Saturday’s BC festivities kick off with the leading Juvenile Turf Colts and Geldings marching to post in the Grade I BC Juvenile Turf with its $1,000.000 purse for the 1 mile turf run at classic SA.
Looking back at the history of the race, the first running was in 2007 and was won by Angelos Stable’s Gold War Paint, a deep closer which just got up to win, but which was never again in the money in spite of nine attempts. Others have been more impressive: the 2008 winner, Sarah Stables’ Sub Zero, won 13 starts and $2,094.000. Ken Allan’s Plucky Mach won $2,715.160 before being retired and Wild Aces Stables’ Laffin To Mia earned even more at $2,744.080. Last year’s winner, Barcelona Farms’ Icicle Dawn recently won the Grade III American Derby at AP. One sad note in the list of honor is 2014 winner Exultant which came out of the clouds to upset and never raced again, having been left behind when revered owner Dynark Stables left the game.
This year’s bunch is a very impressive group of juveniles. Mb Stables has a pair in here, both very nice although Funny One looks out of it by the post. Generals Opus on the other hand seems to have it all going for him today off a handy deep closing win in the Grade II Summer Stakes at WO. Off a well-coordinated rest, Kit Fisto is the second favourite. Although he came up short in the Grade II With Anticipation at SAR in August as the odds-on favourite, the time off is bound to help. Stald Gullis’ Spring Stormtrooper would be a stronger factor were it not for an unfortunate post here. Oliver Klozov’s Request The Ex is an improving sort that I’m watching as the race long shot. Here are the rest:
1 – Sir Plucky Monkey 12-1
One of quite a few lightly raced juveniles, Blushing Meadows’ Sir Plucky Monkey has had only four starts and but one win. Already on his third owner, he ran a fast closing second in the Grade II Summer Stakes at WO last. It’s the kind of improvement one looks for just before the big race. If the improvement is continuing, he has a fair chance of being in the money here.
2 – Master Sly 50-1
Also lightly raced, Barcelona Farms’ Master Sly suffered his first loss last out in the OT Juvenile Turf down at DMR, finishing a well-closing fourth. Prior to that he scored in his first three tries, including the Tyro Stakes at MTH. Had he been faltering in that loss, I’d give up on him, but a strong close here could get him a piece of the pie.
3 – Lost And Found 20-1
After upsetting the Grade II With Anticipation at SAR, Red Square Stables’ Lost And Found has been suffering with back-to-back losses in graded stakes. His most recent effort saw him closing much too late, but closing nonetheless. Some hope there, but a lot more return to form required, especially as this race is a bit shorter.
4 – Sicario 8-1
Winner of half her six races, Sir Daniel Martin’s Sicario ran a respectable second in the Grade III Pilgrim at BEL last behind Spring Stormtrooper. Considering Stormtrooper caught a poor post here, his stock has risen. On top of that, the shorter distance of this race should work to his advantage. The however here, though is I don’t care for a history that shows faltering in the race before the big one. He should be a factor though as they come down the stretch.
5 – Ye Charley 12-1
Kopites’ Ye Charley was soring along all tickety-boo when the Grade III Bourbon came along and smacked him in the face. Up to that race, he had been in the money all four starts, including a third in the Grade II Summer Stakes, then a disastrous ninth in the Bourbon. Well, they’re back to a mile here, so maybe, but he was faltering at a mile before that, so unlikely.
6 – Kit Fisto 9-2
Diablo Diablo’s Kit Fisto was second in the Grade II With Anticipation at SAR last behind Lost And Found as the odds-on favourite. Not the finishing position you want from your odds-on favourite. I must say I do not understand what the odds machine is thinking that the horse that won is 20-1 and the horse he beat is 9-2. Thing is, that was a solid win by Lost And Found, and Kit Fisto just wasn’t getting to him. But, then, times have been hard for Lost And Found since, while Kit has been resting and working well. So, what do I know?
7 – Drumming Champ 30-1
Axeman’s Drumming Champ looked sharp winning the minor El Joven Stakes at RET last, but this is a big step up for the ex-claimer. The shift to turf has proved fortuitist providing his two wins and keeping him in the money. Now, we just have to see if he can make the big step up.
8 – Request The Ex 15-1
Oliver Klozov’s Request The Ex came from last to miss winning the Zuma Beach Stakes at SA by a nose last. He’s been in the money every start with a lot of seconds. Although that was an ungraded stakes, the race was impressive, and if he continues to improve as he has the last three, I think this is the dark horse of the race. Watch him.
9 – Tipsy Indian 8-1
Another of the lightly raced lads in this race, Joseph Racing’s Tipsy Indian was the nose that kept Request The Ex from winning the Zuma Beach. That’s two in row for the grass-lover as he remains undefeated on the green stuff. He was also closing to get that win, and it is questionable if he could have held on another 70 yards, but set the instruction the same and see if the results can be the same.
10 – Generals Opus 7-2
Lightly raced and impressive as hell in the process, Mb Stables’ race favourite Generals Opus has won three of four, including a spectacular come from behind romp in the Grade II Summer Stakes last out. What can I say? Just that performance alone proves the favouritism is well deserved. I sure wouldn’t bet against him.
11 – Titans Revenge 50-1
I would say 50-1 is way too long for this one. Sure the post is getting out in the boonies, and sure the prep races have not been the most demanding, but his improving performances in his last two deserve more respect than that. Should Luz International’s Titans Revenge continue his upward spiral, he could be a factor at the wire.
12 – Pain 6-1
Well, owning this horse has not been a pain. New owner Smokey Stover just shelled out $650.000 to become the fourth owner of the winner of three of four starts. After winning the Grade III Bourbon, I suspect the odds for Pain would be shorter were it not for the post position in the ozone. He has scored three straight and gotten better with each win. It would be no surprise to see him with a winning nose on the wire.
13 – Spring Stormtrooper 10-1
Post position 13 is a nasty thing to do to the winner of the Grade III Pilgrim. For Stald Gullis’ Spring Stormtrooper, that win was as solid as they come. He stalked the early pace and took the lead when he was ready, holding off the late race challenge. Even coming from the cornfield post, he should be a factor.
14 – Funny One 8-1
After breaking his maiden in the OT Juvenile Turf at DMR, Mb Stables’ Funny One finished a fast-closing second behind Pain in the Grade III Bourbon. It was a nice finish that fell only a neck short, and promised better in the future. Of course, we didn’t know that the future included this post position. He’ll have to dig deep to be there at the end.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
