one.
Solid handicap horse that knows how to bring checks home and that’s what this barn likes. He just missed in the PIM Special (GIII) after winning at KEE and he put some serious cash in the bank last season, so look for another big race from this one.
Early Scratch
Two wins and a placing from four starts so he’s sharp right now. Had the lead into the lane at SA going the marathon distance in the Tokyo (GIII) so the distance is certainly not the question. He’s only three races from breaking his maiden so there’s some up side here.
COZMAN 7 / 10 Willie’s Green Card 7 / 3 / 10
