9/24/22
2 ALB Downs
$200.000 3yo&Up 1 1/8m Dirt 3yo 120lbs Older 123lbs +penalties
Looks like Mars… we head out to Albuquerque for the Downs, a mile and an eighth stakes for the males, and you could go any number of ways when trying to handicap this one. I took Decimal Point as the top selection off of those two near-misses in his last three starts, both vs. stakes company. He won the Alw start sandwiched between the black-type starts… good enough for me. These old-timers have been tough lately, so give Bring The Pain a chance here today. He’s won two of this last three starts and was fourth in the SD Hcp (GII) which was tougher than this. I’ll look for Crimson Rioja to be in the picture late, as well. He hasn’t won in a while, but has been close vs. some nice horses.
Here’s The Field –
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Bring The Pain | Spankys Barn | Eikleberry R | 123 | 3/1 |
Two wins in his last three starts for the new connections after the hostile takeover at the $20.000 level. Those two wins were at the starterAlw lever, and sandwiched around a solid fourth in the SD Hcp (GII) at DMR. He could be big trouble today.
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Judge | Nakamura Stables | Sarmiento R | 123 | 6/1 |
Four starts this season, each a bit better than the prior and won last out taking an Alw race at LS in quick time. He was third beaten a length prior to that, so now it’s up the ladder… give him a look.
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Casa Asturiana | Bears Stable | Juarez A J Jr | 123 | 5/1 |
In his seven seasonal starts he has a 4-2-1 line and has been beating up on lesser, so they move him to stakes company to see if he can stay hot. He’s been running fast, so maybe he just runs right on past these.
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Galactic Command | Lindeman Prairie | Lopez J E | 123 | 10/1 |
His only ’22 win came back in Jan and he has struggled facing stakes company this year. He’s going to need to find a bit more if he’s going to be involved in the late goings on this one.
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Decimal Point | Night Rider Stables | Fuentes M T Jr | 123 | 7/2 |
Got his first seasonal victory two back, taking down high-end Alw foes at CD, then followed that up with a solid third in the Alydar at SAR, on a wet track. He’s been on the board in five of six this season, and I think it’s a spot where he could bring home a win.
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Crimson Rioja | Mo Mentum Farm | Purcell K | 123 | 9/2 |
Another that hasn’t won since Jan, although he’s been close in two of three recent starts… he was third vs. OptAlw at WO, then just missed up north in the Seagram Cup. He has some class and should be given a serious look.
COZMAN 5 / 1 / 6 Willie’s Green Card 2 / 1 / 6
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
