The Jersey Shore (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 23, 2016
A field of six are set to go in the 10th edition of the Jersey Shore, a Grade 3 event for three year olds. Looking over the field, you’re likely to wonder if this is really a graded stake and not just another allowance, as none of the entries in this race have any experience running at the graded level. Only two have even run at the ungraded level. No one will deny that this race provides a great opportunity to take a horse to the next level, and there is plenty of talent in this field that is capable of doing so. Because of this factor though, on an otherwise busy weekend, I am not going to spend as much time on this one, but good luck to all the runners, three of which are bred by LionKing Stables!
#1- Bold Viper (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J J Gonzales)- Has won three of five this year, but not for the highest of stakes. In fact, one of them was a $7.000 statebred claimer against three others at GG. Last month, he came up with the best performance of his career thus far when he was second in a N1X allowance, earning a 94 SRF. Another one like that, and he can take this group.
#2- Top Hero (Tiratzo, ridden by R Alvarado Jr)- One of two in the field that has run at the stake level before, and that came at BEL where he was fourth in the muddy $100.000 Gold Fever. Most recently, he won an N1X allowance at PIM. I would have liked to have seen a better work at PRX coming into this race, but that won’t matter as long as he knows how to being it on race day.
#3- Buffalo Phooey (Luz International, ridden by N Juarez)- He has been within a length of victory in all eight races in which he has been in, with an overall record of (8-3-3-2). I like his consistent nature, and while he hasn’t been in a stake yet, he hasn’t been hanging around at the claiming level, either. Earned a 95 SRF in a second place run in an allowance. The winner of that race attempt a similar event last week, and placed fifth, four lengths out.
#4- Charleys Bluff (Ubetracingcom, ridden by J Bravo)- A winner of half the races, five of ten, that he has been in, most of which have been at CT, running in WV-bred races. MTH represents a step up, but this is another one who seems to step up on race day, which is good to know, because the work times seem average, otherwise.
#5- I Am The Lionking (Mb Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- Might be getting ready to run circles on this field. He is the other of the two in year who have run in a stake prior, but he won his, coming in the $75.000 Parrot Key at GP. In the win, he earned a 99 SRF, a number in which none in this field have gotten near. He had a bunch of solid second in his career, before meeting Pablo, and since the geld, he is three-for-three. I Am The Lionking certainly does look the one who can take it to the next level in this field. Shout out also, to LionKing Stables, who has bred half the field (three of six).
#6- Oh My Senor (Ekli Stable, ridden by P L Cotto Jr)- Has won two of six races so far, but seemed to respond quite well to an add change in his last race. It was only a BTP allowance, but in the race, the trainer removed the lasix and bute, put on blinkers, and got himself a win. It is only BTP, but he did get a 95 SRF for the effort.
Prediction: 5-3-1-2
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
