December 11, 2015

Raced on and off since 2006, the LCD Classic is held on a big day for LA-breds as racing in that part of the country really heats up and on Saturday, a modest field of four will assemble for the biggest event of the day with $150.000 on the line. Go Between was an excellent winner back in 2006 and ended up with four Graded Stakes wins on his statistics, Im High proved best in 2009 as one of six wins against state-breds in his career while last year, Assgassorgrass was the winner as the favourite but has only come back to win once since then. While he is not back to defend his title, the field gathered is decent with stakes winners, recent claims and horses with back class throughout and the nine-furlong distance might be the big factor is inside speed prevails and sets a wicked pace.

1-Outcast Colonist (Three-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Maxmillion Farm)

Claimed for $35.000 in his last start, most likely with eyes on LA-bred races like this, Outcast Colonist will attempt to go long for only the second time in his career and while he has shown he can close into the pace in the latter stages, going two-turns might be difficult and he will simply have to be faster. Prepped at FG since being taken, his speed ratings are modest compared to others and he does face older runners for only the second time; he finished second to them last time out so that could be expected again, although getting the win will be much tougher.

Analysis-Claimed with purpose but this might be a challenge

Fair Odds-10/1

2-Silver Dust (Four-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Hacienda Don Tito)

Despite a long career facing LA-breds, Silver Dust has never been able to win a stakes race of this caliber before but on Saturday, he will look to back up his most dominant victory to date with another sparkling effort going nine-furlongs. That score at CT, despite being against only two rivals, was exceptionally good with the right off-the-pace style and with the potential of a speed duel to his outside, he might be the one to benefit and could come through for a career-defining win.

Analysis-Much the best in last but this is much tougher

Fair Odds-4/1

3-King Ring (Four-year-old gray gelding / Owner-Night Rider Stables)

It took a while for King Ring to come into his own but since being purchased for only $5.000 in June, he has become a stakes winner, Grade III runner-up and now, looks to score the biggest payday of his budding career against a very tepid field. That 100-speed mark earned in the LA Legends Starter is the best of the bunch and came with blazing middle speed, making the only concern a premature move that might leave him vulnerable in the final furlong if the closers find their stride.

Analysis-Tons of talent with the potential to lose it all in the end

Fair Odds-2/1

4-Another Chance (Five-year-old bay gelding / Owner-On The Map Racing)

On The Map Racing is a new stable here at HRP but makes a big leap into stakes company in the Classic with Another Chance, who has been given a second chance at making it big with four wins in six starts as a five-year-old. That being said, many of those wins have come against mid-level claiming company and he has been favoured in five of his six seasonal starts; that will not be the case this time around and if you think he can step up to the high stakes ranks, be sure to get a good price against proven black-type competition.

Analysis-Excellent at nine-furlongs so class is the only question mark

Fair Odds-3/1

Overall

There certainly are some decent horses in the Classic to close out Louisiana Champions Day and King Ring, with a stakes already under his belt, looms as the likely favourite over three decent rivals at this nine-furlong trip. The Gold Cup at DED was not to his liking but this course should be better suited to his running style, with the dangers coming from the improving Another Chance to his outside, off two big wins in a row, and from Silver Dust in the middle, looking to step up off a huge win at CT going three-turns.

Prediction

Win-King Ring (2/1)

Place-Another Chance (3/1)

Show-Silver Dust (4/1)

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded