7 GG     El Camino [KYD]

     $100.000           1 1/8m Dirt           3yo         121 +penalties

The Road to the TC makes it’s way to NorCal and the gate should be full for the El Camino [KYD] as we have a full field of twelve and two camped on the AE list. The term
“wide open” is often over used, but in this one… whew… I have no answers.  The Green Card uses an algorithm so he’s almost always able to come up with something and Deeds
Not Words was his top pick.  Based on speed, I’m sure that’s the deal with that choice.  Rhossili was his second choice in this one, with the rail horse, Money Truck in the third spot.  I do have soft spot for Steel Champion, but he’s going to need to prove his ability and want to go this far… like I said… wide open.  Grab a cold snack and let’s go watch.

Here’s The Field –

Has won two of three starts including a last-out win at GP o the grass, scoring at today’s distance.  With that being said, his staying power isn’t a question but can he transfer that talent from the lawn to the dirt?  He could be a horse that pulls off the win at a big of a
price.

Just missed last out in the Mucho Macho Man at GP.  He had the lead in mid-stretch but couldn’t hang on, ending up a half length back.  He was up the track in his only graded effort but he does show a win over this surface and home cookin’ can be a good thing.

Two starts since changing hands back in Nov and both of those have been on-the-board finishes and both ending within a half-length of the winner.  I think he’s a horse that may like the extra distance, I like the rider and this could be his coming out party.

Claimed for a meer $16.000 and they knew what they were doing as he came right back to score vs. Alw foes at GP, so he’s now run his win streak to three races.  He used his speed last out, does he try to do the same here today?

Made a bit of a late move in the Holy Bull (GIII) after trailing throughout most of that one.  He was closer to the pace when second in the Sugar Bowl and I think he’d like to do something closer to that here with this group.  I think he will improve off of that last out
effort and be part of this one.

Got the job done last out at GP and at today’s distance, taking down a group of OptAlw types, closing well to win by a head.  Nice bullet work over this track getting ready for today and he looks the part as he’s never far away and seems like the distance is in his wheel-house.

Comes in with back-to-back wins and a change of stable, selling for $162.500 and they go right after the big horses here today.  He was third in a NY-bred stakes as a 2yo, so I think the class hike is within his grasp.  It should be an interesting race for this one.

Broke maiden two back and was second beaten a neck while facing Alw horses at GP last out, all of this over the turf.  His last dirt start was a sixth at SA in a MWS race, so I’m not sure how to take this placing.  I think a turf spot would be more the call.

Nice win at FG going a mile and change as the favorite, and he flashed a bit of speed on that afternoon.  He threw a bad race in his only graded attempt, so let’s hope he stays on the current form an makes a good showing here.

Broke maiden at AQU vs. NY-bred horses then made it two in a row at CT going a mile and a sixteenth, and in both of those he used tactical speed to stalk, pounce and win.  I’m sure they love to see the same in this one.

Broke maiden two back then closed quickly going a mile and a sixteenth to only miss by a length, both at SA.  The extra distance may be right to his liking as he’s closed late in all of his last three races.  This could be a spot to make a point.

Closed to be fourth beaten a half length vs Alw horses at GP in his most recent.  That was back on short rest to that up-the-track effort in the Remsen (GII).  Catches a bad post and needs to manage that in order to figure in this one.

Still a maiden and probably needs to find softer in order to be a factor.

Two wins in his last three races, never off of the board and would be stepping up a bit if he draws in to this race.  He looks like he likes a route of ground and you may want to follow this one.

Categories: Ungraded