April 30, 2015
Named for a former winner of the Grade I NYRA Mile, now called the Cigar Mile, the Gold Fever has been added to the calendar at BEL as a prep for the Grade II Stephens on BEL Stakes Day and this season, for its first running, has attracted six colts and geldings better suited to sprinting over the TC trail. All lightly raced but improving with each start, they come into this six-furlong dash with a variety of recent form cycles and choosing a clear favourite will be tough, especially over a track where anything can happen.
1-Steel Gauntlet (Three-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Downwind Stables)
A debut winner going five-furlongs, Steel Gauntlet has been unable to find that form or the winner’s circle since and coming off a dismal showing at GP, he will look to regroup against a much better field that he has been facing. Six-furlongs might be a little too short for him and although he has done well in stakes company, that last effort is glaring and if you base your options on that effort, he will off the board against this group.
Analysis-His last was not a good prep
Fair Odds-12/1
2-Freaky Deaky (Three-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Wynnewood)
Freaky Deaky was amazing in the Grade II Futurity last year, running second to Oversell It in an amazing final time and if you can overlook his second start of the year in the Grade II Swale, you have a multiple stakes winning gelding and looks every bit the part of a winner. Speed ratings are excellent, a local prep was very fast and he loves six-furlongs; all factors that will make him one the top choices to sit off the early pace and rocket past the entire field late.
Analysis-Big chance in this return to easier company
Fair Odds-5/2
3-Risky Iron (Three-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Wolfs Den)
Mid-level claiming company has been the standard fair for Risky Iron and even that has proved too difficult recently and at 1-10, he could not keep the lead over the GP turf course and will now try carry his speed an extra furlong against a tougher field. As the lone speed in the field, he might be able to set a modest pace up front and carry himself to a top placing but the prospects of him beating this field were diminished when he could not get the job done in his last two events.
Analysis-Gets back to the main track but still looks shaky wire to wire
Fair Odds-15/1
4-Power Bat (Three-year-old bay colt / Owner-Mm Stables)
An allowance winner first time off the layoff, Power Bat was made the favourite in a six-furlong sprint at PIM but faltered late to finish a tough fourth and that has made his chances of winning the Gold Fever that much tougher, especially with a weakened speed rating. His marks have been declining since his final two-year-old start and unless she shows more speed, he will be pressing early and faltering late behind some of the better closers.
Analysis-Needs to keep his momentum to the wire
Fair Odds-8/1
5-Power And Money (Three-year-old black gelding / Owner-Running Farms)
If you go back to his powerful allowance win at SA going six-furlongs for his old connections, or even his maiden score at LA, Power And Money is a true force in the Gold Fever field and while that dismal effort in the Grade I Wood Memorial has to be looked at, it does not have the same scope as other races from other horses. Those were the best of his division in a two-turn event; this is much easier, and much shorter, and much more suited to him and that makes it reasonable to assume that he will rebound with a big effort.
Analysis-Allowance winner two back looks very sharp
Fair Odds-7/2
6-The Ju Ju Man (Three-year-old bay colt / Owner-Blushing Meadows)
The Ju Ju Man made the logical progression from maiden to allowance to Grade II company and was not disappointing with a close fourth in the San Vicente, nor a powerful third in the Swale at GP, and this drop down into easier competition is the perfect confident booster as he moves towards the Stephens and the Grade I Kings Bishop. His speed ratings are the best in the field, he has faced the best in previous starts and his outside post gets him into the clear down the backstretch; all signs that point to a winning effort from a colt who seems to be finding his stride at the right time.
Analysis-Big time contender from the outside
Fair Odds-2/1
Overall
Horses dropping in class make up the top three placings in the Gold Fever at BEL and The Ju Ju Man has the best form of all with his placings in the Grade II events at SA and GP, and an outside post with which to stalk, move forward and blow by the late leaders. Freaky Deaky was no match for the favourite in the Swale but two previous stakes wins make him a logical second with eyes on the big prize while Power And Money is a great allowance winner who caught a huge field in the Wood Memorial and will appreciate this much easier level.
Prediction
Win-The Ju Ju Man (2/1)
Place-Freaky Deaky (5/2)
Show-Power And Money (7/2)
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Ungraded
