2/13/2021
9 GG El Camino [KYD]
$100.000 3yo 1 1/8m Dirt 12lbs +penalties
The road to Louisville goes through NoCal as we look at the field for the 2020 running of the El Camino, going a mile and an eighth on the GG main track. I’m probably showing my cards early again, but I like AER Stables in these races as he just seems to get the best out of ’em. So let’s give Turbocharged the edge to get the job done, and he may be the favorite anyway. Third at GP last out vs. stakes company on the grass, but he looks good on dirt and seems to want the distance. Let’s go towards the outside posts and put Strider in the second spot. He sold for a pretty penny before that last out seventh place finish in the Mucho Macho Man, and was only a length back of a field that I thought was better than this group. He’s another that looks like the distance suits and he may be a big factor here today.
Here’s The Field –
Broke maiden at CT after the vet stopped by the barn then ran second in a NY-bred stakes at AQU where he had the lead but couldn’t hold off the eventual winner. He’s been consistent and should be in the middle of this one as well.
Things were going well and he broke maiden at PRX and lost his best friend. Beat one horse in each of his last two starts, both against similar as to what should be here today. He needs to turn it around or else.
Had everything going his way in his first three starts then tired late to be sixth in the KY Jockey Club (GII) at CD in his most recent. Has been rested since Nov and they look to bring him back in a big way here.
A pair of wins and a second from his last three starts, but they’ve all been for a tag where he’s shown some real ability. This is a big step up, right to a TC prep race, so we find out what he’s made of today.
Nice third on the GP lawn last out vs stakes company. He’s run with some real nice horses and has held his own, and this looks like a place where he can flex his muscle and maybe pull of a big win. The barn usually has them ready for races like this.
Broke maiden at SA and has a couple of close finishes, but no other wins. His last three were all against stakes company and he struggled in those races. Can he turn it around and make a splash here today?
Filly goes after the boys here today and she’s show some ability breaking maiden at ALB and taking an Alw race at ELP. Has a pair of runner up races in her last three starts, but can she handle this group of guys?
Broke maiden three back and ha a pair of less that great starts since that. He was fourth last out vs OptAlw types at GP, his prior effort was a next-to-last finish vs. similar. and will need more than that to be a factor today.
Won three in a row breaking maiden, taking down high end claimers at KEE then winning an Alw race at PRX only to run seventh vs. Cal-bred stakes horses last out. He did close a late gap in that one, so maybe if they change tactics and he improves a bit, he could be a force here.
Early Scratch
Broke maiden at DMR in his second outing and his last two have been decent efforts while facing Cal-bred types;. He just missed in a closing effort last out, so can he build off of that race and pull an upset here?
Broke maiden in his second start and won a PA-bred stakes, was sold for a pretty penny off of that tiring stakes effort at CD. Was seventh last out vs. stakes horses at GP and it doesn’t get any easier today. Can he turn it around?
Broke maiden at FP then won an Alw race at FL. A couple of seconds since then and was tagged out of that last out race for $35.000. They must like him because the go right after the gusto in this one.
Broke maiden at TAM (DH) last out and would need some help to draw into this one.
Still a maiden and would need a lot of help to get into this field. Probably needs more help if he does.
COZMAN 5 / 12 Willie’s Green Card 1 / 11 / 5
Categories: FEATURED STORIES, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2021-2023
